Joe
That's what people chose to do, given a choice.
What individual people prefer is not always what's best for society in general.
Something that has not been tried is the other approach: making public transportation more attractive. Or even better, taking public out of the public transportation and replace it with private.
Actually there are more and more attempts at this kind of approach. Many new light and heavy rail trains have amenities normally associated with first class airline service......telephones, laptop hookups, spacious seating, designated places to sit and eat and/or drink, food/drink bar, etc. They are fairly successful. In many cities, mass transit ridership (particularly on the west coast) is increasing albeit slowly.
I was in LA recently and they now have special buses that can change traffic lights to insure faster travel. That seems to be the ultimate key....as traffic congestion worsens and speed of travel diminishes....more and more middle and an upper class people turn to mass transit as an alternative so long as it gets them there faster and is pleasant.
As for private involvement, Super Shuttle et al are the equivalent...and they have met with mixed success.
I actually took a bus from the airport the other day (you should try it one day, talk is cheap). It was run by a private company, and I had a very positive experience. The bus was roomy, quiet, clean, comfortable, air-conditioned, with enough leg room for my long legs.
Like I said earlier, there have been a ton of improvements. Unfortunately most people don't know about them.
Of course there is the inconvenience of not ending up exactly where you want to end up, and another leg by some other means of transportation to get to your doorstep, which can be very inconvenient with luggage. That's why people take cabs, if they can afford it.
Nothing is perfect. <g>
The only way for mass transportation to work is to remove it from the control of people with 19th century, industrial age thinking. Also, the word "mass" will somehow need to be removed from mass transportation as well, and cater to the individual.
I think that is happening....gov't officials are being forced to think outside the box. I consider this as important as issue...you will love this one, Joe....as global warming. <g>
I don't see anything on the horizon with a good chance of succeeding.
There will not be one solution...the problem is way too complicated. Rather we will have to rethink the entire transit system for a metro area, pull it apart and rebuild it piece by piece...implementing different solutions for different pieces.
ted |
