Attention, Transit Professionals!

Are you currently employed in some aspect of public transit planning, management, policy, or operations?  Do you deal with public transit as part of your job, which could be in anything from town planning to social services to journalism?  If so, please click the email button under my photograph at right, if only to tell me who you are.  I’d like to know that you’re out there reading.  You’re also encouraged to submit comments that way.

Most comments on this blog seem to come from people who are interested in transit as advocates or activists, and their input continues to be encouraged.  I hear less often from professionals who read the blog; I suspect that’s because of professional risks associated with stating opinions under your own name.  That’s fine, but I’d still like to hear your perspectives, so use email.

My policy on this:

  • Information or comments received via email won’t be quoted except in ways that make it anonymous, unless you specify that your name can be used.
  • You can state clearly that your remarks are off the record, which means they won’t be quoted in any way, anonymous or otherwise.

You’re welcome to give further clarifying direction in your email.  For example, if your email is quotable but anonymous, you can specify how you want to be described to get the balance of anonymity and authority that’s right for you.  (For example, it’s up to you whether you want to be “a New York planning consultant” or “a Brooklyn planning consultant specializing in convention centers” … You tell me.)

I thought I’d mention this because a recent post named a professional commenter by name.  This was done with his permission, but it might have given the appearance that anyone who writes to me risks being quoted that way, which would be unacceptable to most professionals.  So to be clear: I won’t use your name unless you tell me I can, and I won’t quote you at all if you want your words to be completely off the record.

Speak up!

6 Responses to Attention, Transit Professionals!

  1. Jennifer December 1, 2009 at 7:18 am #

    I’m a transit professional, I guess, since I’m the Real Estate Manager for the Bi-State Development Agency (Metro) in St. Louis; as well as a member of the blog team for our agency. But when I comment on planning, design, & urban issues I’m only speaking for myself, not my agency, and always try to keep my remarks professional, thoughtful, and courteous. I read your blog every day by RSS feed and just usually by the time I get here, anything I might have commented has already been said by one of your excellently informed readers.

  2. Jhenifer @ TransLink December 1, 2009 at 9:15 am #

    Hi! Jhenifer from TransLink in Vancouver here, and and I’m a faithful reader of Human Transit. I run TransLink’s Buzzer blog and help with social media strategy for TransLink, and I enjoy reading Human Transit for your enlightening perspectives on transportation planning. Also, I’d say my perspective on commenting is the same as Jennifer’s above 🙂

  3. Aaron Priven December 1, 2009 at 4:18 pm #

    I work in AC Transit’s marketing department. I just try not to say things that could be misinterpreted 🙂

  4. Jarrett at HumanTransit.org December 1, 2009 at 4:27 pm #


    Thanks, Aaron!  Please stay in touch, and recommend the blog to others.  Cheers, Jarrett

  5. Matt Miller April 11, 2010 at 9:41 pm #

    Hello, Matt Miller here. Until recently, I was transportation planning consultant working on ‘major transit investment’ (streetcar/BRT) in Ogden, Utah.

  6. ray ban April 21, 2011 at 8:30 pm #

    You’re also encouraged to submit comments that way.