... because favoring mass transit is such a terrible idea....

Solutions like this are the only real answer to increasingly congested roads. Social engineering--ie, making it more convenient to use public transit than drive alone--is the only way. It will never be possible to build enough roads.

Ron Paul Revere: bronyaur1: ... because favoring mass transit is such a terrible idea....

It's yet another social engineering project by the do-gooder greenies who think they have the right to tell people how to conduct every facet of their lives.

It's not that this particular idea isn't a good idea in and of itself, it's that it's part of a very scary trend of government control of the populace.

... and spending BILLIONS of public money to build and maintain roads for private vehicles is NOT social engineering? Perhaps you would advocate total privatization of U.S. transportation?

(No, the gasoline tax does not cover the costs and subsidies to private vehicles).

You fail at economics.

Ron Paul Revere : Would you identify any public goods aspects of transportation, private or otherwise? Positive externalities?

And PLEASE do not channel Ron Paul - he is stunningly ignorant of these issues.

Ron Paul Revere: bronyaur1: ... because favoring mass transit is such a terrible idea....

It's yet another social engineering project by the do-gooder greenies who think they have the right to tell people how to conduct every facet of their lives.

It's not that this particular idea isn't a good idea in and of itself, it's that it's part of a very scary trend of government control of the populace.

The only way to make people do something is to make doing it more pleasant than not doing it. Take mass transit, like a bus. For me, these stink. It provides all the convenience of driving in gridlock, and throws in the satisfaction of sitting in what might be urine. Schedules are more suggestion than anything else, and they are constantly screwed up because of weather. Now, you make a special lane, plow that first, kick the poor people off, and I might get on one. Sort of like the train. It's fast, convenient, and it's full of commuters. I can take a nap without worrying about having my things stolen. It is more pleasant than driving, so I take it.

Ron Paul Revere: bronyaur1: Would you identify any public goods aspects of transportation, private or otherwise? Positive externalities?

Something tells me the savings on labor from not being forced to use unionized, overpaid government workers would be justification enough. I don't have a lot of time this morning, so I can't go into detailed explanations.

CougarJeff: Panty buncher.

Way to poke holes in my argument.

Starting off with "Something tells me...." when someone asks you to back up your "argument" means that it was leaky to begin with.

Oh.... it's going to be a glorious morning on Fark. I can smell the love.

Ron Paul Revere: bronyaur1: Would you identify any public goods aspects of transportation, private or otherwise? Positive externalities?

Something tells me the savings on labor from not being forced to use unionized, overpaid government workers would be justification enough.

FYI: Most road construction is done by private firms that bid on government contracts. Even so, something tells me that reducing union power can be more directly and effectively done via other kinds of policies than the pure privatization of transportation.

Pocket Ninja: It will never be possible to build enough roads.

This.

I'm thinking about buying an electric scooter just so I can use bike lanes.

Siiigh.

Oh goody, a "mass transit sucks" thread. You know who's barely effected by the price of gas? Me.

Sure, the price of goods and services are going up for me, but my total transportation cost is still $59.00 a month (pre tax exemption from work), and I get to work faster than people who sit in traffic.

Right now, at 9:25, one of my coworkers still isn't hear because, "the pike is backed up". Of course she's late at least twice a week, and is seriously on the verge of being fired...

Suck it, haters.

As someone that lives in Seattle, it works like this: mass transit comprises about 3% of the vehicles on the road, but take up 30% of the lanes.

Seattle = stupid politicians

Ron Paul Revere: but we're talking about lanes that go unused at least half the time.

If they were used all the time there would be bumper to bumper traffic.

LordZorch: mass transit comprises about 3% of the vehicles on the road, but take up 30% of the lanes.

How many people are in those mass transit vehicles compared to those in cars? 50:1? Maybe 25:1?

/personally feel there should be HOV lanes for buses or cars with 3 or more passengers during rush hours
//needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one

This is a pretty standard urban transportation solution. Here in Ottawa, there are several streets where buses get dedicated lanes in peak hours. It's a pain in the ass when you're in a car, but it makes sense in the big picture.

damageddude: How many people are in those mass transit vehicles compared to those in cars? 50:1? Maybe 25:1?

If the bus is full, the standard ratio is 40:1.

Only 10,000 riders per day? A lane can carry more than 10,000 single occupant vehicles per day.

And the guy answering the speed limit question is an idiot who needs to be removed from a position where he can influence transportation policy.

bronyaur1: ... because favoring mass transit is such a terrible idea....

Communist.

2wolves: Oh.... it's going to be a glorious morning on Fark. I can smell the love.

It's coz I had baked beans last night.

I know that, having once been a commuter in Seattle, I preferred the bus anyway. I HATED driving in Seattle, especially near the on-ramp to I-5 at Mercer. Holy freakin' shiat!

So a bus lane sounds like a good idea. If you want to avoid driving in the first place, that is...

OK. We've got a mass transit/driving debate going, and now the classic bike rider vs. car driver debate seem to be in the process of emerging. I'm confident that, with a little work, we could also intertwine the issues of women breast feeding in public, global warming, alternative energy, and gay marriage in here. This could be the perfect storm, people. It just could be.

Pocket Ninja: OK. We've got a mass transit/driving debate going, and now the classic bike rider vs. car driver debate seem to be in the process of emerging. I'm confident that, with a little work, we could also intertwine the issues of women breast feeding in public, global warming, alternative energy, and gay marriage in here. This could be the perfect storm, people. It just could be.

You know who else was into "alternative" energy and had problems with gays?

/got nothin

Adman12: If the bus is full, the standard ratio is 40:1.

You need to get bigger buses.

/57:1 here

Pocket Ninja: OK. We've got a mass transit/driving debate going, and now the classic bike rider vs. car driver debate seem to be in the process of emerging. I'm confident that, with a little work, we could also intertwine the issues of women breast feeding in public, global warming, alternative energy, and gay marriage in here. This could be the perfect storm, people. It just could be.

Riding a bike to get your cat de-clawed when circumsized is a way better way to travel.

If the bus is full, the standard ratio is 40:1.

Buses count as more than one vehicle for capacity planning because they are bigger and less maneuverable than cars. (I don't know how many. The book with the truck/bus:car ratio is at home and I am not.) Does 40:1 already dilute by the extra road capacity taken up by the bus?

ZAZ: Does 40:1 already dilute by the extra road capacity taken up by the bus?

That's the figure Environment Canada gave us. We don't ask too many questions. We're admen.


Pocket Ninja: OK. We've got a mass transit/driving debate going, and now the classic bike rider vs. car driver debate seem to be in the process of emerging. I'm confident that, with a little work, we could also intertwine the issues of women breast feeding in public, global warming, alternative energy, and gay marriage in here. This could be the perfect storm, people. It just could be.

Routine infant circumcision is barbaric and should be banned.

It's times like this I'm glad I just have to commute from north Lynnwood to south Everett.

bronyaur1: (No, the gasoline tax does not cover the costs and subsidies to private vehicles).

You fail at economics.

You fail at civics if you think for one second the gas tax only goes to roads.

DipsomaniacDawg: The_Sponge: It's times like this I'm glad I just have to commute from north Lynnwood to south Everett.

This might be the first time I've ever heard of anyone saying they were glad to be in Everett.

I just got of the Metro bus to Seattle so I'm getting a kick...


Fortunately, I just work in Everett.

/It's better living in Lynnwood, a.k.a. Sinwood.