Give up your car, get free public transportation

[The Vegan Marxist]

Give up your car, get free public transportation
by Mark Sumner
July 19, 2011

http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/tramwaystrasbourgbroglie.jpg

Would you ever surrender your car? We don't mean to trade in your gas-guzzler for a high mileage vehicle, or swap your Toyota Prius for a Nissan Leaf, or even agree to trundling around in a G-Wiz. In this case, we're talking going automotive cold turkey. What would it take for you to make that jump? Would a lifetime of free public transportation do it for you?

Well, this is what the city of Murcia, Spain is offering. The city is trying to lure residents into a unique trade-in offer: turn over your car, and you get an unlimited pass to the city's new public transportation system.

Like many cities in Europe, Murcia has become a constant traffic jam. Car owners are also finding it harder and harder to find a place to park. City planners in the U.S. might prescribe construction of additional parking lots and new highway lanes as the solution, but Murcia is taking this other route. Sound like a deal?

http://green.autoblog.com/2011/07/19/give-up-your-car-get-free-public-transportation/

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Can you buy a really shitty junker and then trade that in for thousands of dollars worth of free transportation?

[Octavian]

THIS IS WHAT I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR

I've always wanted cities to install monorails to do away with cars. Finally people are doing it.

[Sensible Socialist]

If the public transportation system is half-way decent, it sounds like a good idea. Although, I'm not sure what the size of Murcia is, or how convenient it is without a car. I'd love to see this happen in the United States, although I'd have to buy a cheap car and then trade it in to reap the rewards.

[Vendetta]

Would turning in a bike count?

That's all I got.:(

[o well this is ok I guess]

Even if I had a car I still wouldn't.
The Public Transport around here is trash and everyone knows it. It's only been recent that all the transport services in the metropolitan area have decided to actually run routes through each others areas, rather than making the ridiculous cutoffs we had.

[Tim Finnegan]

Definitely, yeah. Given that I regularly berate people about the how shitty automobile-suburbanism culture is in every conceivable respect (:cursing:) , I'd be kind of a hypocrite not to.

(Not that I actually have a car, mind, but y'know, in principle. :D)

[Klaatu]

General Motors is discontinuing the Hummer (and that's a start)

[piet11111]

No because i do not trust the capitalists to keep any sort of standard in public transportation so they could suddenly cut service or start charging money again.

[Sensible Socialist]

No because i do not trust the capitalists to keep any sort of standard in public transportation so they could suddenly cut service or start charging money again.
That's actually a legitimate problem I hadn't thought of. I wonder if there is some sort of reimbursement if transport is limited or they raise prices and make people pay the difference.

[L.A.P.]

I don't know if this is a positive thing? Sure it has it's environmental benefits, but this seem to be not positive for the working class. This seems like an example of economic coercion by the state to gain property from thus exploiting proletarian people. Think about the immediate crisis of overproduction that will occur under this policy, leading to more economic suffering of the working class.

[Tim Finnegan]

I don't know if this is a positive thing? Sure it has it's environmental benefits, but this seem to be not positive for the working class. This seems like an example of economic coercion by the state to gain property from thus exploiting proletarian people.
I'm not sure this follows. Firstly, you'd have to prove that the cars were being resold, and secondly, you'd have to prove that they were being sold for a profit, neither of which is self-evident.


Think about the immediate crisis of overproduction that will occur under this policy, leading to more economic suffering of the working class.
So, what, people have a duty to buy cars now? :confused:

[x371322]

I'm just not sure I'd be willing to put my need to get from A to B in the hands of the state. Plus I live in a small ass rural area. They gonna run monorails up this mountain and by my house? Way out in the middle of nowhere? I've got my doubts. :)

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

I'm just not sure I'd be willing to put my need to get from A to B in the hands of the state.

Who do you think maintains the roads you drive on? Tarmac fairies?!

No matter what transportation system you use, you will be depending on others to do so.


Plus I live in a small ass rural area. They gonna run monorails up this mountain and by my house? Way out in the middle of nowhere? I've got my doubts. :)

Murcia is a city. Unless one suddenly mushrooms into existence where you live, I don't think any sensible person is going to suggest a "cars-for-public-transport" scheme anywhere near you.

What do you do in the sticks anyway? Are you a farmer?

[Metacomet]

Who do you think maintains the roads you drive on? Tarmac fairies?!

No matter what transportation system you use, you will be depending on others to do so.



Murcia is a city. Unless one suddenly mushrooms into existence where you live, I don't think any sensible person is going to suggest a "cars-for-public-transport" scheme anywhere near you.

What do you do in the sticks anyway? Are you a farmer?


I live in the sticks as well, desperate to leave...................

And no we aren't farmers either. My parents are just...............I'm not sure. they wanted to go half and half on the reactionary/cities are awful places mentality and the we want to be suburban white picket fence types.

And now I'm stuck in the results.:rolleyes:

And to do..........lets see.

There is leaf blowing, "mowing" which consists of trying to push a mower uphill around trees and over roots, as insisted on. Getting poison ivy. having lots of bugs everywhere, having gigantic spiders show up on your walls.........um what else. Literally not being able to walk anywhere of interest. (there is literally 0 public transport here, suppose I could call a cab and pay $100 to go to the movies). Lot's of people who have a lot of junk in their yards. Republicans.

Oh and shoveling a gigantic driveway and walkway in the winter. That's the best part probably.

[x371322]

Who do you think maintains the roads you drive on? Tarmac fairies?!

No matter what transportation system you use, you will be depending on others to do so.



Clever. Tarmac fairies. That's funny. I never said I wasn't depending on others. I mean, no shit? There's just no practical way for this kind of thing to work for me. Doesn't mean I don't support road construction or anything.


What do you do in the sticks anyway? Are you a farmer?

Well sure! I mean, you know, when I'm not busy makin' moonshine and fixin' grits. Gotta have something to do way out here in "the sticks."

Seriously? No, you see, I have a car. And in that car I'm able to drive to the nearest town. In which, jobs are found!

[Decommissioner]

Love the idea and I am for it, though personally it all would depend on if the transit could get me to work on time. Also, I would still probably keep a car for traveling outside the city. Build public transit that can feasibly span multiple states and integrate with the transit of cities while letting you transport items (ie musical equipment) than I would have no excuse to keep a vehicle.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

though personally it all would depend on if the transit could get me to work on time

I remember a few months ago a guy here in NYC jumped on the tracks ahead of a speeding subway train to rescue a woman who had fallen just as the train rushed into the station. He didn't stick around for any praise. When they finally caught up with him he said he pulled the woman from the tracks because he couldn't afford to be to late to work and lose the job he and his family depended on.

[Property Is Robbery]

I remember a few months ago a guy here in NYC jumped on the tracks ahead of a speeding subway train to rescue a woman who had fallen just as the train rushed into the station. He didn't stick around for any praise. When they finally caught up with him he said he pulled the woman from the tracks because he couldn't afford to be to late to work and lose the job he and his family depended on.
Could I have the source? Sounds interesting

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

Clever. Tarmac fairies. That's funny. I never said I wasn't depending on others. I mean, no shit? There's just no practical way for this kind of thing to work for me. Doesn't mean I don't support road construction or anything.

You're still depending on the state to maintain the roads you drive along.


Well sure! I mean, you know, when I'm not busy makin' moonshine and fixin' grits. Gotta have something to do way out here in "the sticks."

That's not the kind of image I had in mind. Having actually lived in the sticks I know from experience that farmers are professionals just like any other.


Seriously? No, you see, I have a car. And in that car I'm able to drive to the nearest town. In which, jobs are found!

Is this arrangement through choice or circumstance?

[Lobotomy]

I think it's pretty clear that this would only be a good idea in urban areas rather than rural areas. Cool idea though.

[Manifesto]

I bet this will bring back memories: http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/825/monorail.jpg/

[chegitz guevara]

It takes me two and a half hours to get to work by bus. It takes twenty minutes by car.

[Leonid Brozhnev]

I own a car but I walk when I can, which is the advantage of living in a city. I grew up in the 'sticks' so my mother (who has MS) still lives out in the country with no public transport nearby and relies on me driving incase she gets into difficulties. I probably wouldn't give up my car for a scheme like this, although I'm sure I could find a Rover Maestro for £10 and turn that in :lol:

[The Vegan Marxist]

It takes me two and a half hours to get to work by bus. It takes twenty minutes by car.

So getting up earlier is something you just can't do for the benefit of saving a lot of money? :confused:

[∞]

I'm keeping my car.

[x371322]

Is this arrangement through choice or circumstance?

It's the only choice I have at the moment. It's between that and selling drugs. It's about a 20 minute drive into town. It's been that way all my life, so it's what I'm used to. I don't see why it matters to you though. I'd rather live out here than in some big city, quite frankly. That's just me though.

[Libertador]

I'd rather live out here than in some big city, quite frankly. That's just me though. My preferences match your own. I'd rather live where it was quiet and where I would have plenty of room over cramped quarters.

Anywho. This seems like a great idea aside from Spain's unemployment and possibility of default.

[Tim Finnegan]

It takes me two and a half hours to get to work by bus. It takes twenty minutes by car.
To be fair, America has by far the worst combination of urban planning and public transport in the developed world (generally speaking, there are of course exceptions), so I wouldn't expect this to apply as well in most American cities as it would in most European cities.

[Rss]

I'd sell some of my organs for science to get free public transportation. It's fucking expensive around here, keeps on getting more expensive and they are shutting down bus routes in some rural areas. How about improving the infra so more people use public transportation, you assholes! :mad:

In some areas it costs 10 euros to take commuter train to downtown. Train is fast, nothing wrong with that, but then you have to pay four euros for local bus which takes ten goddamn kilometer detour and THEN drops you off at work place. This takes too long but if you don't have a car, tough shit.

I'm butthurt because private motorists have it so much easier (if you can afford it).

I'm all for this, public transportation is way to go. That, and motorpools where you can lease any car you need.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

I sold my vehicle because I couldn't find a place to park it.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

It takes me two and a half hours to get to work by bus. It takes twenty minutes by car.

Yea that happens a lot. It takes about 20 minutes for my mom to drive to downtown. By light rail it would take nearly an hour. If you walk to the station you're looking at 1-2 hours one way.

It takes me 12-13 hours to travel to my mom's place via subway, train, then light rail from here. If I drive it takes 7 or less.

That and the lack of quality and reliability is a big part of why most people in the U.S. detest public transportation from local buses and light right up to interstate buses and trains.


So getting up earlier is something you just can't do for the benefit of saving a lot of money?

You're talking about adding 5 hours to your work day. Who in their right mind would want to do that?

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

To be fair, America has by far the worst combination of urban planning and public transport in the developed world (generally speaking, there are of course exceptions), so I wouldn't expect this to apply as well in most American cities as it would in most European cities.

Yet by all accounts I hear it is still cheaper to take public transport in New York than it is in London.

Why the fuck is that?

[Sperm-Doll Setsuna]

Yet by all accounts I hear it is still cheaper to take public transport in New York than it is in London.

Why the fuck is that?

Capitalist economics at work; also, the U.S. today - funny - kind of has higher subsides for transport fares than in Europe. It's generally very expensive to use mass transportation all over Europe. Bus ticket prices today here are twice of what they were just 10 years ago, and driving is often cheaper than using rail or bus, despite high petrol prices. :rolleyes:

Because of the U.S. having so little mass transportation, I imagine it is less dramatic (politically) to subsidise ticket costs (total amount is less; although I seem to recall Amtrak has very high ticket prices on the European level).

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Is it? It's $2.25 (or $2.50 if you don't buy a card with at least two rides on it) to take a single trip here (which includes one transfer to a bus if needed). How much is it in London? Tokyo is a little more expensive, but not by much. The difference is that we don't have air condition or heaters in our stations; the tracks and stations here are covered with garbage, rats and roaches while those in Tokyo are clean; it's nearly impossible to find a worker in most stations here while in Tokyo there are dozens in each station, including information agents on the platforms.

The only benefit is that our system is easier to navigate, there is a flat fare, and the trains run 24-hours.

Each city in South Korea has a great public transportation system. Even the small ones. It's often cheaper than taking a train or bus ride in NYC. They are clean and efficient (for example, the bus stops have GPS tracking to tell you when the next bus comes and where it is headed; here we have paper charts on poles that are never right), with dozens of workers; quieter, cleaner...

NYC is the best city for public transportation in the United States, but it is the worst of the industrialized countries I've been too (and even worse than the systems in some of the poorest countries in the world).

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Because of the U.S. having so little mass transportation,

Which has a lot to do with the auto giants and the train companies. Don't forget that the U.S. pioneered train travel. What happened?

Is it any coincidence that Detroit's public transportation system is awful?

How about California were the offer was made to build a modern train free of charge decades ago? That offer was rejected thanks to the influence of the auto and tire giants. The best they got was a system of buses (made by U.S. auto manufacturers, driving on U.S. tires).

They actually ripped up miles and miles of rails in places like Los Angeles and Pittsburgh.

Recently the Union Pacific rail company put the breaks on a plan to run higher speed Talgo trains from Las Vegas to Anaheim.

The companies controlling the rails are making big money with freight. They don't give a fuck about public transportation, especially from shitty operations like Amtrak. They run single lines because that's all they need to move long trains full of goods. If you have to wait 45 minutes for a coal train to pass, that's just too bad for you!


I imagine it is less dramatic (politically) to subsidise ticket costs (total amount is less; although I seem to recall Amtrak has very high ticket prices on the European level).

Amtrak is outrageously overpriced and incredibly slow. Unless you're traveling on the Northeast Corridor it's not worth it (unless you have some interest in trains). Even the extremely substandard Greyhound bus company outshines them.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

Is it? It's $2.25 (or $2.50 if you don't buy a card with at least two rides on it) to take a single trip here (which includes one transfer to a bus if needed). How much is it in London?

it's complicated (http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/14416.aspx).

On the bonus side, after 9-10PM the barriers go up/staff go home at most overground train stations and I've only ever seen ticket inspectors during the daytime. So at certain times/places one can get away with travelling for free.

[chegitz guevara]

So getting up earlier is something you just can't do for the benefit of saving a lot of money? :confused:

I should spend fourteen hours a day working and commuting?

2.5 hours there, 9 hours working, 2.5 hours home.

When I lived in Jacksonville and Chicago, I had to turn down jobs because I didn't have a car (or didn't get hired). I ate and read on the train. If I caught the right train home, got to yap with friends. But only having four hours at home not sleeping really, really sucked.

About a ninety minute commute is the max I'll do, though I did know one crazy MF who did commute 2.5 hours. I think he didn't want to be home with the wife.

[∞]

Why I don't take the bus. SWAG, SWAG.

http://www.netlook.com/auto/USFLFTP/pic/11987359/AT11438728-640px-p1.jpg?dt=20110616151946

[Sperm-Doll Setsuna]

Why I don't take the bus. SWAG, SWAG.



Bourgeois! :mad:


I should spend fourteen hours a day working and commuting?

2.5 hours there, 9 hours working, 2.5 hours home.

When I lived in Jacksonville and Chicago, I had to turn down jobs because I didn't have a car (or didn't get hired). I ate and read on the train. If I caught the right train home, got to yap with friends. But only having four hours at home not sleeping really, really sucked.

About a ninety minute commute is the max I'll do, though I did know one crazy MF who did commute 2.5 hours. I think he didn't want to be home with the wife.

Ideally city-planning and employment policy should provide for easy public transportation with a maximum commute time of no more than an hour, at most.

2.5 hours is really outrageous, especially if the journey takes only 20 minutes by car (what sort of absurd detour does that entail?).

Going 100 km from here by car takes about 1 hour 40 minutes on the motorway, if you are lucky and experience no traffic problems; the same journey by railway takes just above 50 minutes. (The motorway express bus takes the same time as by car to the city centre, but costs half as much as a railway ticket, about 8$.)

[∞]

Bourgeois! :mad:


Its on lease just cuz I'm a commie, doesn't mean I have to be a swagless loser.

[chegitz guevara]

The bus routes in Broward County, Florida are mainly designed to keep poor people away from middle class and rich people. Really sucks for one of my buddies who lives in a nice neighborhood, but has no car, so he can't get or keep a job.

I could actually ride my bike to work in 90 minutes (assuming I was in shape), but the weather in South Florida isn't really conducive to long distance biking. It's 90 degress F, with 90% humidity, and then it storms daily during the summer.

Still, nothing compares with how bad it was in Jacksonville, where there was no public transportation to the airport.

[Sperm-Doll Setsuna]

The bus routes in Broward County, Florida are mainly designed to keep poor people away from middle class and rich people. Really sucks for one of my buddies who lives in a nice neighborhood, but has no car, so he can't get or keep a job.

I could actually ride my bike to work in 90 minutes (assuming I was in shape), but the weather in South Florida isn't really conducive to long distance biking. It's 90 degress F, with 90% humidity, and then it storms daily during the summer.

Still, nothing compares with how bad it was in Jacksonville, where there was no public transportation to the airport.

If it weren't for the private goods railways and the politics, the existing railway infrastructure around Jacksonville with limited expansion could support a decent and extensive commuter railway network, and if that absurd people mover system they built was extended slightly and connected to this, it would give a somewhat better transportation system. I'm quite amazed that they built that little monorail at all, seeing as it basically connects nowhere to nowhere and has limited usefulness in its current format.

[chegitz guevara]

I think the city hall meeting where they decided to build a monorail went something like this:

AEZjzsnPhnw

Though to be fair, it was handy if you were downtown and wanted to get to the other side of the river.

[Psy]

I'm quite amazed that they built that little monorail at all, seeing as it basically connects nowhere to nowhere and has limited usefulness in its current format.

Well I am amazed any transit engineers takes monorails seriously, they can't keep up with even compete with old tram systems like PPC streetcars. A PPC streetcar can go 80 km/h while the JTA monorail can do 55 km/h and CLRV go 110 km/h and for the price of the JTA monorail Jacksonville could have built a much larger streetcar network that would have services far more areas and moved far more people at a fraction of the operating costs.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

Well I am amazed any transit engineers takes monorails seriously, they can't keep up with even compete with old tram systems like PPC streetcars. A PPC streetcar can go 80 km/h while the JTA monorail can do 55 km/h and CLRV go 110 km/h and for the price of the JTA monorail Jacksonville could have built a much larger streetcar network that would have services far more areas and moved far more people at a fraction of the operating costs.

I think monorails have potential, if more advantage was taken of their ability to have lines without touching the ground.

[OhYesIdid]

Could I have the source? Sounds interesting

You should know by know that around here we like to know the source...source, source, source!

[Psy]

I think monorails have potential, if more advantage was taken of their ability to have lines without touching the ground.

Conventional elevated electric railways are a far more proven technology that has the advantage of being compatible with conventional rail networks so they can be connected to existing rail lines this means existing MOW rolling stock can be used on the lines so you can move really heavy machinery down your elevated section for maintenance like large railway cranes also construction material can be moved along the line as it is being built and maintained via rail.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

You should know by know that around here we are all saucefags...source, source, source!

Please don't use such language. I don't think it's all that important myself, but the rules are the rules.

EDIT: And cut out the spam.

[OhYesIdid]

Please don't use such language. I don't think it's all that important myself, but the rules are the rules.

Edited it


Spam

Hey, now. Tube fares! Tube fares! Sticks! Liberal nonsense passed off as progress! Tube fares!

[Sperm-Doll Setsuna]

Conventional elevated electric railways are a far more proven technology that has the advantage of being compatible with conventional rail networks so they can be connected to existing rail lines this means existing MOW rolling stock can be used on the lines so you can move really heavy machinery down your elevated section for maintenance like large railway cranes also construction material can be moved along the line as it is being built and maintained via rail.

Sometimes it is irrelevant if the networks are connected directly and compatible. Monorails use less material and are cheaper to maintain, though they do have disadvantages that a more conventional elevated regular railway or metro-style commuter railway does not; like tramways they fit into a niche of their own with various strengths and weaknesses, and whether they are good or not depend on what is needed.

What is a joke, however, are these strange monorails that were vogue in the U.S. for quite some time (and systems like the Personal Monorail systems that were proposed at one time) during the 70's and 80's that basically does not really provide any essential connections whatsoever (I think the first of these was the Seattle monorail). Most of these were badly thought out show-pieces that did little of anything to provide decent transportation facilities.

[Nox]

Buy cheap car
Give up cheap car
????????
PROFIT

[Psy]

Sometimes it is irrelevant if the networks are connected directly and compatible. Monorails use less material and are cheaper to maintain, though they do have disadvantages that a more conventional elevated regular railway or metro-style commuter railway does not; like tramways they fit into a niche of their own with various strengths and weaknesses, and whether they are good or not depend on what is needed.

The advantages of monorails are offset by breaking from the standard thus monorails can't utilize maintenance of way equipment of neighboring railways like geometry cars, rail grinders, rail layers, rail wielders, de-icers, basically you can't use a wide selection of heavy rail equipment as monorails are incompatible with everything around it.

You also can't scale with monorails as you not only stuck with monorails but with monorail for your monorail track as there is no monorail standardization.



What is a joke, however, are these strange monorails that were vogue in the U.S. for quite some time (and systems like the Personal Monorail systems that were proposed at one time) during the 70's and 80's that basically does not really provide any essential connections whatsoever (I think the first of these was the Seattle monorail). Most of these were badly thought out show-pieces that did little of anything to provide decent transportation facilities.
While prior WWII trams traveled deep into rural areas because they required little infrastructure and operating cost. The only reason the Warsaw nations phased out rural trams is GOSPLAN found narrow gauge trains were even cheaper using their cheap narrow gauge diesel locomotives based on tractor motors as it mean they didn't have to worry about overhead wires thus were cheaper for rural areas.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f8/Zarechnoe.JPG/800px-Zarechnoe.JPG

[Q]

I feel many Americans here are attacking the notion of public transport because the terrible record the US has on it. Its infrastructure completely auto-centric. There are even many places without sidewalks and biking is seen as a sport instead of a transportation vehicle (I've never seen an American on a normal bike (http://meiden.blog.nl/files/2009/03/708964_00_1001_nl52hkjpg_fiets_van_amand.jpg)).

Europe is a little different I would argue and given that my primary forms of transportation are the bike and public transport, I would welcome this with wide open arms.

[Sperm-Doll Setsuna]

The advantages of monorails are offset by breaking from the standard thus monorails can't utilize maintenance of way equipment of neighboring railways like geometry cars, rail grinders, rail layers, rail wielders, de-icers, basically you can't use a wide selection of heavy rail equipment as monorails are incompatible with everything around it.

You also can't scale with monorails as you not only stuck with monorails but with monorail for your monorail track as there is no monorail standardization.


While prior WWII trams traveled deep into rural areas because they required little infrastructure and operating cost. The only reason the Warsaw nations phased out rural trams is GOSPLAN found narrow gauge trains were even cheaper using their cheap narrow gauge diesel locomotives based on tractor motors as it mean they didn't have to worry about overhead wires thus were cheaper for rural areas.


Monorails do not need all of those equipments because they typically make use of concrete beams rather than rails and are not very susceptible to some of the problems facing regular railways, but instead have other problems. Monorails can be made more silent than a regular railway with a similar layout, and their smaller structure means they cast less shadows, etc.

As for standardisation... given that monorails typically serve as an intermediate system between a tramway and a metro-style commuter railway, it is not all that necessary (but if it were needed, why would it be difficult to standardise monorail equipment and specifications?)

And weren't the original narrow gauge railways of the SSSR operated by steam anyway, they were more akin to what was established by the British Light Railways Act of 1895 (I think it was '95 anyway), which were essentially cheaper and lower-standard regular railways and differed from the more conventional inter-urban tramways that reached their peak in the 1920's and 30's, most of which were either closed (as in the U.S.) or upgraded to regular railways (such as the Hanshin railway).

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

I feel many Americans here are attacking the notion of public transport because the terrible record the US has on it. Its infrastructure completely auto-centric. There are even many places without sidewalks and biking is seen as a sport instead of a transportation vehicle (I've never seen an American on a normal bike (http://meiden.blog.nl/files/2009/03/708964_00_1001_nl52hkjpg_fiets_van_amand.jpg)).

I'd still prefer a mountain bike, because they have better suspension.

[∞]

Nah, hybrids are the way to go. Nice suspension, thin tires, great speed.

[kitsune]

I feel many Americans here are attacking the notion of public transport because the terrible record the US has on it. Its infrastructure completely auto-centric. There are even many places without sidewalks and biking is seen as a sport instead of a transportation vehicle (I've never seen an American on a normal bike (http://meiden.blog.nl/files/2009/03/708964_00_1001_nl52hkjpg_fiets_van_amand.jpg)).

Europe is a little different I would argue and given that my primary forms of transportation are the bike and public transport, I would welcome this with wide open arms.

In Japan, the standard bike that nearly everyone has is a mamachari (http://i55.tinypic.com/r9iirq.jpg), and public transportation is great. I definitely prefer that approach.

[Rss]

Nah, hybrids are the way to go. Nice suspension, thin tires, great speed.

I prefer military surplus bikes. They can endure atomic holocaust any day of the week. Well, chains might fall off but that comes with the territory.

[Psy]

Monorails do not need all of those equipments because they typically make use of concrete beams rather than rails and are not very susceptible to some of the problems facing regular railways, but instead have other problems. Monorails can be made more silent than a regular railway with a similar layout, and their smaller structure means they cast less shadows, etc.

The smaller structure also means less space for work crews.



As for standardisation... given that monorails typically serve as an intermediate system between a tramway and a metro-style commuter railway, it is not all that necessary (but if it were needed, why would it be difficult to standardise monorail equipment and specifications?)

Monorails make poor intermediate systems for example the Moscow system has a crush load of 290 riders while large Moscow trams have a crush load of 327 riders.

As for standardization well there are two different monorail technologies still being used.

There is suspension that utilized a lot of conventional railway technology so has been able to utilize advances in railway technology easily.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Wuppertaler_Schwebebahn_Detail_Antrieb.jpg

Yet Disney amusement parks popularized straddled beam monorails which is what people first think of when they think of a monorail. This is very little to do with railway technology and basically reinvented the wheel just so the infrastructure of a monorail could be moved from above the train to below so instead of a view like this:

l8gkqBEtQT8

You get a view like this

frWAOOhtabg



And weren't the original narrow gauge railways of the SSSR operated by steam anyway, they were more akin to what was established by the British Light Railways Act of 1895 (I think it was '95 anyway), which were essentially cheaper and lower-standard regular railways and differed from the more conventional inter-urban tramways that reached their peak in the 1920's and 30's, most of which were either closed (as in the U.S.) or upgraded to regular railways (such as the Hanshin railway).
Yes they where originally operated by steam but in the USSR they were modernized with diesel locomotives and even extended to better act as feeder lines to regular railways.

The following is a video of a narrow gauge station in 1991 (the title translates into "small October railroad" that was a narrow gauge railway through Novo-Orlovskij Park in Leningrad)

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[∞]

I prefer military surplus bikes. They can endure atomic holocaust any day of the week. Well, chains might fall off but that comes with the territory.

My bike isn't what I'd worry about in a nuclear holocaust.

[Psy]

My bike isn't what I'd worry about in a nuclear holocaust.
Speaking of which the USSR had coal steam trains in military underground nuclear bunkers so after a nuclear strike they could quickly restore a token level of train service (after tracks were repaired) as mining coal requires less infrastructure then refining diesel fuel and generating electricity.

[Metacomet]

The bus routes in Broward County, Florida are mainly designed to keep poor people away from middle class and rich people. Really sucks for one of my buddies who lives in a nice neighborhood, but has no car, so he can't get or keep a job.

I could actually ride my bike to work in 90 minutes (assuming I was in shape), but the weather in South Florida isn't really conducive to long distance biking. It's 90 degress F, with 90% humidity, and then it storms daily during the summer.

Still, nothing compares with how bad it was in Jacksonville, where there was no public transportation to the airport.

Call me crazy, I think their are climates people just don't really do to well in. And Florida is one of them.

[Rss]

Call me crazy, I think their are climates people just don't really do to well in. And Florida is one of them.

I don't think that you are wrong, having just over 25 degrees celsius makes me very, very uncomfortable. I'm unable to get a tan because I burn so easily. Heatwaves make me want to shoot my brains out.