Comments on: Our Transportation Secretary wants you out of your car! http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/05/27/transportation-secretary-wants-you-out-of-your-car/ Wed, 17 Mar 2010 03:36:17 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jef Nickerson http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/05/27/transportation-secretary-wants-you-out-of-your-car/comment-page-1/#comment-137072 Jef Nickerson Thu, 28 May 2009 20:10:08 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=3542#comment-137072 Maybe I should stop approving them then. The machine is obviously smahtah than I. Maybe I should stop approving them then. The machine is obviously smahtah than I.

]]> By: John West http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/05/27/transportation-secretary-wants-you-out-of-your-car/comment-page-1/#comment-137071 John West Thu, 28 May 2009 19:34:08 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=3542#comment-137071 weisenheimer, I think you missed the operative section of my post: "...if I could get to work using mass transit." Jef, I think it knows me better than you... . weisenheimer, I think you missed the operative section of my post: “…if I could get to work using mass transit.”

Jef, I think it knows me better than you… .

]]> By: Wesli Dymoke http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/05/27/transportation-secretary-wants-you-out-of-your-car/comment-page-1/#comment-137069 Wesli Dymoke Thu, 28 May 2009 16:39:27 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=3542#comment-137069 You're right in that if we sit back and wait, the problem will take care of itself. However, absent government guidance -- or 'interference' if you prefer that term -- that will happen in ways that most of us will find most inconvenient and unpleasant. Exactly how should we prosecute a future of integrated living habits and mass transit, when by its very nature the latter is a matter of public fiat? We can't have these nice things without government leading the way and making it happen. No one has successfully operated private mass transit in over half a century -- coincidentally concurrent with the rise of private motor travel, itself a massive and very highly invasive government programme. We made this mess together, and we need to get out of it together. You’re right in that if we sit back and wait, the problem will take care of itself. However, absent government guidance — or ‘interference’ if you prefer that term — that will happen in ways that most of us will find most inconvenient and unpleasant.

Exactly how should we prosecute a future of integrated living habits and mass transit, when by its very nature the latter is a matter of public fiat? We can’t have these nice things without government leading the way and making it happen. No one has successfully operated private mass transit in over half a century — coincidentally concurrent with the rise of private motor travel, itself a massive and very highly invasive government programme.

We made this mess together, and we need to get out of it together.

]]> By: weisenheimer http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/05/27/transportation-secretary-wants-you-out-of-your-car/comment-page-1/#comment-137068 weisenheimer Thu, 28 May 2009 16:19:00 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=3542#comment-137068 John, one step you can take today is to begin biking to work occasionally (or regularly)! Contact the Providence Bicycle Coalition for help in selecting a safe and convenient route; we'll be happy to help you. Bikeprovidence.org John, one step you can take today is to begin biking to work occasionally (or regularly)! Contact the Providence Bicycle Coalition for help in selecting a safe and convenient route; we’ll be happy to help you. Bikeprovidence.org

]]> By: Jef Nickerson http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/05/27/transportation-secretary-wants-you-out-of-your-car/comment-page-1/#comment-137067 Jef Nickerson Thu, 28 May 2009 15:44:17 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=3542#comment-137067 I don't know what it is about you John, but all your comments keep getting corralled in the spam queue. I just click 'approve' though. I don’t know what it is about you John, but all your comments keep getting corralled in the spam queue. I just click ‘approve’ though.

]]> By: John West http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/05/27/transportation-secretary-wants-you-out-of-your-car/comment-page-1/#comment-137066 John West Thu, 28 May 2009 15:05:37 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=3542#comment-137066 I would gladly get rid of my car if I could get to work using mass transit. OK, that's not fair. I can get there but it takes 1:30 to cover the 7 mile trip from Providence to Cranston. It takes 10 minutes if I drive. I'd be willing to spend 30-40 minutes a day in the bus, but not 3 hours. I would gladly get rid of my car if I could get to work using mass transit. OK, that’s not fair. I can get there but it takes 1:30 to cover the 7 mile trip from Providence to Cranston. It takes 10 minutes if I drive. I’d be willing to spend 30-40 minutes a day in the bus, but not 3 hours.

]]> By: Corey http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/05/27/transportation-secretary-wants-you-out-of-your-car/comment-page-1/#comment-137062 Corey Thu, 28 May 2009 00:17:00 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=3542#comment-137062 The fact of the matter is that also, up until World War II, dense development and mass transit WERE the norms in this country. There was a tremendous amount of social engineering on behalf of the federal government after the war, to create a new middle class - the one we're left with today - based on individual property ownership. The current system is actually the aberration here, relative to the overall scope of history and what was considered the norm for the majority of the time. If an entire new social infrastructure can be engineered in the space of 20 years after World War II, it can certainly be done now as well. I agree with Bret though, that it will take consistently higher fuel costs. The odds of the federal government actually legislating such a thing is pretty slim. Luckily though, gas prices are up about 50% from where they were in December despite the fact that the recession has continued to deepen since then and demand has remained low. As soon as the global economy enters a growth phase again, oil prices are bound to skyrocket, particularly in the US since we now have an administration that's unwilling to subsidize the frivolous drilling of the last 10 years. The fact of the matter is that also, up until World War II, dense development and mass transit WERE the norms in this country. There was a tremendous amount of social engineering on behalf of the federal government after the war, to create a new middle class – the one we’re left with today – based on individual property ownership. The current system is actually the aberration here, relative to the overall scope of history and what was considered the norm for the majority of the time. If an entire new social infrastructure can be engineered in the space of 20 years after World War II, it can certainly be done now as well.

I agree with Bret though, that it will take consistently higher fuel costs. The odds of the federal government actually legislating such a thing is pretty slim. Luckily though, gas prices are up about 50% from where they were in December despite the fact that the recession has continued to deepen since then and demand has remained low. As soon as the global economy enters a growth phase again, oil prices are bound to skyrocket, particularly in the US since we now have an administration that’s unwilling to subsidize the frivolous drilling of the last 10 years.

]]> By: Bret Ancowitz http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/05/27/transportation-secretary-wants-you-out-of-your-car/comment-page-1/#comment-137061 Bret Ancowitz Wed, 27 May 2009 21:12:06 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=3542#comment-137061 Interesting thoughts... I think we're well past a libertarian-ish notion of shucking such policy for a simplified and liberated system of greater property "rights." The problem is that "rights" aren't neutral. Any system granting rights to some by definition limits the actions of others... As long as opinions exist, the rightness of a "right" is somewhat relative... That said, the current reality of the situation is that there seems to be a policy movement towards density and more mass transit options. That said, I think the ONLY thing that will validate and give any such policy push a chance of working is MUCH higher gas prices. The Great Recession itself won't do it... The higher gas prices, through either the market or a higher gas tax, is absolutely critical. Oddly and ironically, the automakers may become one of the biggest pushers of such a gas tax now. The government, in their bailouts, is going to force those companies to make smaller, more efficient cars that the nation as a whole, historically, has never indicated they've wanted. The heartland, given the choice between a spoonful of caviar or a Big Mac will take the burger 9.9 times out of ten, and the same is true in autos... The automakers know those future small cars they're going to be forced to build won't find any market unless gas is probably over $4 a gallon. The polical fight will be really interesting... Interesting thoughts… I think we’re well past a libertarian-ish notion of shucking such policy for a simplified and liberated system of greater property “rights.” The problem is that “rights” aren’t neutral. Any system granting rights to some by definition limits the actions of others… As long as opinions exist, the rightness of a “right” is somewhat relative…

That said, the current reality of the situation is that there seems to be a policy movement towards density and more mass transit options. That said, I think the ONLY thing that will validate and give any such policy push a chance of working is MUCH higher gas prices. The Great Recession itself won’t do it… The higher gas prices, through either the market or a higher gas tax, is absolutely critical.

Oddly and ironically, the automakers may become one of the biggest pushers of such a gas tax now. The government, in their bailouts, is going to force those companies to make smaller, more efficient cars that the nation as a whole, historically, has never indicated they’ve wanted. The heartland, given the choice between a spoonful of caviar or a Big Mac will take the burger 9.9 times out of ten, and the same is true in autos…

The automakers know those future small cars they’re going to be forced to build won’t find any market unless gas is probably over $4 a gallon. The polical fight will be really interesting…

]]> By: Streetsblog » The Permanent Effect of Temporary Street Closures http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/05/27/transportation-secretary-wants-you-out-of-your-car/comment-page-1/#comment-137044 Streetsblog » The Permanent Effect of Temporary Street Closures Wed, 27 May 2009 14:10:37 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=3542#comment-137044 [...] Academy of Pediatrics statement that current development patterns are unhealthy for children; Greater City: Providence on the tension between property rights and progressive planning; and The Infrastructurist on the [...] [...] Academy of Pediatrics statement that current development patterns are unhealthy for children; Greater City: Providence on the tension between property rights and progressive planning; and The Infrastructurist on the [...]

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