The future of public transportation in the Valley... (Phoenix, Tucson: house, transfer)

[jnojr]

Originally Posted by FirebirdCamaro1220

Exactly, I love driving my Camaro SS, I don't want that taken away from me to be shuttled in some electric self driving Prius or whatever

Taking off for a weekend fun drive is one thing. Wasting my time sitting at the wheel fighting traffic to get to somewhere I need to be is another. I'd love to be able to summon a car, tell it where to take me, and then sit back and read, work, watch TV, sleep, drink, whatever until it gets me there. If it breaks, I summon another. If it needs maintenance, let someone else worry about it. If it gets a ticket, oh well!

It'll be a while before there is enough self-driving cars that there'd be limitations on human-driven cars creating problems. Not sure how that'd be addressed. Even though I believe self-driving cars are a certainty and will be here much sooner than many believe, I don't expect to have to worry about this during my lifetime.

Fact is, more and more and more people is a problem. And that problem will be addressed, and probably badly, by governments. No getting away from that.

[john3232]

The light rail runs alongside street traffic so depending on where you get on it can take a long time to to reach downtown Phx.

Traffic is on going to get worse in the coming years but I'm not sure what can be done... outside of expending freeways.

The only other option I see is to spend an endless amount of money and create (over the next 15-20) years a train system which runs on its own track away from city traffic.

But this would never be approved by votes. So, you will need a car if you're gong to live in the Phx. metro.

And it better be in good running condition.

[Sno0909]

Originally Posted by jnojr

Taking off for a weekend fun drive is one thing. Wasting my time sitting at the wheel fighting traffic to get to somewhere I need to be is another. I'd love to be able to summon a car, tell it where to take me, and then sit back and read, work, watch TV, sleep, drink, whatever until it gets me there. If it breaks, I summon another. If it needs maintenance, let someone else worry about it. If it gets a ticket, oh well!

It'll be a while before there is enough self-driving cars that there'd be limitations on human-driven cars creating problems. Not sure how that'd be addressed. Even though I believe self-driving cars are a certainty and will be here much sooner than many believe, I don't expect to have to worry about this during my lifetime.

Fact is, more and more and more people is a problem. And that problem will be addressed, and probably badly, by governments. No getting away from that.

Yeah, as a die-hard automotive enthusiast, I'm going to agree with you on this one. Driving is fun and I love it. But driving here during rush hour is a miserable time. And I drive a stick shift, so it's about 10x worse.

[timothyaw]

Originally Posted by Sno0909

Yeah, as a die-hard automotive enthusiast, I'm going to agree with you on this one. Driving is fun and I love it. But driving here during rush hour is a miserable time. And I drive a stick shift, so it's about 10x worse.

I drive a manual here also. Rush hour traffic is getting worse, but for NOW at least it's MOVING albeit slowly. So I can keep it in first gear pretty much without doing too much shifting.

[Jnvlv247]

I just love, "I come from place X and Phoenix should do what X does becuase it's better" threads

[sh9730]

Originally Posted by Jnvlv247

I just love, "I come from place X and Phoenix should do what X does becuase it's better" threads

While I get your point - there should not be a reason that we are not open to better ideas that have been testing and learned from elsewhere.

Not to do it just for the sake of - but be open to it.

[FirebirdCamaro1220]

Originally Posted by Sno0909

Yeah, as a die-hard automotive enthusiast, I'm going to agree with you on this one. Driving is fun and I love it. But driving here during rush hour is a miserable time. And I drive a stick shift, so it's about 10x worse.

I drive a stick shift (both in my car, and my semi-tractor at work) and I don't complain

[FirebirdCamaro1220]

Originally Posted by sh9730

While I get your point - there should not be a reason that we are not open to better ideas that have been testing and learned from elsewhere.

Not to do it just for the sake of - but be open to it.

I think Phoenix has grown to be a much better place in the 19 years I've lived here. When I first moved here, the good weather was one of the only positives. A lot of amenities were lacking. That has filled in with time and growth though

[Sno0909]

Originally Posted by FirebirdCamaro1220

I drive a stick shift (both in my car, and my semi-tractor at work) and I don't complain

I'm not complaining. I won't drive anything but a stick (which is why I bought one). Saying something is not very enjoyable is not the same as complaining. So, no, it's not very enjoyable to drive a stick stopping and going at 5 mph. But I still would not do it any other way.

[FirebirdCamaro1220]

Originally Posted by Sno0909

I'm not complaining. I won't drive anything but a stick (which is why I bought one). Saying something is not very enjoyable is not the same as complaining. So, no, it's not very enjoyable to drive a stick stopping and going at 5 mph. But I still would not do it any other way.

It's actually easier driving my semi in stop and go traffic than my car. The semi has so much torque (almost 1,900 ftlbs!) that I only have to leave the transmission in 1st gear (or Low gear if facing uphill) and just let out the clutch (no throttle pedal needed)