there is a place called bethesda?

People who claim that the private sector is magically more efficient than the government are delusional or have never actually worked in the private sector.

BunkyBrewman: almost half of which would be spent to squeeze the trail and light-rail trains

Some of you are really that dumb, aren't you?

Perhaps you should use a bike trail every once in awhile fatmitter.

farking CATO Institute.

BunkyBrewman: almost half of which would be spent to squeeze the trail and light-rail trains

Some of you are really that dumb, aren't you?

Perhaps you should use a bike trail every once in awhile fatmitter.

AFAIK the Purple Line is a separate cost, it should probably read "almost half of which would be spent to squeeze the trail through the light-rail train tunnel."

t3knomanser: People who claim that the private sector is magically more efficient than the government are delusional or have never actually worked in the private sector.

Or they are simply dishonest and are willing to say anything to convince people to give them more money.

fark you in the ear for getting me to click a CATO link.

Rather than worrying about putting people to work building a bike trail, shouldn't they be focusing on abortion or the national motto?

Thank god this isn't a damn TPM link.

*rolls eyes*

First, TFA contradicts itself (or at least this headline):

Washington Bicycle Trail. "The cost to rebuild the Capital Crescent Trail along a future Purple Line has ballooned from an estimated $65 million to $103 million, almost half of which would be spent to squeeze the trail and light-rail trains through a tunnel in downtown Bethesda." Wow! That's got to be the world's most expensive bicycle trail at $103 million.

The project costs include light-rail and bike trails.

Second, what's the problem with it? Is it too much? Is it inefficient?

Or is it just spending any $$ on bike trails? I used to live in that area and commuted by bike. Why does it make sense to spend money to build roads so people can travel by car, but not to build trails so they can travel by bike?

bikerific: Why does it make sense to spend money to build roads so people can travel by car, but not to build trails so they can travel by bike?

Because the CATO Institute has elevated confirmation bias to a new level of professionalism. While they often do have the right approach to civil liberties issues, they're essentially Randroids.

bikerific: Why does it make sense to spend money to build roads so people can travel by car, but not to build trails so they can travel by bike?

Have you ever tried to load a Hoveround onto the back of a bicycle?

bikerific: First, TFA contradicts itself (or at least this headline):

Washington Bicycle Trail. "The cost to rebuild the Capital Crescent Trail along a future Purple Line has ballooned from an estimated $65 million to $103 million, almost half of which would be spent to squeeze the trail and light-rail trains through a tunnel in downtown Bethesda." Wow! That's got to be the world's most expensive bicycle trail at $103 million.

The project costs include light-rail and bike trails.

Second, what's the problem with it? Is it too much? Is it inefficient?

Or is it just spending any $$ on bike trails? I used to live in that area and commuted by bike. Why does it make sense to spend money to build roads so people can travel by car, but not to build trails so they can travel by bike?

Wait, wait, wait, did they really say that? Half of $103 million is going to 2 different things, including a light-rail tunnel. So their conclusion, and the conclusion of tardmitter, is the full $103 million on just a bike trail?

Anger.... rising....

It's pretty funny, because the DC area is quickly becoming very bike friendly. In fact, the Cato Institute (at 10th and Mass NW) is less than a block away from a Capital Bikeshare station, and I bet some of those dont-tread-on-me idealists who carry water for their corporate masters get to work via bicycle, because I'm guessing that like a good objectivist organization, they don't pay their interns any more than they have to (i.e. zilch).

But obviously the government shouldn't be building infrastructure, that's the private sector's job - then they can charge tolls for every square foot that you drive on.

SphericalTime: FloydA: Yeah, we shouldn't be wasting money on bridges, roads, light rail or bike paths.

We should do something useful and important, like reaffirming "In God We Trust" as the national motto. That will create jobs!

Lol. Reaffirming the national motto created more jobs than a $103 million bike and light rail tunnel project through an urban area. After all, it required the congressmen to argue about the affirmation and the personnel to bring them snacks and water as they watched each other, and lobbyists to elect them.

What kinds of jobs do you think the bike trail and tunnel project required? I'll tell you: none. God did it magically.

Libtards are so dumb. They don't understand how anything works.

Many bicyclists actually believe that roads, bridges, and bike paths actually spring from the ground fully formed, smoothly paved, and perfectly marked by divine providence.

So yeah, I take your point.

Nederlanders have some downright tits bike paths, all integrated into their cities.

Xai: there is a place called bethesda?

Yes there is. They have a Barnes & Noble I go into, and a friend and I try to guess how many hot Asian chicks will be in there studying. Sometimes we'll add a variable, like hot Asian chicks are in there wearing an Ivy League sweat/t-shirt? Etc.

Phil Moskowitz: Nederlanders have some downright tits bike paths, all integrated into their cities.

Likewise Belgians, Germans, Danes, Swedes, etc.

Xai: there is a place called bethesda?

Ever hear of a little game called Fallout 3? Made by Bethesda Softworks.

Got to love those Cato boneheads: Air traffic control? Who needs that shiat! Cut it!

Lumpmoose: If it's a massive overhaul and modernization, I would be for it even if it were only a bicycle trail.

[www.tc.umn.edu image 640x480]

It's one of my favorite services provided by government.

That's one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen, just incredible. How far does it stretch, like is it actually useful for getting around? There's a path like this in my mom's town, but it's maybe half a mile long and filled with strollers (read: useless).

Snarcoleptic_Hoosier: If we really want to get serious about government waste, I say we cut 20% of the Pentagon's budget.

STUPID LIBTARDS! BUILDINGS ONLY NEED FOUR WALLS!

We should stop building floors and only build ceilings. Boom, savings. You're welcome, DIMS.

PanicMan: Xai: there is a place called bethesda?

Ever hear of a little game called Fallout 3? Made by Bethesda Softworks.

Heh, my brother worked on the original Fallout 3 at Black Isle. Sigh. I think he's still owed a month's pay.

ANd yeah, that article was retarded. They were complaining about running a Metro link to Dulles International Airport. I used to live 19 miles from Dulles, and a Metro line would be a HUGE improvement for commuters and travelers.

Mike Chewbacca: PanicMan: Xai: there is a place called bethesda?

Ever hear of a little game called Fallout 3? Made by Bethesda Softworks.

Heh, my brother worked on the original Fallout 3 at Black Isle. Sigh. I think he's still owed a month's pay.

ANd yeah, that article was retarded. They were complaining about running a Metro link to Dulles International Airport. I used to live 19 miles from Dulles, and a Metro line would be a HUGE improvement for commuters and travelers.

I mean 10 miles, not 19. I actually worked at an office building at the Dulles airport. You'd think there'd be great public transit to the airport (especially THAT one), but you'd be wrong.

Mike Chewbacca: PanicMan: Xai: there is a place called bethesda?

Ever hear of a little game called Fallout 3? Made by Bethesda Softworks.

Heh, my brother worked on the original Fallout 3 at Black Isle. Sigh. I think he's still owed a month's pay.

ANd yeah, that article was retarded. They were complaining about running a Metro link to Dulles International Airport. I used to live 19 miles from Dulles, and a Metro line would be a HUGE improvement for commuters and travelers.

Anything that improves traffic on the 66 is worth spending money on. I moved to Phoenix 12 years ago, and it's a traffic paradise compared to DC.

Mike Chewbacca: You'd think there'd be great public transit to the airport (especially THAT one), but you'd be wrong.

I did think that the first time I used that airport. That's a mistake I won't make twice.

Maybe it's just me, but I'd rather the government spend $103m on a bike trail than $103m on tax cuts to religious groups.

Personally I don't mind if they cancel bike trail funding. I'm a cyclist, and I ride on the roads, because there are no useful trails here.

It's all the car drivers who ought to be clamoring for bike paths. They're the ones who get pissed off that they have to spend an extra 5 seconds thinking about how they're going to safely pass me, after all.

We need to keep the government out of infrastructure projects. Why are they always meddling in these things?

Elzar: MithrandirBooga: Personally I don't mind if they cancel bike trail funding. I'm a cyclist, and I ride on the roads, because there are no useful trails here.

It's all the car drivers who ought to be clamoring for bike paths. They're the ones who get pissed off that they have to spend an extra 5 seconds thinking about how they're going to safely pass me, after all.

As a fellow cyclist I concur - in fact I wish they would just take the extra funding and widen the bike lanes along roads - why can't we get 4' of shoulder on every road - that would be a great shovel-ready stimulus plan.

The problem with bike trails/paths is that after they are built, they are rarely maintained to the level they need to be in order to sustain 20mph+ speeds on a road bike. In my area we have a number of bike paths and almost none of them are suitable for riding at speeds above 12mph.

Bear in mind, though, that a lot of the most advantageous space for bikers to add lanes is in cities, and finding 4' in a city can be impossible in many/most locations. Pittsburgh's been trying to expand bike lane availability, but short of knocking down entire blocks of housing, it's impossible in certain areas.

How about $103 million for a bicycle trail

How about wasting more than that on putting bandaids on our antiquated single car occupant infrastructure?

Cato? You still there?