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January 9, 2017
Reason #1 Why Americans Don’t Ride Transit:Transit Is Slow
Taken as a whole, urban transit averages 14.1 mph, less than half the speed of driving in most cities (and slower than many cyclists). This doesn’t count the time spent getting to and from transit stops, waiting for transit vehicles, or transferring from one to another, all of which make transit even slower. - - The AntiplannerPosted by gerardvanderleun at January 9, 2017 8:16 AM. This is an entry on the sideblog of American Digest: Check it out.
Your Say
All true. But what going by car versus gong by public transit really represents is FREEDOM. Freedom to leave on your own schedule, to follow your own route (run some errands while enroute to or from work), to listen to music or talk radio while traveling, to adjust the temperature to suit you, to avoid having to sit next to a smelly bum, to carry large loads that wouldn't be allowed on transit, and much more.
The auto/truck/van of today represents the same freedom that horses did back in the day. As long as people desire freedom and the government allows it, public transit will never be the preferred mode of travel for the majority.
Progressives need to give up trying to force people into public transit. But they won't. It's what they do.
Posted by: Jimmy J/ at January 9, 2017 10:35 AM
The last few years I worked, the shipyard bus stopped at the corner by my house at the time I got up. I had plenty of time to get ready and catch a ride to the shipyard with my co-worker who lives two miles farther down the road. And of course I got home at night well ahead of the worker bus too.
People will ride transit or will carpool when it makes sense. There were guys carpooling into the shipyard in 1939....
Posted by: pfsm at January 9, 2017 4:48 PM
Riding mass transit also puts you in contact with Dindu Nuffin. Whether you work day, swing, or nights you can count on Dindu freeriding to his or her hunting grounds.
Posted by: indyjonesouthere at January 9, 2017 6:20 PM