The Joys of Public Transportation

I wouldn't mind public transportation ... if they didn't let just anyone in the public use it.

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Overall U.S. Mass Transit ridership remains down about 40% from pre-pandemic levels.


I worked for a transit company (signaling) for several years, and I make it a point to try to use the transit system whenever I visit a city that has one. While they are OK in most U.S. cities if you can overlook the squalor and homeless people hanging around, in Europe and Asia they are cleaner and more dependable.

America is rightly conflicted in its commitment to Mass Transit. While it seems like a good and logical idea, only a small fraction of Americans have any realistic access to the service, so why should the other 80% pay to support it?

Mass Transit is ground zero when it comes to the insidious impact that labor unions have in the public sector. Most MT workers are overpaid, underworked, and have absurd levels of benefits - principally early and generous retirement. They perennially threaten local urban economies with devastating harm if their demands are not met, and weak-kneed or complicit politicians basically give them whatever they want.

It doesn't need repeating that New York is the worst in this regard. Everyone knows it.
 
They have been doing this in Japan for decades, and the Japanese don't seem to mind it. Cultural differences I guess.
Don't mind it??? oh come on... they don't have a choice.... the train system is old and not in line with their population....
At least democrat released criminals aren't tossing people onto the tracks in Japan....
 
Don't mind it??? oh come on... they don't have a choice.... the train system is old and not in line with their population....
At least democrat released criminals aren't tossing people onto the tracks in Japan....

Ever see the cubicle hotels they have?

The western concept of personal space isn't as prevalent in Asia.
 
Don't mind it??? oh come on... they don't have a choice.... the train system is old and not in line with their population....
.......
The tracks and cars are newer than most of those in most parts of the US, and the system covers just about every inch of one of the biggest cities in the world.
 
Seriously.

The idea of public transportation is wonderful.

Imagine not having to spend money on gasoline or insurance or repairs.

Ideally, one could just jump on a bus or subway car, and it would whisk you to your destination.

Ideally, the trip would be free, and another bus or train would come along every 5 minutes.

What's not to like about it?

Sadly, as another contributor to this thread pointed out, other human beings can take the pleasure out of riding public transportation.

First, of course, the predators who rob or beat up or even murder other passengers. (Most of the predators belong to two certain ethnicities.)

Second, those thoughtless humans (of ALL ethnicities and ALL genders and ALL ages) who pay for one seat but take two seats -- one for their posterior and another for their personal belongings. They could not care less that this makes another human being have to stand up.
 
Seriously.

The idea of public transportation is wonderful.

Imagine not having to spend money on gasoline or insurance or repairs.

Ideally, one could just jump on a bus or subway car, and it would whisk you to your destination.

Ideally, the trip would be free, and another bus or train would come along every 5 minutes.

What's not to like about it?

Sadly, as another contributor to this thread pointed out, other human beings can take the pleasure out of riding public transportation.

First, of course, the predators who rob or beat up or even murder other passengers. (Most of the predators belong to two certain ethnicities.)

Second, those thoughtless humans (of ALL ethnicities and ALL genders and ALL ages) who pay for one seat but take two seats -- one for their posterior and another for their personal belongings. They could not care less that this makes another human being have to stand up.

Then add in systems where they shut down before 1 AM, and the delays, and the construction, and then the simple breakdowns.
 
The tracks and cars are newer than most of those in most parts of the US, and the system covers just about every inch of one of the biggest cities in the world.
That's not saying much.... if their trains were up to the task that video would not be possible....
 

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