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public transportation everyplace

jstack6
jstack6's picture

When it come to reducing pollution ,using less fuel and having less road congestion public transportation is the best. In many cities they combine this with bicycles so you can zip the last mile or so on your bicycle.

In my city ,Phoenix they even us all cleaner buses that run on LNG. Liquid natural gas burns much cleaner and doesn't come from unstable countries. In fact most comes from Canada. I'd much rather make them all billionaires that terrorist groups. We still have to keep in mind it is a fossil fuel and we hit peak natural gas in the USA in 2001. We hit peak oil in 1970 so it's a lot better but still needs alternatives.

When we go on vacation or even to work out of town I love to take public transit. In NYC I always used to take the subway. I have also done that in Montreal and what a difference. In Montreal they are so clean and new looking. Most people are super friendly. You get to know the local area much better and can ask for places to eat. You may even make new friends.

In Seattle my wife and I rode on the light rail street cars in the downtown area. They were very nice and had a big area for bicycles. It was also free.

Europe is the leader in mass transit. They have very good systems in Germany and all over. I'd love to ride the train or bus in Paris. Meeting the local people would be the best trip that you can't do on a tourist bus.

At Disney they have the monorail. Maybe we should have more of those in every city so we can pretend we are on vacation and all be happy.

I took the bus for 14 years when I lived in upstate NY. Winter in Syracuse was hard but the bus was full of people glad not to fight the traffic and cold.

What's your favorite public transportation ?

Megabus in the US! ›
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solar stacks


Submitted by jstack6 on Fri, 06/08/2007 - 12:10.

athena
Re: public transportation everyplace

Ottawa is finally planning a light rail system, so it got me thinking about all the stops neccessary to pick up and drop people off at convenient spots.

If everyone entering the city could leave their car at a park-and-ride to jump on the train, and could rent a small electric (bike or car) when they get off in city centre, the fossil fuel vehicles could be compleatly eliminated from downtown. 

Also, if the little vehicles could be hooked together easily you could have one driver for many passengers (perhaps the front wheels could be lifted so they don't interfere with the train effect), and recovery of disabled vehicles, and return of abandonned vehicles, would be easier.

These cars would be started with the swipe of a charge card and GPS tracking would make that driver responsible for the thing until it gets returned to a drop off spot.

Rental rates would be a time/distance calculation, with adjustments for long term rental and for driver insurability.  Insurance would probably be quite low because repairs to a fleet of like vehicles could use cannibilized parts from the junked units, and these vehicles would be designed for short trips at low speed. 

Eventually these same vehicles can be used at both ends of the train ride. 


Fri, 04/25/2008 - 05:46

whynot
Re: public transportation everyplace

Last year I broke down and decided to buy a bicycle that would actually fit me.This was not cheap as I am a large individual.What a difference.In the last 13 months I have ridden 2200 miles(mostly back and forth to work)I only put 490 miles on my truck last year.I feel much better.I am trying to convince my wife and son to ride more often.I don't mind not paying for gasoline.I have also switched to compact flourescent lighting and as Ed Begley suggested am considering planting a garden.The best transportation event in our area that was done recently was the connecting of the bike trail from Redlands to Colton which should allow some people to commute that way.

Thanks,and Best Wishes to all

Whynot


Sun, 06/24/2007 - 14:28

jstack6
jstack6's picture
Re: public transportation everyplace

In Phoenix they are installing light rail. Part of it will open in 2008 and more in 2009. We'll see how it works out. Some areas have similar systems and thye are very popular. When gas hits $% a gallon they will be very popular.
the solar stacks

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solar stacks


Fri, 06/15/2007 - 20:58

athena
Re: public transportation everyplace

Our local Govs are now talking light rail, and I'm trying to get a fleet of little electric cars included in the planning. 

If we had cheap, slow, short range electrics available at the rail stations, the stops could be father apart making the train ride more efficient and enjoyable, and we could then eliminate regular automobiles in the downtown core.  Electrics from the train stop to final destination.  From a marketting perspective this would encourage the switch to alternate transport in a flash.  The train could be hydrogen powered because you would only need one or perhaps two refill stations. 


Fri, 05/16/2008 - 05:34