Comments on: Travel by car: Minnesota’s big public subsidy

By: noodleman

noodleman — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:24:49 +0000

The bar keeps rising, though, and that’s what most people forget.

Entry into the ranks of the upper-middle-class 30 years ago started at around $50k. Now, it’s at least three times that amount.

The closer you get to the summit, the further away it gets.

By: mnblrmkr

mnblrmkr — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:15:39 +0000

Nothing wrong with having that desire, per se. But there has to be a recognition that not everyone can actually live like that.

Just as having everyone live on multi-acre lots with 5,000 sq ft homes isn’t a realistic goal.

By: noodleman

noodleman — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:38:28 +0000

How many you think dream of the day when they don’t have to be a strap hanger?

Much of the recent growth in transit use has been from among the “many” who opted out of using their cars to commute, choosing instead to be a strap-hanger.

Not everyone equates “liberty” and “freedom” with driving solo to-and-from work. Isn’t it ironic that some (if not much) motivation to make the change is the result of Republican laissez faire economics?

I bet a lot of those commuters are just thankful to still be gainfully employed.

By: Rat

Rat — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:35:28 +0000

Just a question. Just asking.

Do you find something inherently wrong with with someone have a simple desire like that? That maybe the bus or train life just isn’t for them, and they prefer something else?

By: mnblrmkr

mnblrmkr — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:25:36 +0000

How many you think dream of the day when they don't have to be a strap hanger?

SO, where are we going to park all those cars then? Where are we goingto build the 12 or 16 lane freeways needed to allow all those cars to move anywhere? Assuming we can find the physical space to even build that, how are qwe goingto pay for it?

Myself? I loved being able to commute by bus to work during the 3 years I did that.

By: Dougie_D

Dougie_D — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:13:30 +0000

Rat,

You have crystalized why anyone votes Republicans. They continue to promise that 50% of the country can be in the top 5% of earners and for some reason people can’t figure out that it won’t ever happen.

I’ll bet more of those commuters would love a nice clean quiet train ride into the city.

By: Rat

Rat — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:36:31 +0000

“I suspect that hte majority of transit users are the unwashed masses.”

How many you think dream of the day when they don’t have to be a strap hanger?

By: Dougie_D

Dougie_D — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:02:58 +0000

My 1995 Honda Civic is rated at 28 MPG combined highway and city. I’m guessing I might have to pay into the Cars for Clunkers fund if I want to trade in.

That is fairly close to what I see. I think I need to jump start it though , I haven’t driven it in a few months.

By: mnblrmkr

mnblrmkr — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:39:52 +0000

rat, I suspect that hte majority of transit users are the unwashed masses. not the parlor game playing bourgeois.

By: mnblrmkr

mnblrmkr — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:38:44 +0000

One of you anti-transit people want to take a shot at explaining how we can afford to build sufficient road capacity to handle a non-transit world? As I’ve said before, we can’t even afford to maintain the roads we already have, let alone all the new ones that would be required.

Also, please explain WHERE we will put all this new road capacity. There’s going to be a lot of screaming and crying as all that private property is taken to build all these new roads.

Finally, I highly recommend that you take a look at pictures of the Beijing air (James Fallows has numerous examples on his Atlantic blog), so you have an idea what you’ll be looking at in your transit free utopia.