Comments on: Should Conservatives Support Public Transit?

By: SAACJACK

SAACJACK — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:02:10 +0000

Te unwillingness …or lack of care…to create a more amenable environment around the central hub station of MARTA by Atlanta is my point. Having worked for some time in Manhattan, I am not delicate ( no offense taken :)), but my thought is rather the overall impression one gets of the city’s transit system in that location is a huge detriment to how MARTA is perceived by locals and visitors alike. Especially since such a big deal was made of how Atlanta was going to stop all of that “hanging out and asking/asking for money” with new panhandling ordinance. Like so many things in ATL, they talk the talk but don’t walk the walk. In many ways, you can’t separate the image of MARTA and ATLANTA in the public mind. MARTA is the public transportation face of ATLANTA. As a comparison, we don’t have a “street fair” outside of the two entrances in Decatur.

And while it is true that there a some “nasty” stops in NYC, as a percentage overall it is MUCH lower than some of the grubby MARTA stops. It is all about perception of a clean and safe operation. But it still just goes N/S/E/W, for the most part. And that will always hold it back from
major usage by the thousands that need to come into the city daily.

By: Swanny

Swanny — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 02:33:03 +0000

Having spent a significant time in the Bay Area, I think BART is the standard the all others should achieve. I’ll throw in the rest of the public stuff and say it is what I want us to achieve. A lot of things get in the way of that, but I just want to express how highly I think of their public transportation. I think they got it right. Is it perfect? Is it better than Marta? Answer those mutually so you brain will explode.

By: Decatur Metro

Decatur Metro — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 21:46:00 +0000

I can certainly see who it could be viewed that the rush to the ‘burbs was proof that people don’t mind the INconveniences of cars. However, wasn’t there a recent study that showed the largest single factor that promoted unhappiness was a long commute? Also, we seem to remain on the cusp of just tolerable gas prices. If we jump up to $4 again, people will start getting back on the trains again.

But why is it that we tend to overestimate what comes with a longer commute and underestimate what’s lost?

By: chira

chira — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:40:13 +0000

You must have a delicate disposition if you can’t brave a few vendors, panhandlers, and street people at Five Points station and the immediate area. Just sayin’…

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:47:26 +0000

If the political will and corresponding policies are in place, the necessity for cars is lessened considerably. 60% of the population of Zurich, Switzerland, the largest city in that country, with nearly 400,000 people, do not own cars. Public transportation fills their needs.