> In misc.survivalism Ed Huntress optonline.net> wrote:
>

>> good example of why public transit, in all but the largest cities and the
>> densest population areas, is a tough sell for anyone who can afford to
>> drive.

>
> My crystal ball says that fewer and fewer will be willing to "afford to
> drive", and that these far-flung McMansion subdivions will become
> increasingly less desirable. Those who drive to the office park in their
> Hummer will be among the first to change significant parts of their
> lifestyle.
>
> I think that "the inner city" will resurge, much as it did in the 1980's.
>
> But I also think that options such as mixed-use development near
> transportation hubs (in the suburbs, not the exurbs) will become
> increasingly popular, along with an increase in home offices. In the mixed
> use scenario, people will have goods and services close by, much as things ...

> My crystal ball says that fewer and fewer will be willing to "afford to
> drive"...

> Darrell, I just got my callback from an official at Orlando's Lynx system,
> and I got a real earful. Rather than give the whole rundown, let me just say
> that Orlando, as this official says, isn't...

>
> A thought, Ed?
>
> Instead of public bus service, what about "private livery" service.
> Kinda like taxi, but under contract and cheaper than outright
> ownership and maintanence (and taxes, etc) of an automoble?
>
> And you know who the driver is.
>
> Drop the kids at school, Mom goes shopping, pick up Dad at the airport.
>
> Monthly cost based on what? Fixed rate plus? Miles? Hours?
>
> Limo service for the masses!
>
>
> Richard

> "cavelamb himself" Xearthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:r7KdneClGKfZ4L7VnZ2dnUVZ_hKdnZ2d@earthlink.com...
>

>>A thought, Ed?
>>
>>Instead of public bus service, what about "private livery"...

> On 8 May 2008 00:01:20 GMT, D Murphy comcast.net> wrote:
>

>>"Hawke" dslextreme.com> wrote in
>>news:FYmUj.85199$oQ4.33751@fe113.usenetserver.com:
>>

>>> If we don't find a way to produce cheap, clean energy that is
>>> available anywhere the only other alternative is to live like we
>>> used to in cities where infrastructure and transportation can
>>> deliver for us in an efficient way, not like the wasteful way we do
>>> now.

>>
>>We already have a cheap clean energy source at hand. Natural gas. It's
>>fairly simple and strightforward to retrofit to existing vehicles and
>>there is plenty of it.

>
> Hence it's rapidly rising price.

> Ed Huntress wrote:
>

>> "cavelamb himself" Xearthlink.net> wrote in message
>> news:r7KdneClGKfZ4L7VnZ2dnUVZ_hKdnZ2d@earthlink.com...
>>

>>>A thought, Ed?
>>>
>>>Instead of public bus service, what about "private livery" service.
>>>Kinda like taxi, but under contract and cheaper than outright
>>>ownership and maintanence (and taxes, etc) of an automoble?
>>>
>>>And you know who the driver is.
>>>
>>>Drop the kids at school, Mom goes shopping, pick up Dad at the airport.
>>>
>>>Monthly cost based on what? Fixed rate plus? Miles? Hours?
>>>
>>>Limo service for the masses! ...

> I hear you, but my conclusion is quite different. You're assuming a rational
> marketplace

> investment that would be required to make a qualitative improvement in mass
> transit in the US. The low-hanging fruit is mostly picked. Future projects
> will cost vastly more.

> drive changes in where people build their houses.

> transportation is the goal of people in every developing country in the
> world. Not only is it no different here, but we've been the ones who set the
> goalposts.

> Oh, I almost forgot. I saw an article yesterday that characterizes the
> situation perfectly, IMO:

> "Report: 98 Percent Of U.S. Commuters Favor Public Transportation For
> Others"

> http://www.theonion.com/content/node/38644

> "cavelamb himself" Xearthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:IN2dnZUFrbm7Gr7VnZ2dnUVZ_rvinZ2d@earthlink.com...
>

>>Ed Huntress wrote:
>>
>>

>>>"cavelamb himself" Xearthlink.net> wrote in message
>>>news:r7KdneClGKfZ4L7VnZ2dnUVZ_hKdnZ2d@earthlink.com...
>>>
>>>

>>>>A thought, Ed?
>>>>
>>>>Instead of public bus service, what about "private livery" service.
>>>>Kinda like taxi, but under contract and cheaper than outright
>>>>ownership and maintanence (and taxes, etc) of an automoble?
>>>>
>>>>And you know who the driver is.
>>>>
>>>>Drop the kids at school, Mom goes shopping, pick up Dad at the airport. ...