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I am honestly puzzled by all the comments about reduced quality of life. It sounds completely alien to me, as if I live on a different planet. I literally don't

I am honestly puzzled by all the comments about reduced quality of life. It sounds completely alien to me, as if I live on a different planet. I literally don't understand what you guys are talking about. The place where I live everything - shops, kid's school, entertainment and recreation - is less than 10min cycling away. Work commute is less than 1hour by train in a comfortable seat with wi-fi or a book. I do own a car but I don't depend on it for my QOL.

macintux 8y ago
Imagine your train goes away and the only way to get to work is by bus. Takes twice as long, less comfortable, and the buses are overflowing because everyone is in the same situation. Would 4 hours of commute instead of 2 infringe upon your quality of life?
maxsilver 8y ago
Most people are nowhere near as fortunate as you are, to have all of that. That might be why the complaints sound so "alien". Even if I somehow perfectly engineered my life, so that my shops and housing and employment and recreation were all right nearby each other -- there would be no way to do the same for my spouse or child or the rest of my family. And that also assumes I never ever change jobs even once (which in this economy, is effectively like taking a 10% yearly paycut). This is why cities depend on reliable public transportation infrastructure (including freeways). It's a critical component of quality of life, as well as a requirement to make financial ends meet.
ken 8y ago
Easy: just imagine your life without a train. Replace it with "standing-room only bus (no wifi), and 2 transfers each way". Or "stuck in traffic". Still seem great? Rail is expanding in Seattle but it's slow going. West Seattle is planned for 2030, and Ballard for 2035. You don't build a rail system overnight, especially when you've got hills and oceans and lakes and existing development to contend with. We're the fastest growing large city in America -- population is up 20% this decade. (500K to 600K took 50 years. 600K to 700K took only 7.) That's a lot of extra bodies to transport. Any city would struggle a bit with that.
- guitarbill 8y ago
  It doesn't help that public transport is okay by American standards, i.e. appalling. And that because of congestion, walking and cycling are so dangerous. Police have even stopped ticketing people blocking crossings because it happens too frequently (which is the wrong thing to do). Which means the alternatives are even less appealing, which means more people drive, etc. Of course, nothing will change as the rich people still want to drive, no matter how much they pretend to support public/alternative transport in a bid to look progressive.
  - MrMorden 8y ago
    The situation is worse than that; public transport in Seattle is excellent by American standards. Which is still crap.

macintux 8y ago

Imagine your train goes away and the only way to get to work is by bus. Takes twice as long, less comfortable, and the buses are overflowing because everyone is in the same situation. Would 4 hours of commute instead of 2 infringe upon your quality of life?

maxsilver 8y ago

Most people are nowhere near as fortunate as you are, to have all of that. That might be why the complaints sound so "alien". Even if I somehow perfectly engineered my life, so that my shops and housing and employment and recreation were all right nearby each other -- there would be no way to do the same for my spouse or child or the rest of my family. And that also assumes I never ever change jobs even once (which in this economy, is effectively like taking a 10% yearly paycut). This is why cities depend on reliable public transportation infrastructure (including freeways). It's a critical component of quality of life, as well as a requirement to make financial ends meet.

ken 8y ago

Easy: just imagine your life without a train. Replace it with "standing-room only bus (no wifi), and 2 transfers each way". Or "stuck in traffic". Still seem great? Rail is expanding in Seattle but it's slow going. West Seattle is planned for 2030, and Ballard for 2035. You don't build a rail system overnight, especially when you've got hills and oceans and lakes and existing development to contend with. We're the fastest growing large city in America -- population is up 20% this decade. (500K to 600K took 50 years. 600K to 700K took only 7.) That's a lot of extra bodies to transport. Any city would struggle a bit with that.

guitarbill 8y ago
It doesn't help that public transport is okay by American standards, i.e. appalling. And that because of congestion, walking and cycling are so dangerous. Police have even stopped ticketing people blocking crossings because it happens too frequently (which is the wrong thing to do). Which means the alternatives are even less appealing, which means more people drive, etc. Of course, nothing will change as the rich people still want to drive, no matter how much they pretend to support public/alternative transport in a bid to look progressive.
- MrMorden 8y ago
  The situation is worse than that; public transport in Seattle is excellent by American standards. Which is still crap.