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I'm inclined to like light rail. I like urban environments and public transportation. But almost everyone in the United States, seemingly, hates light rail and has convincing arguments for why every project is an expensive boondoggle. The cost per lane of light rail vs. freeways, as well as the amount of people each lane typically carries, is hard to argue against - the freeway wins hands down on both accounts.
Yet I've been having a hard time wrapping my head around this. How is that "poorer" countries can afford excellent transit systems, but for some reason it's so prohibitively costly and disliked on US soil? Something doesn't add up. My gut instinct is that Americans are so used to driving and so overburdened with personal debts that they can't see the forest from the trees.
But of course, there's probably a throng of people frothing at the mouth ready to tell me why that's not true, either.
Is it just that Americans view transit as for poor people, and that the "wealthy" people of the US have better things to spend their time and money on?
No, no. It can't be that, either.
Could someone please explain this to a simpleton like me? Thank you.
Americans hate taxes and govt, particularly Southern and Western regions of the US. They view everything thru the prism of taking their rights away, their land, taxing them and stealing their money to build transit for the poor.
The US is an awful country to try to govern compared to all other first world nations. Sooner rather than later this country will be 2nd world. Now we have Libertarians proposing that all streets, bridges, roads be privatized. Can you imagine the hodgepodge that would create. This whacked Libertarian on Faux News was going on about how every single person should be allowed to buy a street or bridge and do with it what they please.
I'm inclined to like light rail. I like urban environments and public transportation. But almost everyone in the United States, seemingly, hates light rail and has convincing arguments for why every project is an expensive boondoggle. The cost per lane of light rail vs. freeways, as well as the amount of people each lane typically carries, is hard to argue against - the freeway wins hands down on both accounts.
Yet I've been having a hard time wrapping my head around this. How is that "poorer" countries can afford excellent transit systems, but for some reason it's so prohibitively costly and disliked on US soil? Something doesn't add up. My gut instinct is that Americans are so used to driving and so overburdened with personal debts that they can't see the forest from the trees.
But of course, there's probably a throng of people frothing at the mouth ready to tell me why that's not true, either.
Is it just that Americans view transit as for poor people, and that the "wealthy" people of the US have better things to spend their time and money on?
No, no. It can't be that, either.
Could someone please explain this to a simpleton like me? Thank you.
Because most are operated poorly and inefficiently.
This is a good question, and one that applies more or less here in Canada, too. Going abroad to any overseas major cities will leave your mind boggling when you compare public transport. Many cities have such extensive rail networks, it's incredible.
It probably does have to do with the reliance and prevalance of motor vehicles. A lot of people probably just can't relate to riding a train because it's had a stigma for too long now.
I have never used a light rail system before, except a bullet train in China. I think most Americans are happy commuting how they do now. No city in my state would be ahead with a light rail. I live in Kansas. I have thought a high speed rail from Kansas City to Denver would be cool. The problem is the tickets need to be cheap, and the only system comparable, Amtrak, is not cheap at all. Train from KC to Chicago is 3 times the cost of an airplane ticket. My town, Lawrence, has a good public bus system and bicycle infrastructure. Most cities outside New England are too spread out for a rail system to work. We'd have to completely change urban planning to make light rail work well. I'd be ok with denser cities, but I don't see it happening.
Edit: I forgot I have used light rail in Shanghai, and it works amazingly, but no US city is laid out like that.
Americans hate taxes and govt, particularly Southern and Western regions of the US. They view everything thru the prism of taking their rights away, their land, taxing them and stealing their money to build transit for the poor.
The US is an awful country to try to govern compared to all other first world nations. Sooner rather than later this country will be 2nd world. Now we have Libertarians proposing that all streets, bridges, roads be privatized. Can you imagine the hodgepodge that would create. This whacked Libertarian on Faux News was going on about how every single person should be allowed to buy a street or bridge and do with it what they please.
Americans hate taxes and govt, particularly Southern and Western regions of the US. They view everything thru the prism of taking their rights away, their land, taxing them and stealing their money to build transit for the poor.
The US is an awful country to try to govern compared to all other first world nations. Sooner rather than later this country will be 2nd world. Now we have Libertarians proposing that all streets, bridges, roads be privatized. Can you imagine the hodgepodge that would create. This whacked Libertarian on Faux News was going on about how every single person should be allowed to buy a street or bridge and do with it what they please.
Ugh. This place is hopeless.
One person said that! Wow! Then it's definite that it's going to happen.
What's the point of a rail system when we have airplanes and cars?
Could you imagine how cities like Chicago and New York City would be with any rail system?
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This!
