Yeah, sounds great. Considering that I'm not aware of a previous administration I'd call "train friendly", I'm not sure it's a high bar they're attempting to o'er leap.
Oh, I know. I want to be optimistic. And I know the reason they don't talk about it in the campaign is that they're afraid people will think the Democrats are trying to take their cars away.
It's a big step forward. I'm just pessimistic because we're so far behind. That said, this is one of the key reasons I'm voting for Obama/Biden.
Currently, public transit and transit-oriented development has largely escaped the attention of right-wing culture warriors, but a few of them have noticed from time to time, so we can tell what they are likely to say.
They'd say that public transit and transit-oriented development are about dragging people out of their houses and cars and stuffing them into apartment buildings and buses and trains against their will.
In fact, one right-winger stated some months back that even if there were subway-train stations right next to his home and workplace, he'd still drive to work.
That hotels and airliners have a similar sardine-can quality does not seem to bother them.
And they'd also whine about how much tax money goes to support such supposedly marginal transport systems.
Yeah, sounds great. Considering that I'm not aware of a previous administration I'd call "train friendly", I'm not sure it's a high bar they're attempting to o'er leap.
ReplyDeleteJust remember, Biden commutes via AMTRAK, and Obama lives in a transit oriented neighborhood, a few blocks from a commuter rail station.
ReplyDeleteOh, I know. I want to be optimistic. And I know the reason they don't talk about it in the campaign is that they're afraid people will think the Democrats are trying to take their cars away.
ReplyDeleteIt's a big step forward. I'm just pessimistic because we're so far behind. That said, this is one of the key reasons I'm voting for Obama/Biden.
Currently, public transit and transit-oriented development has largely escaped the attention of right-wing culture warriors, but a few of them have noticed from time to time, so we can tell what they are likely to say.
ReplyDeleteThey'd say that public transit and transit-oriented development are about dragging people out of their houses and cars and stuffing them into apartment buildings and buses and trains against their will.
In fact, one right-winger stated some months back that even if there were subway-train stations right next to his home and workplace, he'd still drive to work.
That hotels and airliners have a similar sardine-can quality does not seem to bother them.
And they'd also whine about how much tax money goes to support such supposedly marginal transport systems.
As I wrote on Streetsblog, the Lincoln administration is a tough act to follow.
ReplyDelete