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For most of the land area of the US, indeed population density is probably too low to support any meaningful public transit, at least for commuters. I tend to
by sparky 17y ago
For most of the land area of the US, indeed population density is probably too low to support any meaningful public transit, at least for commuters. I tend to think that public transit in the city with spokes leading out to major suburbs (with park-and-ride lots in the suburbs to account for the sparsity you mention) should be applied more widely. I've only been to New York a couple times, but I'm a big fan of this model there.
What are your thoughts on high-speed rail between major cities?
- maxklein 17y agoHigh Speed Rail between cities make a lot of sense, but what if the city you are arriving at does not have a public transportation system? For example, what would be the point of a high speed rail between Dallas and Houston? How would you get around once you arrive? In Europe high speed rail makes sense because when you arrive there is a dense network of trains and buses you can use. In the U.S there is none.
- sparky 17y agoI agree that short-haul and long-term public transportation systems are very complementary, and as you allude to, there may be a chicken-and-egg problem with building one over the other. However, I think of long-haul rail networks as an alternative to air travel, and in the short term, can't people get around in their destination city the same way they do now when they fly? Rental car, taxi, friends, family, public transport such as it is (you're right that the US is far behind Europe in this respect, but most major-ish cities at least have buses).
- driax 17y agoYou could always rent a car.
- elblanco 17y agoOr I could just drive my own.
- fortes 17y ago> High Speed Rail between cities make a lot of sense, but what if the city you are arriving at does not have a public transportation? For example, what would be the point of a high speed rail between Dallas and Houston? How would you get around once you arrive? You're right that this is an issue for those that might drive as an alternative. However, anyone who flies has the same issue of needing a car. In fact, it's often worse since airports are never in the city center, whereas train stations almost always are.
- deleted 17y ago[deleted]