sether

Mapping Obama's Now-Failed Transport Policy

Yes, our pattern of development is not dense enough, even in latter-day 'cities' like the ones you mention, because it was driven (no pun intended) by the prevailing mode of transport, the CAR. Development needs to include and consider non-auto transport at the earliest stages.


On Feb 10 07:00 PM socphd71 wrote:

> Rail requires higher population density than do cars. Our suburbs,
> as well as many rural areas, are built to such a low population density
> that there is little alternative to cars -- not even urban transit
> with small buses. Large cities largely built after the automobile
> (e.g., Phoenix) also lack the population density to support rail
> as a substitute for most car driving. These factors will create even
> more problems when the baby boomers reach their later 70s and older.
> Many will no longer be physically and/or mentally able to drive,
> yet they will still need to get around.

Mapping Obama's Now-Failed Transport Policy

over 40,000 people die annually in automobiles. One doesn't hear that statistic very often. And the difference between 'automobile infrastructure' and public transportation infrastucture, is that one is subsidised HEAVILY, and the other is not. Your precious highway system is SOCIALISED, you dope, in fact to a much greater degree than most public transport.
And driving 90 minutes to work and back every day does not make you more free. It does obviously make you a xenophobe though. Have you ever been on a train in your life? Yes, there may be brown people on it, but they generally will not try to rape or kill you. Statistically you are more likely to burn to death in your car under a Mexican semi.
Your ideas are narrow and not your own. Think about things a bit first. Take a nice walk. Read a novel.


On Feb 10 12:03 PM Socialism cannot compete! wrote:

> Let me say: one of the most important structures of the United States,
> automobile infrastructure, is also one of its great strengths; it
> remains solvent, unlike Amtrak, and is a present and future asset
> of the people. It makes us more free, able to move around on our
> own schedule, and more safe, not having to worry about who is in
> the rail car with us, and what they may try to do; in recent years,
> fuel efficiency has begun to make the leaps that will secure its
> place as one of the pillars of not only the national economy, but
> one of the great enablers of freedom: the ability to be individually
> mobile -- to go where one wants, when one wants, independent of decree
> on whether the public modes run that day or not...or whether the
> rail, ferry or air traffic workers decide to strike -- we can GO
> when we want to go. Sufficient automobile infrastructure is foundational
> to the U.S. economy.