Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Reason #43 Not to Ride Transit
Why don't more Americans ride transit? I've already pointed out two reasons on this list: Transit leaves people vulnerable to inane transit agency rules (reason #45) and intrusive federal security guards (reason #44). Today, New York illustrates another reason: becoming dependent on transit leaves you vulnerable to transit unions, even if transit strkes are supposed to be illegal.
In most American cities, transit strikes are not very disruptive. Many transit riders have access to cars and so few people ride transit, even in Boston and San Francisco, that a transit strike would add little traffic to the highways. Not so in New York, which sprawl opponents celebrate as the most transit-dependent city in the United States. Nearly two-thirds of the commuters in Manhattan, more than half of the commuters city-wide, and nearly 30 percent of commuters in the entire urban area ride transit to work.
To prevent even worse-than-normal congestion, New York City has prohibited cars from entering Manhattan between 5 and 11 am unless they have four people or more in them. Predictably, this led to a huge rush of traffic between 4 and 5 am as people tried to beat the deadline.
The first lesson for other American cities is: don't aspire to become as transit-dependent as New York. The larger lesson is: as long as transit riders are vulnerable to strikes, officious guards, and stupid transit rules, don't expect that spending a few billion dollars on rail transit will attract many people to give up the freedom they enjoy in their automobiles.
In most American cities, transit strikes are not very disruptive. Many transit riders have access to cars and so few people ride transit, even in Boston and San Francisco, that a transit strike would add little traffic to the highways. Not so in New York, which sprawl opponents celebrate as the most transit-dependent city in the United States. Nearly two-thirds of the commuters in Manhattan, more than half of the commuters city-wide, and nearly 30 percent of commuters in the entire urban area ride transit to work.
To prevent even worse-than-normal congestion, New York City has prohibited cars from entering Manhattan between 5 and 11 am unless they have four people or more in them. Predictably, this led to a huge rush of traffic between 4 and 5 am as people tried to beat the deadline.
The first lesson for other American cities is: don't aspire to become as transit-dependent as New York. The larger lesson is: as long as transit riders are vulnerable to strikes, officious guards, and stupid transit rules, don't expect that spending a few billion dollars on rail transit will attract many people to give up the freedom they enjoy in their automobiles.
Comments:
>>>>Why don't more Americans ride transit? I've already pointed out two reasons on this list: Transit leaves people vulnerable to inane transit agency rules (reason #45)<<<<<
The rules pointed out by reason #45 are quite simple to follow. They are not inane.
>>>>>> and intrusive federal security guards (reason #44>>>>>>
As pointed out, these security guards in reason #44 are temporary and non-existant in most transit systems. In fact, I've never been stopped by intrusive federal security guards. Never.
>>>>> Today, New York illustrates another reason: becoming dependent on transit leaves you vulnerable to transit unions, even if transit strkes are supposed to be illegal.
<<<<<
Transit strikes are a part of the minor discomfort one must take when dealing with any public service. A transit strike every 25 years is a minor concern for the benefit of remaining car free and NOT having to pay for insurance, car payments, tolls, tickets, repairs and maintenance.
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The rules pointed out by reason #45 are quite simple to follow. They are not inane.
>>>>>> and intrusive federal security guards (reason #44>>>>>>
As pointed out, these security guards in reason #44 are temporary and non-existant in most transit systems. In fact, I've never been stopped by intrusive federal security guards. Never.
>>>>> Today, New York illustrates another reason: becoming dependent on transit leaves you vulnerable to transit unions, even if transit strkes are supposed to be illegal.
<<<<<
Transit strikes are a part of the minor discomfort one must take when dealing with any public service. A transit strike every 25 years is a minor concern for the benefit of remaining car free and NOT having to pay for insurance, car payments, tolls, tickets, repairs and maintenance.
