3 ms·

_Transit_ is not what needs to change first. Infrastructure (stores, schools, daycares, hospitals, offices) needs to change before mass transit is even feasible

by ein0p 3y ago

_Transit_ is not what needs to change first. Infrastructure (stores, schools, daycares, hospitals, offices) needs to change before mass transit is even feasible. And that needs to be built out over an extended period of time, like 15-20 years, to have good coverage. This is particularly hard to grasp for someone who has never lived in Europe, which I have. So we “invest” in mass transit which (at least in my neck of the woods) almost nobody uses because it’s 10 minute drive to the grocery store and 15 minute drive to school, and both of those numbers triple or quadruple without a car. And now consider your kids extracurriculars, like swim team or something. And now consider having 2-3 kids. Cars are here to stay. To refrain from improving them would be like not doing anything about energy generation until we have fusion, which probably also won’t happen in my lifetime

mschuster91 3y ago
> Infrastructure (stores, schools, daycares, hospitals, offices) needs to change before mass transit is even feasible. And that needs to be built out over an extended period of time, like 15-20 years, to have good coverage. It's a chicken and egg problem in the end. A government has it easier to just dump funds for 10-20 years onto public transit subsidies (and provide the guarantee to the third parties you mention that any investment they make isn't going to be in vain) than if it convinces and pays off all these third parties to change before there is a viable public transit system.
- ein0p 3y ago
  In much of the US you can’t even build places people would need to walk to within walkable distance, due to zoning. A bus which takes 30 minutes to take you to the grocery store is barely any better than no public transportation at all. I haven’t used public transportation even once in the last 15 years. I sometimes check how long it’d take to get to the places I need to be however. Grocery store trip turns from 9 minutes into 36 each way. Going to work takes 25 minutes by car or an hour and a half by bus, each way. Dropping off my kid at his soccer practice? 8 vs about half an hour, each way. Idk where you people live that you think spending 3 hours daily on a bus is feasible or desirable, let alone logistically possible.

by ein0p 3y ago

mschuster91 3y ago

> Infrastructure (stores, schools, daycares, hospitals, offices) needs to change before mass transit is even feasible. And that needs to be built out over an extended period of time, like 15-20 years, to have good coverage. It's a chicken and egg problem in the end. A government has it easier to just dump funds for 10-20 years onto public transit subsidies (and provide the guarantee to the third parties you mention that any investment they make isn't going to be in vain) than if it convinces and pays off all these third parties to change before there is a viable public transit system.

ein0p 3y ago
In much of the US you can’t even build places people would need to walk to within walkable distance, due to zoning. A bus which takes 30 minutes to take you to the grocery store is barely any better than no public transportation at all. I haven’t used public transportation even once in the last 15 years. I sometimes check how long it’d take to get to the places I need to be however. Grocery store trip turns from 9 minutes into 36 each way. Going to work takes 25 minutes by car or an hour and a half by bus, each way. Dropping off my kid at his soccer practice? 8 vs about half an hour, each way. Idk where you people live that you think spending 3 hours daily on a bus is feasible or desirable, let alone logistically possible.