Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2005 17:08:32 -0500
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>
From: "Mike B." <omni at omniphile.com>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Portland
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>

At 04:43 PM 3/12/05 -0500, Keith F. Lynch wrote:
>"Michael Walsh" <MJW at press.jhu.edu> wrote:

>would cost nearly one percent of what it would cost to widen the
>Beltway and other highways, which will probably be necessary once
>more people give up on Metro.

Not everyone has much use for Metro.  It's only useful for those downtown,
or those going to or from downtown.  For those of us who don't live, work,
or play downtown, Metro might as well not exist.  I've been on it maybe
twice in the last 5 years, and I *could* have driven those two times
without much trouble (cost of parking would have been slightly higher with
a greater hassle factor, which is why I took Metro those two times).

Back when I lived in New Carrolton and worked at 17th & L downtown, I took
metro every day.  I haven't worked in D.C. for over 22 years now though,
and Metro hasn't been of any use at all for commuting (which I don't do at
all at the moment anyway...much the preferred solution if you can arrange
it and still eat regularly!).

It's a long discussion I've seen, and been in, more than once before (and
don't want to spend a lot of time on again), but "public transit" only
works in areas with a high enough population density and with well-defined
start-end locations for trips.  In every other situation private vehicles
of one sort or another are more efficient, cheaper and often less
polluting.  That's not to say that we couldn't improve things there, but
cramming everyone onto busses, trains and subways as some keep suggesting
just won't solve the problem for most people so it isn't a "solution".

Manhattan?  Public transit is the way to go.  Suburban Maryland and
Virginia?  Private (or at least individually piloted) is the only answer
that works...except for those few who can live near public transportation
access points and need to get to other ones.  I suspect they are in the
minority.

>neighborhood until 15 minutes after I got off, i.e. it goes at only
>about four times walking speed.

Have you considered a moped?  Filthy Pierre used to get around on one
pretty well down here, as did Rich Kolker for a while.  Only took Filthy
about 5 hours to get to Balticon (at the Hunt Valley Inn) from
Alexandria...and that was pulling a trailer filled with computer gear and
luggage!

-- Mike B.
--

"Cutting the space budget really restores my faith in humanity.  It eliminates
 dreams, goals, and ideals and lets us get straight to the business of hate,
 debauchery, and self-annihilation."
                                            -- Johnny Hart