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04 Jul 04 - 11:03 AM (#1219283) Subject: BS: Feed up with traffic???... From: Bobert Well, I'm not sure how folks feel who live outside of the US of A but according to a recent AP (Ipsos-Public Affairs) poll, 55% of Americans favor increasing taxes (Heavens be?...) if it would "lead to significant improvements in roads and public transporation in their area". (The poll also determined that only 5% use public transportation so I may be reading something into this but it sounds to me like the vast majority want more roads..) But, either way, would you pay more taxes for more roads? Bobert |
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04 Jul 04 - 11:19 AM (#1219291) Subject: RE: BS: Feed up with traffic???... From: Amos Only if there were a rigorous audit of all the pas t dollars brought in by gasoline, auto and road use taxes and fees. I don't see the results of past taxation yet -- why vote for more? A |
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04 Jul 04 - 02:25 PM (#1219350) Subject: RE: BS: Feed up with traffic???... From: Leadfingers In UK we have the cheapest petrol in Europe until you add the tax , then we have nearly the most expensive petrol in Europe . And the samr goes for beer as well . I am NOT very fond of Taxes at all . |
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04 Jul 04 - 03:34 PM (#1219382) Subject: RE: BS: Feed up with traffic???... From: mg I would if certain requirements were met. I think we need to move toward a heavy and light load road system, so that people who want to drive SUVs etc. still can but would share the road with trucks, buses etc. People with lighter cars could have a different system, probably with paths on the side for golf carts, bikes etc. That way light cars would only crash into each other. mg |
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04 Jul 04 - 04:06 PM (#1219403) Subject: RE: BS: Feed up with traffic???... From: Strollin' Johnny Better still, give all the SUV-owners free plastic surgery to make their willies bigger, then they won't need their SUVs. (ROFL) :0) |
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04 Jul 04 - 06:50 PM (#1219451) Subject: RE: BS: Feed up with traffic???... From: Don Firth I'd be willing to pay more taxes to see a decent public transportation system. Americans are in love with their automobiles, but I'm pretty sure that there is a substantial percentage who would be more than willing to leave the SUV, van, family sedan, or jitney sitting in the garage if they could get to where they want to go quickly and conveniently, and let someone else hassle the traffic while they sit back and read or just stare out the window. When I worked for Ma Bell a few decades ago, I knew a fellow who lived in Bremerton (across Puget Sound from Seattle) and took the ferry to and fro every day—about an hour each way. I asked him if this wasn't a real hassle. He said, "No. As a matter of fact, I value that time highly. I can catch up on my reading, or take a nap, or just lean against the rail and watch the seagulls and look at the water and the passing scenery. Mainly, I have an hour in the morning and an hour in the late afternoon when my time is my own and nobody can get at me. I love it." Seattle is probably a couple of decades behind the rest of the country, which, in turn, is a couple of decades behind much of Europe. On Rick Steves' travel programs on our local PBS affiliate (Travels in Europe with Rick Steves), I keep seeing how easily he gets around on public transportation and how clean, fast, efficient, and convenient it is compared with what we have here. Recent surveys show Seattle as reputed to have anywhere from the first (used to be Los Angeles) to the third worst traffic congestion of any city in the country. Interstate 5, which runs north and south through the city, is bumper-to-bumper cars creeping along a few inches at a time during peak commuting hours, pouring crap into the (used to be) pure and pristine air that wafts in from the North Pacific, turning it into acrid smog. Sometimes the air looks amber. Driving downtown, even in off-peak hours, has become a test of patience and self-control. Parking is either impossible or very expensive. About all The Powers That Be have come up with so far is a monorail spur system that, unfortunately, serves only a couple of districts in the city, and a cockamamie plot to dig a multi-billion dollar tunnel under the Lake Washington Ship Canal and Capitol Hill for light rail, which will also serve only a small portion of the city. Neither of these plans have passed the drawing-board stage and each is being fought tooth and nail by supporters of the other system (monorail versus ground-base [or subterranean] light rail) and by a broad range of NIMBY* factions, or those who say, not without reason, "Why should I have to pay taxes for a system that doesn't even serve my area!!???" They're so busy either nit-picking or surreptitiously trying to line their own wallets that nothing is happening—except that the traffic congestion just gets worse and the air gets fouler. I visualize the fairly ingenious inter- and intra-city monorail system that was planned as far back as the 1962 Seattle World's Fair, which everyone around here seems to have forgotten, and/or the sleek rapid transit systems I see in operation on Rick Steves' travels around Europe and wonder if The Powers That Be around here have misplaced the City Brain Cell. I get kinda surly when I think about it. Don Firth *"Not In My Back Yard!" |
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04 Jul 04 - 07:05 PM (#1219459) Subject: RE: BS: Feed up with traffic???... From: Leadfingers Integrated Transport Systems , Dont make me laugh ! When My parents lived twenty miles from me , IF I rushed like Hell I could get home from work and get a bus that got me to their place ten minutes AFTER the last bus back left ! AND that was before 8pm . This was at the same time that Two Jags was telling us we shouldnt use our cars but should ONLY use public transport ! |
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05 Jul 04 - 06:39 PM (#1219529) Subject: RE: BS: Feed up with traffic???... From: GUEST,leeneia Public transportation may be a fine idea in a mild climate like Seattle's, but I suspect that the people who are for it never waited for a bus in bitter cold. They also never stood in the snow while the buses passed them by, crammed with suburbanites afraid to drive in snow. They never walked to a stop in hot sultry weather and arrived at work sweaty, disheveled and looked-down-upon. They never worried that the last bus would leave while a boss demanded more and more overtime. I've done all these things, and I have little use for public transportation. |
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05 Jul 04 - 08:29 PM (#1219585) Subject: RE: BS: Feed up with traffic???... From: Bobert Sounds more like you have little use for poor public transportation, my friend... And, yeah, I've put in my time waiting for poor public transportation also and in most cities public transporation is worse now than ever, as is just about all tranportation... But damning public transporation because it is lousy *now* isn't proactive but reactive... Bobert |
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05 Jul 04 - 08:55 PM (#1219597) Subject: RE: BS: Feed up with traffic???... From: Amos San Diego is constantly expanding their trolley system and it is remarkably efficient. In addition they are using more and more Natural Gas-powered buses. But the freeway system is getting more and more choked anyway -- rush hours are terrible especially in certain key areas (downtown and the freeway merge of 5 and 805). I'd love to see more efficient wide-spread public transport. But the Califiornia<==> Car Love Affair isn't going to stop overnight, I am sure of that. A |
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05 Jul 04 - 09:07 PM (#1219601) Subject: RE: BS: Feed up with traffic???... From: Ebbie Juneau, Alaska, has 31,000 people, supports three cab companies and several independent taxis and has a downtown traffic problem twice a day for 15 minutes. If we staggered work hours just a half hour either way we'd have no problem. But no one is ever completely satisfied, it seems. I know people who have moved closer to downtown specifically to avoid the 'long' drive to work- most people live within 15 miles; our entire road system is 46 linear miles. I sold my car when I came to town 16 years ago and either walk or use buses, taxis and friends to get around. |
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05 Jul 04 - 09:16 PM (#1219608) Subject: RE: BS: Feed up with traffic???... From: Amergin I love San Diego's trolley system! When I was down there i could get anywhere i needed to just by riding the trolley and if it was a little far away i would hop 1 bus to get there, you can even take it across the border to TJ. It was wonderful. I also had many wonderful convos with people there. I found San Diego to be a very friendly place. Portland's is getting better all the time as well. You can ride the MAX and the bus to get anywhere, unfortunately there is no public transport where I'm at so I have to drive. |
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06 Jul 04 - 01:42 AM (#1219725) Subject: RE: BS: Feed up with traffic???... From: GUEST,John O'Lennaine It seems to me that as soon as it became common knowledge that carbon monoxide was destroying the ozone layer (was it the late 70's?) the NSW State govt. gave the Roads and Traffic Authority juggernaut status and an accordingly humungous budget to provide new motorways all over the place. The money for the RTA seems to have been taken from the State Rail budget, because the rail system in that period has been allowed to deteriorate (in practical terms at least) to the point that if ever someone in power actually decides to provide a viable public transport alternative to road travel it will be a financial impossibility. Increased taxes for better roads? That sounds like something from last century or possibly the one before. John |
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06 Jul 04 - 12:12 PM (#1220028) Subject: RE: BS: Feed up with traffic???... From: GUEST the key word is "if" and that's a mighty big IF |
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06 Jul 04 - 12:48 PM (#1220049) Subject: RE: BS: Feed up with traffic???... From: Bert Your first post was right on the nail Amos. Let's see some results for the taxes we've already paid. They could have paved the whole bloody country with that lot. |
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06 Jul 04 - 01:04 PM (#1220054) Subject: RE: BS: Feed up with traffic???... From: Amergin But Bert....the politicians wouldn't have been able to take all those vacations or buy their second homes if they did that... |
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06 Jul 04 - 06:27 PM (#1220214) Subject: RE: BS: Feed up with traffic???... From: Gypsy Gee, the last traffic feed i attended was wonderful! Roast Hummers over an open fire......... |
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06 Jul 04 - 06:34 PM (#1220222) Subject: RE: BS: Feed up with traffic???... From: Amergin gypsy...that sounds kind of kinky....and painful... |