Saturday, March 7, 2009
Friday, November 21, 2008
50cents a ride = $1 a day = $5 a week = $20 a month = $240 a year
At some point many years ago, I think on a family road trip, i realized the vast scope and complexity of the u.s. highway and intracity road infrastructure. Which lead me to think about how and why this came about as opposed to mass transit, intercity rail, etc. The interstate highway system was largely established by Eisenhower, and today we take for granted and expect well cared for roads and tolls, but can’t wrap our heads around the idea of developing another, more efficient mass transit system.
In the 30’s and 40’s the National City Lines holding company, including GM, firestone tire, Phillips petroleum, and standard oil, bought up and dismantled more than 100 trolley systems in many cities throughout the country (a huge step in the automotive revolution), enabling congress to fund the basis of our enormous highway infrastructure in the 50’s.
The money was there to support and develop the car industry, but now we have rising bus fares in Madison with the lower income people being hit the hardest.
Of course change can be hard, but we have to start somewhere in improving our shared transportation systems. The benefits of a successful mass transit system, as evidenced in many population centers, are multi-faceted, and far reaching. Furthermore, as exemplified by the automotive revolution of the first half of the 20th century, a drastic change in priorities is possible if the will and foresight to do so is present.
In the 30’s and 40’s the National City Lines holding company, including GM, firestone tire, Phillips petroleum, and standard oil, bought up and dismantled more than 100 trolley systems in many cities throughout the country (a huge step in the automotive revolution), enabling congress to fund the basis of our enormous highway infrastructure in the 50’s.
The money was there to support and develop the car industry, but now we have rising bus fares in Madison with the lower income people being hit the hardest.
Of course change can be hard, but we have to start somewhere in improving our shared transportation systems. The benefits of a successful mass transit system, as evidenced in many population centers, are multi-faceted, and far reaching. Furthermore, as exemplified by the automotive revolution of the first half of the 20th century, a drastic change in priorities is possible if the will and foresight to do so is present.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
