🚀 go-pugleaf

jstrickl@cs.sfu.ca (James Strickland) writes:

> There seem to be at least a few people reading this newsgroup
> who are interested in public transit, so I was wondering what
> people thought of the following:
> 
> An advertisement appeared in the Vancouver Sun on Friday on page B3
> with the following in very large letters: "Skytrain passengers can
> now see the latest in modern transportation."
> 
> The ad goes on to say "The chances are you'll be seeing a lot of
> Skytrain passengers looking longingly out of the window when they pass
> Stewardson Way and Third Avenue.  That's the new home of ...Key West
> Ford Sales... You see, sharing a Skytrain with 50 people just can't
> compare with your very own Ford."
> 
> It then goes on to mention various Ford products, and concludes with
> "So why not drop by Al Backman's Key West Ford dealership today.
> You're certain to be the envy of everyone on the Skytrain."
> 
> 
> I find this ad disgusting.  The ad implies that people only take
> the SkyTrain because they don't have a car, which is quite a
> regressive view of public transit. (ie well, I guess you have to have
> public transit for all those poor sods who can't drive).
> 
> It also implies that it is better to drive instead of taking the
> SkyTrain.  This is true if you are going somewhere the SkyTrain
> doesn't go, but if you are going somewhere the SkyTrain does go
> then you are almost always better off to take the SkyTrain.
> (I am reminded of the little girl I once saw on the SkyTrain who was
> looking down at the road, saying "passed them, passed them, passed
> them, ...")
> 
> Imagine what would happen if everyone did drive their nice new shiny
> Ford all by themselves, instead of taking the SkyTrain - then
> everyone could enjoy their Ford much more since they would spend
> much more time in it. :-)
> 


It does, however, seem to be a general fact that almost everyone who can 
afford to do so will opt for the personal convenience, safety (from other 
passengers), comfort and reliability of their own car over the public 
transit system. Doesn't that tell you something?

Namely, that public transit is generally regarded as the least desirable 
way of getting somewhere by most people?

(I'm not saying here that it is, but that people perceive it to be so.)


Robert Smits Ladysmith B.C. emd@ham.almanac.bc.ca
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Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they 
want, and deserve to get it good and hard. - H.L. Mencken