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Transport Subsidies Lead to Bad Decisions

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[quote user="cordon"] [:)]I don't believe that rail, either light or heavy, is the answer, either.  What I believe is that a mix of mass transportation is better than an all-automobile approach, and that people living nearer to work and school is better than people living far from work and school (large schools mean a higher proportion of students use school buses because more students live outside the walking distance).The trends in my lifetime have been suburban sprawl, multiple workers in each household, shopping centers located where the people and businesses are not, tax strategies that drive both residents and businesses out of cities, ever larger schools, and increased use of automobiles with no passengers. I believe that we should work to reverse all these trends.  Mass transportation is just a part of it.Many users of mass transportation don't own a car.  I believe that many of them would have to get a car or join a carpool if the mass transportation they use were not available.  I think it's certain that some of them would move to using cars.[:)]  [:)][/quote]Following WW II the majority of middle class people fled the cities for a better environment.  Like most things in life, doing so created it own set of problems, but most people I know prefer these problems to the ones associated with living in crowded cities.Some people, primarily young people and empty nesters, will continue moving into high density environments, which are better suited for public transit, especially rail based public transit.  But most people will stay in the suburbs.  Or even move further away from the big cities.Most people will continue to rely on personal vehicles for commuting, running errands, getting to entertainment venues, and for family vacations.  What will change, probably dramatically; will be the size, shape, and power plants of the vehicles.  Ten or fifteen years from now, if not sooner, most vehicles will be hybrids, all electrics, or powered by alternative fuels.  Rail advocacy folks seem to miss this point.  They seem to think that automotive technology will stand still; that it will continue to be powered as it is now, and people will continue to opt for large SUVs and pick-ups.  I don't think so.I'll bet a large number of the people who participate in this forum live in the suburbs.  And I'll bet they will be there 10 years from now.
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