Overview

In the US, the 25 largest metropolitan areas and many smaller cities have fixed guideway transit—rail or bus rapid transit. Nearly all of them are talking about expanding. Yet discussions about transit are still remarkably unsophisticated. To build good transit, the discussion needs to focus on what matters—quality of service (not the technology that delivers it), all kinds of transit riders, the role of buildings, streets and sidewalks, and, above all, getting transit in the right places. Christof Spieler has spent over a decade advocating for transit as a writer, community leader, urban planner, transit board member, and enthusiast. He strongly believes that just about anyone—regardless of training or experience—canidentify what makes good transit with the right information. In the fun and accessible Trains, Buses, People: An Opinionated Atlas of US Transit, Spieler shows how cities can build successful transit. He profiles the 47 metropolitan areas in the US that have rail transit or BRT, using data, photos, and maps for easy comparison. The best and worst systems are ranked and Spieler offers analysis of how geography, politics, and history complicate transit planning. He shows how the unique circumstances of every city have resulted in very different transit systems. Using appealing visuals, Trains, Buses, People is intended for non-experts—it will help any citizen, professional, or policymaker with a vested interest evaluate a transit proposal and understand what makes transit effective. While the book is built on data, it has a strong point of view. Spieler takes an honest look at what makes good and bad transit and is not afraid to look at what went wrong. He explains broad concepts, but recognizes all of the technical, geographical, and political difficulties of building transit in the real world. In the end,Trains, Buses, People shows what is possible with the right tools to build good transit.

Full Product Details

9781610919029

Table of Contents

Reviews

Christof Spieler was the driving force behind Houston's transit transformation, but he's also one of America's great transit travelers, a careful observer of history, technology, geometry, and politics. This book is an atlas of beautiful detail about 47 U.S. cities, but it's also a call to action, demanding clearer and more effective transit planning and advocacy. --Jarrett Walker, President and Principal Consultant, Jarrett Walker + Associates, author of Human Transit For all of their hardcore infrastructure, urban transit networks are essentially human creations, and understanding what makes them successful is essential for building successful cities. Supported by urban histories and incisively presented data, Christof Spieler sets the rules of engagement for effective transit and offers a roadmap for achieving it. --Janette Sadik-Khan, Principal, Bloomberg Associates; former NYC Transportation Commissioner This book is comprehensive enough to be a resource for transit professionals, but delivered in readable, straightforward language; an objective look at the state of transit by a passionate advocate. --Annise Parker, former Mayor of Houston

For all of their hardcore infrastructure, urban transit networks are essentially human creations, and understanding what makes them successful is essential for building successful cities. Supported by urban histories and incisively presented data, Christof Spieler sets the rules of engagement for effective transit and offers a roadmap for achieving it. --Janette Sadik-Khan, Principal, Bloomberg Associates; former NYC Transportation Commissioner Christof Spieler was the driving force behind Houston's transit transformation, but he's also one of America's great transit travelers, a careful observer of history, technology, geometry, and politics. This book is an atlas of beautiful detail about 47 U.S. cities, but it's also a call to action, demanding clearer and more effective transit planning and advocacy. --Jarrett Walker, President and Principal Consultant, Jarrett Walker + Associates, author of Human Transit This book is comprehensive enough to be a resource for transit professionals, but delivered in readable, straightforward language; an objective look at the state of transit by a passionate advocate. --Annise Parker, former Mayor of Houston Gets right to the point: put [transit] where the people are...The author combines detailed knowledge and a refreshing frankness...Keep this book within easy reach. --Planning Spieler knows this subject to a significant depth but has managed something remarkable, perhaps mirrored in his choice of the accessible atlas format: he has made a great deal of comparative information very easy to understand and digest. The approach is tailor-made to help convince nonexperts--be they the general public or perhaps more importantly politicians and others with influence--to mimic the good and avoid the bad...The end result makes the book a compelling and useful compendium of the state of transit in the United States. --Civil Engineering This edifying publication...serves as an awakening guide to planning both feasible and practical public-transit systems. --San Francisco Book Review Belongs on an urbanist's bookshelf...one of the best transit/planning books I've read in a long time. --Greater Greater Washington Spieler's book is perfectly designed to be both readable and browsable--a great gift for an urbanist or transport geek and a great book for the coffee table. You can read around in for a long time, exploring different cities, their strengths and their missed opportunities. Let's hope it produces a smarter conversation about urban transit. --Jarett Walker's Human Transit blog A transit wonk's bible...Urban planner Christof Spieler is a transportation hero. --Mobility Lab Transit planners, elected representatives, and transportation enthusiasts should all find something to love or learn in this honest and expansive status report. --Atlantic's CityLab

For all of their hardcore infrastructure, urban transit networks are essentially human creations, and understanding what makes them successful is essential for building successful cities. Supported by urban histories and incisively presented data, Christof Spieler sets the rules of engagement for effective transit and offers a roadmap for achieving it. --Janette Sadik-Khan, Principal, Bloomberg Associates; former NYC Transportation Commissioner Christof Spieler was the driving force behind Houston's transit transformation, but he's also one of America's great transit travelers, a careful observer of history, technology, geometry, and politics. This book is an atlas of beautiful detail about 47 U.S. cities, but it's also a call to action, demanding clearer and more effective transit planning and advocacy. --Jarrett Walker, President and Principal Consultant, Jarrett Walker + Associates, author of Human Transit This book is comprehensive enough to be a resource for transit professionals, but delivered in readable, straightforward language; an objective look at the state of transit by a passionate advocate. --Annise Parker, former Mayor of Houston

Christof Spieler was the driving force behind Houston's transit transformation, but he's also one of America's great transit travelers, a careful observer of history, technology, geometry, and politics. This book is an atlas of beautiful detail about 47 U.S. cities, but it's also a call to action, demanding clearer and more effective transit planning and advocacy. --Jarrett Walker, President and Principal Consultant, Jarrett Walker + Associates, author of Human Transit This book is comprehensive enough to be a resource for transit professionals, but delivered in readable, straightforward language; an objective look at the state of transit by a passionate advocate. --Annise Parker, former Mayor of Houston For all of their hardcore infrastructure, urban transit networks are essentially human creations, and understanding what makes them successful is essential for building successful cities. Supported by urban histories and incisively presented data, Christof Spieler sets the rules of engagement for effective transit and offers a roadmap for achieving it. --Janette Sadik-Khan, Principal, Bloomberg Associates; former NYC Transportation Commissioner

Christof Spieler was the driving force behind Houston's transit transformation, but he's also one of America's great transit travelers, a careful observer of history, technology, geometry, and politics. This book is an atlas of beautiful detail about 47 U.S. cities, but it's also a call to action, demanding clearer and more effective transit planning and advocacy. --Jarrett Walker, President and Principal Consultant, Jarrett Walker + Associates, author of Human Transit For all of their hardcore infrastructure, urban transit networks are essentially human creations, and understanding what makes them successful is essential for building successful cities. Supported by urban histories and incisively presented data, Christof Spieler sets the rules of engagement for effective transit and offers a roadmap for achieving it. --Janette Sadik-Khan, Principal, Bloomberg Associates; former NYC Transportation Commissioner This book is comprehensive enough to be a resource for transit professionals, but delivered in readable, straightforward language; an objective look at the state of transit by a passionate advocate. --Annise Parker, former Mayor of Houston Belongs on an urbanist's bookshelf...one of the best transit/planning books I've read in a long time. --Greater Greater Washington Spieler's book is perfectly designed to be both readable and browsable--a great gift for an urbanist or transport geek and a great book for the coffee table. You can read around in for a long time, exploring different cities, their strengths and their missed opportunities. Let's hope it produces a smarter conversation about urban transit. --Jarett Walker's Human Transit blog A transit wonk's bible...Urban planner Christof Spieler is a transportation hero. --Mobility Lab Transit planners, elected representatives, and transportation enthusiasts should all find something to love or learn in this honest and expansive status report. --Atlantic's CityLab

Author Information

Christof Spieler, PE, LEED AP, is a Vice President and Director of Planning at Huitt-Zollars and a Lecturer in Architecture and Engineering at Rice University. He was a member of the board of directors of Houston METRO from 2010 to 2018.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available