Public Transportation + You (NRR)

[Dj_Coma_Toast]

Not to get all conspiracy theorist but as someone who grew up in a town basically created around the fortune of the Huntingtons (who ran THE major railway line, not Pac Elec though, in Los Angeles), I heard that they were paid off by various auto-related lobbies to let the railways die so they could pave the way - literally - for more auto sales and freeway development and suburban housing growth.

I don't know about the situation in LA, but nationwide this process is documented fact, not conspiracy theory. In Baltimore, the streetcar system was bought by private hands connected to tire moguls (I believe specifically it might've been Goodyear, but I'd have to double-check on that) who then dismantled the whole thing after a few years of pretending to operate it in good faith.
I think one of the major proponents against rail transit in the early 1900's was standard oil, basically a large conglomerate that was dissolved by the supreme court, later becoming a bunch of subsidaries like exxon mobil and shell. If i remember correctly there were plans for a nationwide rail system that they had nixed in order to build the american highway system.

 

[onetet]

Not to get all conspiracy theorist but as someone who grew up in a town basically created around the fortune of the Huntingtons (who ran THE major railway line, not Pac Elec though, in Los Angeles), I heard that they were paid off by various auto-related lobbies to let the railways die so they could pave the way - literally - for more auto sales and freeway development and suburban housing growth.

I don't know about the situation in LA, but nationwide this process is documented fact, not conspiracy theory. In Baltimore, the streetcar system was bought by private hands connected to tire moguls (I believe specifically it might've been Goodyear, but I'd have to double-check on that) who then dismantled the whole thing after a few years of pretending to operate it in good faith.
I think one of the major proponents against rail transit in the early 1900's was standard oil, basically a large conglomerate that was dissolved by the supreme court, later becoming a bunch of subsidaries like exxon mobil and shell. If i remember correctly there were plans for a nationwide rail system that they had nixed in order to build the american highway system.
Yeah, I was surprised to hear that in Baltimore, at least, it was Big Tire more than Big Oil who dismantled the streetcars. But it makes sense that they'd both be involved given their common interest in accelerating suburbia, pollution, the 4-cars-per-garage mentality, etc etc.

 

[cove]

Use it pretty much everyday here in Mtl, whether it's subway or bus...pretty effin reliable.

 

[Birdman9]

Cars rule. It's driving them everyday to work that drives me nuts. And thankfully, in DC, I don't need to. Driving a car is the next best thing to being able to fly like Superman, IMO. Instant freedom.

Being stuck in a car during DC's hellish afternoon rush hour (roughly 3 pm to 8 pm, it seems) is about the furthest thing I can think of to instant freedom.
Totally true, when that happens it SUCKS. That's why one must plan, and have a decent radio/CD/iPod. I once tried to get from DC to Richmond to see Fatback, and made the mistake of leaving at 3pm. 5 hours later I was at his house. I was a frazzled wreck. I can't blame it on the cars, I blame it on VIRGINIA, which I make a point of driving in only when I must.

I still love to drive aimlessly as much as possible. Very freeing.

 

[hugh_lucero]

Further to Odub's post on the old rail system within LA, Melbourne has also had rail lines removed - most notably circular ones which linked parts of the the radial network. These lines were removed 70-90 years ago, with the land since being developed for housing and the like. Today circular bus routes are in the process of being introduced to replicate what was once there. I think that the reasons were probaly more to do with poor patronage at the time though than opportunistic behaviour by the oil/automotive industries.

 

[luck]

I have major gripes with the CTA in Chicago right now. ^as per what luck said, everybody thinks its amazing until you have to ride it everyday during rush hour with your face in someones armpit because the train only comes once every 25 minutes. I hear it depends on what line youre on too, which makes sense with all the yuppies moving from red line territory to wicker park the train just hasnt caught up with the influx of assholes. Talking about raising rates again too, which everyone knows aint gonna fix shit. Buses here are random at best.

Depends on the line, but I take the bus. Much better. I ride the CTA every day for $75/month. It's a gigantic savings over a car and the costs associated with it.
The Blue Line should be better now that the Damen-to-Lake slow zones are eliminated.

What we really need are those LED displays like in Portland that let commuters know when the next bus/train is coming.

 

[onetet]

I still love to drive aimlessly as much as possible. Very freeing.

I'll agree with that. My one regret about not owning a car is that sometimes music sounds best when you're out on the highway.

My girlfriend signed up for the flexcar (hybrid car rental by the hour or day) program and on the rare occassions when we use it to get out of town it enhancesboth the love of music on the highway and the sense of freedom of having your own wheels.

The plusses of then dropping the car off and not thinking about it again are almost too many to name: no gas costs to worry about, no car insurance bills, no repairs, no parking tickets, no car theft/vandalism, no accidents, etc etc.

 

[tirefire]

 

[onetet]

Ive never used public transportation in my life and i'm very proud of that.

That's so gangsta!

 

[tirefire]

How in the world is that something to be proud of?

 

[Snapping]

Does anyone else think that public transportation use should be on the rise? With gas prices steadily increasing, this seems like the time that people should consider forgoing the "freedom" of their cars. I don't know if its really happening, but it makes sense to me.

 

[onetet]

Does anyone else think that public transportation use should be on the rise? With gas prices steadily increasing, this seems like the time that people should consider forgoing the "freedom" of their cars. I don't know if its really happening, but it makes sense to me.

I agree that this should be happening -- both in the sense that I expect it is, and if it isn't people should start making the change if and when they can.

The larger issue for me is that there's a shift in thinking on the part of the goverment to prioritize funding of public transport alongside, or even instead of, new highways and parking garages that encourage a drive-everywhere mentality; in many areas, people aren't going to use existing servives unless they're expanded, improved, or even just properly maintained.

This would mean federal underwriting of subway and light-rail construction, more federal subsidies for Amtrak to both extend service and bring prices down, etc.

It seems feasible -- there's a movement towards "green building" that's getting a lot of attention here in Baltimore, where we're usually 10-30 years behind the times. Seems like public transport and green building as concepts should go hand in hand.