The "cars vs public transportation" sets up a strawman debate that diverts energy from developing sustainable transportation strategies and programs. The public would be better served if public transportation agencies concentrated on creating “New Mobility” services, i.e., integrated, smart, clean, service-oriented and user-focused, made possible by Internet, wireless, smartcard, electronic payment and e-commerce applications. The current challenge is to develop multiple community mobility options to single occupancy vehicle trips. It's not just a "cars v public transportation" question. For more information on sustainable transportation and new mobility agenda go to www.um-smart.org.

I am not surprised. A bus or a train is beneath most Americans and they are raising their children the same way. I carry adults and children and they are loathe to ride and when they do, they are novices.

Unlike the shortage in the 1970's, this one is more intense and more expensive for the consumer. While the auto industry will probably recover, at least partially, the public's mistrust in the petroleum industry's ability to guarantee the supply of fuel at anything approaching reasonable cost will be more permanent. Inversely, their trust in public transit as a viable alternative will now be much greater. There should be less resistance in the future when transit funding issues arise.

This recession appears to be far more broad-reaching than past economic downturns. Amid the legitimate reports of gloom, there may be a silver lining for mass transit in current events. There's no doubt that a combination of growth in developing countries plus rampant speculative investment in energy on world financial markets are creating tremendous financial pressures on commuters and travelers. The good news is that the transit industry of 2008 (especially the bus industry) has much better technologies at its disposal than ever before (e.g. hybrids, artics, low-floors, alternative fuel buses, BRT, etc.). Former auto commuters may be pleasantly surprised at just how modern mass transit has become (plus how much money can be saved by riding it).

The message that few are paying attention, is that despite $4 plus per gallon, the American public is still largely rejecting public transit. To be sure transit has seen an increase in ridership but nowhere near the dreams and expectations of transit management. Despite billions in federal, state and local subsidies, the "one-size fits all" approach of public transit does not meet the expectations and fill the mobility needs of most Americans. In the final analysis government and community leaders will one day realize that a "consumer" approach must be taken and that means a wide range of choices and that ultimately to have a broad range of competing choices that means privatization. Like to see more Americans riding mass transportation? Stop subsidizing and encourage the private market to compete with the car.

"Like to see more Americans riding mass transportation? Stop subsidizing and encourage the private market to compete with the car."

Privatizing mass transportation will probably get more people to ride. Private corporations would spend more money on marketing and bombard us with ads telling us why we should get out of our cars and on their trains and buses. Then they would use cheaper products, outsource all the work, and end up lobbying for subsidies just like the public sector. Do you realize how much our government subsidizes the private sector? We're about to give these horribly corrupt banks Fannie May and Freddie Mac $25 billion. We build sports stadiums with our tax dollars so that privately owned teams can make even greater profits. Hell we even subsidize the damn oil companies who's annual profits exceed some countries.

When we subsidize the public sector, at least we know where the money went and we can hold the people we gave the money accountable.
Privatizing mass transportation is not the answer - media reform is. Get rid of the propaganda machines like Fox News and give people the information they need to make informed decisions.

Hey ken, funny I thought that taxi service was the private sector response to the car and we all know what a great job the do and economical too. Look at your transit history the private sector has mass transit until they ran it into the ground along with their fleet and didn't care what happened to the passengers they stranded. Public $$$ in the 70,s saved the system. IMHO

BMW x6 VS other cars

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