Re: Time to cut our dependence on and therefore our interest in the...

On Fri, 19 Aug 2005 17:29:51 GMT, "Jerry Okamura"
<okamuraj005@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>
>"Rita" <nitany_98@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>news:7qhag1t2l4kjcm8vcop4jcvopegmf954i5@xxxxxxxxxx
>> On Thu, 18 Aug 2005 23:19:00 GMT, "Jerry Okamura"
>> <okamuraj005@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>
>
>>>
>>>When we say that public transportation works, it really depends on what we
>>>mean by the term "working". Public transportation can never replace the
>>>convenience of a car. Public transporation can only take you to where
>>>that
>>>mode of transport goes to, which may not be where you want to go, and in
>>>most cases will not get you to every place you want to go, in the shortest
>>>period of time. A car that you own, can take you just about anywhere you
>>>want to go, when you want to go there and allows you to get there quicker
>>>and more conveniently that any public transportation system will.
>>>>
>> That depends on many variables. In New York City driving will not get
>> you around faster than public transportation and when you do reach your
>> destination you probably will not be able to park your car. There are
>> few parking garages in Manhattan and they charge $8 for 1/2 hour.
>> Much depends on how good the public transportation is and how widespread.
>> Travel through New York on the subway is very much faster than driving.
>
>Yes, and New York City has the main advantage that you can get just about
>anything you want via the subway. That is not true in just about anyplace
>else you live in this coutnry. It may come as a surpirse to you, but there
>are a whole lot of people that have to get from point A to point B that do
>not live in New York City. And you do not have to go very far to find
>them....just leave the city and go to most other places in the State of New
>York. Besides, New York City was not designed to accomodate the automobile.
>Go to someplace in the West Coast, and you will see the difference....lots
>and lots of parking to accomodate the automobile. By the way, as I recall
>parking fees are also a problem in Boston, and I suspect Chicago as well.
>
>> As far as being pleasant, driving on congested freeways with bumper to
>> bumper traffic is hardly a pleasant experience. Much pleasanter is to
>> get on a train and read a newspaper during the trip. I can use a
>> combination of subway and bus to get me within a block or so of almost
>> any place I want to go in the city. If you have not experienced this
>> I can see why you might not realize this is true. Most Americans
>> have not experienced a really good public transportation
>> system such as exist in New York, London and Paris, to name just a
>> few cities with truly excellent systems. We don't have them in many
>> places in the U.S.
>
>About the only time you have bumper to bumper traffic on the freeways is
>during rush hour traffic. That is why many people do not do their shopping
>during rush hour traffic. Besides, I use to live in Los Angelese, you do
>not have to even get on the freeway to do all the shopping you would
>normally be required to do.
>>
>> If everyone who uses public transport in New York decided to drive into
>> the city there would be a complete deadlock of traffic and no place to
>> park the cars. I've experienced driving on the Los Angeles freeways
>> and found it a hideous experience. Then you have cities like Seattle
>> with just one long route through the city and it also is very
>> unpleasant.
>
>Now it has been a very long time since I have been to New York city, but I
>seem to recall that the traffic in the city, inspite of all that extensive
>mass transit system and inspite of the lack of parking, is a mess, if you
>are unfortunate enough to be driving, so there must be a whole lot of people
>who are using their cars to get around.

Of course New York is different as are some other major metropolitan
areas. I participate in a newsgroup on travel in the U.S. and Bostonians
warn visitors not to try to drive in the city. Same for DC. But these
areas are well served by public transport.

There is a lot of traffic that is necessary to the city's operation.
Vans and trucks making deliveries to businesses, and the many Yellow
cabs. When looks down many avenues in the city you can see yellow
predominating. People do, of course, drive in the city but unless they
are lucky enough to have a place to park it isn't much fun or very
practical.

I am quite aware of conditions in the rest of the U.S. But would people
use their cars less if they had a comparable public transport system?
They would probably still own cars but not use them to get to and from
work. It seems impossible to me to live in most communities without a
car today. But I am happy to live in one where a car is not at all
necessary. If, for some reason, I am not up to getting on public
transport, I order a car service to take me. The overall cost of using
one now and then and the cost of traveling on public transport is just
a tiny fraction of the costs of owning a car.
>

.

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