Stats that show the Atlanta Streetcar was a complete and utter failure of epic proportion (Decatur: sales tax, statistics)

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by cqholt

IT'S A NATIONAL AVERAGE?!
Also, how many lower income people are going to be able to afford a brand new car with a warranty? Most buy used from a dealer or consumer-to-consumer.

Makes me wonder if you read my original post, cq. I'm talking about giving them a nice, energy efficient sedan. With mass buying power that ought to be doable for $12,000 per unit -- maybe even a lot less, I don't know.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Makes me wonder if you read my original post, cq. I'm talking about giving them a nice, energy efficient sedan. With mass buying power that ought to be doable for $12,000 per unit -- maybe even a lot less, I don't know.

Why? In 4 years they will just need a new one and then we buy cars again? When we can use that money to build more permanent infrastructure that in-the-long-run costs less in maintenance? Just use the money to build infrastructure that EVERYONE can use.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by onemanarmy

That's your annual operating cost, but not your total cost of ownership. Depreciation cost and all maintenance spent on the car should be totaled and divided annually over the life of the car.

Fair enough. I don't know that I would care about depreciation cost, since I don't plan on selling this vehicle intact to anyone. I've driven it for almost 20 years, and plan on continuing.

That said, selling it to someone now would result in the same operating cost and maybe a $2000 purchase fee if I'm lucky. It isn't that expensive to own an older vehicle that has been cared for.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Why? In 4 years they will just need a new one and then we buy cars again? When we can use that money to build more permanent infrastructure that in-the-long-run costs less in maintenance? Just use the money to build infrastructure that EVERYONE can use.

Has anybody asked poor folks whether they'd rather have a free car vs. the ability to walk several blocks to a streetcar line that they can then ride to a MARTA station and transfer to a bus or train?

Different strokes for different folks, I guess, but if it were me and I was hoping to move up the economic ladder and improve my quality of life I'd take the car.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Has anybody asked poor folks whether they'd rather have a free car vs. the ability to walk several blocks to a streetcar line that they can then ride to a MARTA station and transfer to a bus or train?

Different strokes for different folks, I guess, but if it were me and I was hoping to move up the economic ladder and improve my quality of life I'd take the car.

Aint nothing free about that car.

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Has anybody asked poor folks whether they'd rather have a free car vs. the ability to walk several blocks to a streetcar line that they can then ride to a MARTA station and transfer to a bus or train?

Different strokes for different folks, I guess, but if it were me and I was hoping to move up the economic ladder and improve my quality of life I'd take the car.

What about we just get rid of the handouts all together and just let people decide where they spend their money?

Places with the lowest transportation subsidies see some pretty high usage of the privately run transit systems.

[toll_booth]

Originally Posted by arjay57

With all due respect, cq, the theory that a streetcar for millennials is going to address income inequality is pie in the sky.

The hell? Dude he wasn't just talking about the streetcar or one generation of riders.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by jsvh

What about we just get rid of the handouts all together and just let people decide where they spend their money?

Places with the lowest transportation subsidies see some pretty high usage of the privately run transit systems.

You may call them handouts, jsvh.

However, if we want to address income equality and give people a chance to break the cycle of poverty, why not give them some real, practical solutions such as an automobile?

Can you imagine how that would free folks up and give them dignity and independence? They'd be able to go anywhere they want, on their own schedule. A mother could take her children to and from school and to the doctor. They could go directly to the grocery store and bring their food straight home, instead of having to schlep it down the street or heave it onto mass transit. They'd be able to go straight to their jobs, wherever they might be, rather than being limited to where a bus or a train runs. And maybe they'd just like to go out for a cruise sometimes, listen to some music and feel the wind blowing in their face.

As I said earlier, they may be reasons to build streetcars but addressing income inequality isn't one of them.

[0nyxStation]

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/m...-drops-45.html

Its looking like a waste....

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by 0nyxStation

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/m...-drops-45.html

Its looking like a waste....

Long term investment. I don't understand how people can judge an incomplete system after 1 year?