Comments on: Warning: We Can't Let the Stimulus Pass Us By http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/01/04/warning-we-cant-let-the-stimulus-pass-us-by/ Sat, 31 Jul 2010 16:27:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Norman Brown http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/01/04/warning-we-cant-let-the-stimulus-pass-us-by/#comment-110 Norman Brown Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:59:13 +0000 http://thetransportpolitic.wordpress.com/?p=544#comment-110 Jake, I yield to no one in my call to organize politically however expecting people in the suburbs to oppose sprawl is like expecting prostitutes to oppose sex. The suburbs are sprawl. And continue to insist on it in state government and land-use forums. And they are shocked to find high property taxes. There must be some way to marry property tax relief, better land use regulations and political consolidation of Metropolitan areas. Jake, I yield to no one in my call to organize politically however expecting people in the suburbs to oppose sprawl is like expecting prostitutes to oppose sex. The suburbs are sprawl. And continue to insist on it in state government and land-use forums. And they are shocked to find high property taxes. There must be some way to marry property tax relief, better land use regulations and political consolidation of Metropolitan areas.

]]> By: jake http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/01/04/warning-we-cant-let-the-stimulus-pass-us-by/#comment-109 jake Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:52:32 +0000 http://thetransportpolitic.wordpress.com/?p=544#comment-109 Transit advocates have strong arguments, but are politically weak. We spend more time blogging and hoping to convince politicians that we're right than we do organizing the kind of popular pressure that politicians actually pay attention to. Every city needs a dedicated group of transit organizers who will sit down and lobby local politicians, put together effective political demonstrations, and perhaps most important, start experimenting with popular education techniques that can change people's minds about car culture and suburban sprawl. If we can't get people who live in the suburbs to start supporting pro-transit and anti-sprawl initiatives, the fight for livable streets and environmental sustainability could go on for decades. Transit advocates have strong arguments, but are politically weak. We spend more time blogging and hoping to convince politicians that we’re right than we do organizing the kind of popular pressure that politicians actually pay attention to.

Every city needs a dedicated group of transit organizers who will sit down and lobby local politicians, put together effective political demonstrations, and perhaps most important, start experimenting with popular education techniques that can change people’s minds about car culture and suburban sprawl. If we can’t get people who live in the suburbs to start supporting pro-transit and anti-sprawl initiatives, the fight for livable streets and environmental sustainability could go on for decades.

]]> By: WilS http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/01/04/warning-we-cant-let-the-stimulus-pass-us-by/#comment-108 WilS Mon, 05 Jan 2009 06:10:30 +0000 http://thetransportpolitic.wordpress.com/?p=544#comment-108 overall, i enjoyed the ride though. i must admit, id take it more if i had the option.... overall, i enjoyed the ride though. i must admit, id take it more if i had the option….

]]> By: WilS http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/01/04/warning-we-cant-let-the-stimulus-pass-us-by/#comment-107 WilS Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:55:04 +0000 http://thetransportpolitic.wordpress.com/?p=544#comment-107 This week I rode the amtrak from Greenwood, Ms. To memphis, Tn. The ride was nice, for my first american train ride, but took about the same time as driving. it could have been faster. we had to wait on freight trains. the loading was a bit slow passengers were confused. it was better then the drive though. here is what the thing that was confusing though. they forgot to take my fair, usually they take it up at the beginning of the trip. granted it awas a smalll fair, when i got off the conductor was like, "merry christmas man, dont worrry about it" so i rode for free. for a company near bankruptcy that doesnt bode well..... This week I rode the amtrak from Greenwood, Ms. To memphis, Tn. The ride was nice, for my first american train ride, but took about the same time as driving. it could have been faster. we had to wait on freight trains. the loading was a bit slow passengers were confused. it was better then the drive though. here is what the thing that was confusing though. they forgot to take my fair, usually they take it up at the beginning of the trip. granted it awas a smalll fair, when i got off the conductor was like, “merry christmas man, dont worrry about it” so i rode for free. for a company near bankruptcy that doesnt bode well…..

]]> By: as http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/01/04/warning-we-cant-let-the-stimulus-pass-us-by/#comment-106 as Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:27:38 +0000 http://thetransportpolitic.wordpress.com/?p=544#comment-106 How very unfortunate it would be- for the people of this country, and for the world's environment- if radical changes are not made to our rail lines. Today, I left Northern Virginia at 11:10 and did not arrive to Durham, NC until around 6:00. In Richmond, we had to get off the train and board buses to Raleigh,due to a freight train derailment somewhere south of Richmond. Then, in Raleigh, we reboarded a train. What a sad state of affairs- our public transit. By car, this trip would have taken no more than 41/2 hours. How very unfortunate it would be- for the people of this country, and for the world’s environment- if radical changes are not made to our rail lines. Today, I left Northern Virginia at 11:10 and did not arrive to Durham, NC until around 6:00. In Richmond, we had to get off the train and board buses to Raleigh,due to a freight train derailment somewhere south of Richmond. Then, in Raleigh, we reboarded a train. What a sad state of affairs- our public transit. By car, this trip would have taken no more than 41/2 hours.

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