RESCUE MUNI listserv - RE: Digest rescuemuni.v001.n271
Thomas Schlegel (thansen@well.com)
Tue, 18 Aug 1998 20:17:59 -0700
With regard to the debate about light rail vs. dedicated bus lanes. I
appreciate the theoretical argument in favor of the cheaper dedicated bus
lanes but I don't see how they can ever be a success. Reason? Any paved
lane will be taken over by auto traffic. Look at the recent matter of the
HOV lane leading to the Bay Bridge. There was a court consent decree that
mandated that it be left to full time carpools for a year. How long did it
actually last before the politicians grabbed it? 5 months?
American transit culture is clear that transit is a device to get
someone else off the road and out of the way so "you and me" - and we know
who we are - can drive our cars. I believe a main reason rail is popular
is that people know this. They know that any bus system will by definition
be inferior transportation to the cars it shares right of way with. They
support rail based on the hope that it can actually provide a definably
superior service.