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I think US's opinions about public transportation is based on rational comparison. Taking the bus takes more time than taking a car, and is a less desirable en

I think US's opinions about public transportation is based on rational comparison. Taking the bus takes more time than taking a car, and is a less desirable environment. Our train system is optimized for freight, and has no cost or time benefit over just driving. Countries which have high amounts of public transportation tend to have higher gas prices and population density. It becomes more cost and time effective in that case to take public transportation. If this hyper-tube system takes off, it could really be a game changer. Even with a high cost, the transportation speed is really desirable, especially if you don't need to go through the routine that you need to go through at airports before you even get on the plane. If the cost becomes comparable or cheaper than airplanes, then it becomes cheaper and more convenient to take the hyper tube than driving or flying. Americans understand the language of time and money, and that would change their opinion very quickly.

notahacker 13y ago
Rational comparison or desirability of environments would take into account the likelihood of an hour on a decent bus allowing you to get more done (or more sleep) than 45 minutes of focusing attention on the car in front of you...
- Laremere 13y ago
  I was speaking more about longer distances than just 45 minutes. The initial proposal seems to be more about longer distance traveling over daily commutes. My experience with bus trips is them being 30% to 60% longer travel times for more money than it would cost in gas if driving a car.
- andrewflnr 13y ago
  Hmm, then I've never been on a "decent" bus (used buses in LA and a little in Boston). They never seemed like good environments for work. In LA particularly, even if it weren't for all the idiots playing music on their earphones that's clearly audible from over a yard away, there's these stupid TV programs running. And for most of the trips I needed them for (before I could drive), they took 3 times as long as driving. We make decisions based on the actual options, not what "decent" options would be. Driving is definitely a better deal.

notahacker 13y ago

Rational comparison or desirability of environments would take into account the likelihood of an hour on a decent bus allowing you to get more done (or more sleep) than 45 minutes of focusing attention on the car in front of you...

Laremere 13y ago
I was speaking more about longer distances than just 45 minutes. The initial proposal seems to be more about longer distance traveling over daily commutes. My experience with bus trips is them being 30% to 60% longer travel times for more money than it would cost in gas if driving a car.
andrewflnr 13y ago
Hmm, then I've never been on a "decent" bus (used buses in LA and a little in Boston). They never seemed like good environments for work. In LA particularly, even if it weren't for all the idiots playing music on their earphones that's clearly audible from over a yard away, there's these stupid TV programs running. And for most of the trips I needed them for (before I could drive), they took 3 times as long as driving. We make decisions based on the actual options, not what "decent" options would be. Driving is definitely a better deal.