Kemayo ([info]kemayo) wrote,
@ 2008-05-19 01:11:00
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The problem with public transport in America
On those days when I go into the dA office, it's a 70 mile drive through LA freeways, with gas at record (for America) prices.

So I naturally considered taking the train. There's a station in scenic San Bernadino about 7 miles away, and once I reach LA I could take a short bus ride to the office.

There's just one problem. The car is: cheaper, faster, and more convenient.

I'd be far more tempted by the train if it produced a saving in at least one of these areas.

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[info]dainichijess
2008-05-19 11:35 am UTC (link)
I think the only trains that work for that sort of thing are the subway in NYC and the L in Chicago.
I read that they were going to convert all the buses in the state to ethanol, but considering the black smoke I saw coming out of the ones in the basin last time I was there suggests that hasn't happened.

At this point your best option is probably to move into LA (I know, kind of icky) and/or to vote for a Democrat for Gov whenever your next election is. (I'm a Libertarian, myself, but I think things go best when you alternate Republicans and Dems. Also, I still don't understand how Meathead became governor...but I voted for a Jewish cowboy in my state's last gubernatorial, so...)

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[info]tiamat_the_red
2008-05-19 01:41 pm UTC (link)
Ethanol is a terrible idea for all sorts of reasons, the recent food crisis (what's the plural of "crisis" again?) being one of them. It's up there with hydrogen on my list of "things that seemed like a good idea at the time." Diesel is remarkably efficient if we would only employ some of those lovely European clean diesel tech.

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[info]del_chan
2008-05-19 01:32 pm UTC (link)
Yeah, I think a monthly pass for our line was $144, and a round trip was $10? It takes about the same amount of time as driving for me, and while I don't mind the traffic, I could be doing webcomic art on the way if I rode the train. Gas would just have to double in price for it to be worth it. -_-

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[info]jeffkun
2008-05-19 01:36 pm UTC (link)
America is too spread out in most places for Public Transportation to work like it does in Europe.

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[info]tiamat_the_red
2008-05-19 01:45 pm UTC (link)
Transit works here! Of course, that's because parking in SF costs at least $300 a month anywhere near my office and the City itself was forced by geography to not spread the way most American cities did. BART is pricy, but it still beats the snot out of parking in the City. The bus is a lot cheaper ($116 for a monthly pass) and it's faster since they get to use the carpool lane. One look at the sea of cars waiting to go through the toll plaza ($4 one way, free the other) makes the choice pretty damn easy.

Then again, if I lived in San Jose it would be significantly less cost effective and might be better to drive up the peninsula to the nearest BART station rather than take Caltrain. It costs a fortune for some reason. I imagine living 70 miles away would make it even worse. Throw in free parking and, well, transit just isn't worth it.

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[info]assassingalaxia
2008-05-19 02:20 pm UTC (link)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_streetcar_conspiracy

Everyone who has grown up in Southern California has heard about what the evil oil, tire, and car companies did to what was reputed to be a good public transit.

As for the convenience of public transportation, it really depends where you are. [info]midorigirl has never had a car or driver's license. [info]serenegarden took the bus to work for a while after she moved to San Diego. If I attend school at CSULA, it would be the same amount of time and slightly cheaper if I take the train from Camarillo to campus. My friend's sister who works for Dreamworks takes the train from Camarillo to Glendale everyday.

One thing you should check is if your employer will pay for public transit or at least offer you a discounted pass. Companies get some sort of incentive if their employees take public transit or participate in carpool programs.

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