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Unread 23-05-2008, 09:33
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Re: Public Transportation: in favor? disapprove?

I question the premise that if GM et al had not bought out the streetcar companies, they would still be here today. The streetcars were replaced with buses. Those private bus companies mostly failed, resulting in the cities or regional authorities having to take them over to have any public transportation. The same thing would have happened to street railways if the public chose not to ride.

What really killed public transportation was the freeways and cheap gas prices. It was made easy to drive, so people did so.

I investigated public transportation to get to work. I would have to board a bus at the "downtown hub" of our suburb at the same time that I now wake up, to get to work on time. For me, the extra sleep is worth putting a few more dollars in the gas tank.

Until public transportation is nearly as convenient for commuters, or the costs (including parking) become prohibitive, public transportation will continue to mostly serve those who cannot afford automobiles. As Ed mentioned, the cost of parking in some areas has already made that tipping point. When we went to Washington DC several years ago, we used the subway from our motel in Alexandria to go downtown, to avoid the congestion. Things like that all factor in to the decision to take public transportation or not.
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