One of the things I really like about my line of work is the 'virtue' of it. Equity issues? Build more transit. Air pollution problems? Build more transit. Climate change? Build more transit. Admittedly, many of the virtues of transit are those of massification/densification/intensification in general--less stuff per persons costs less, pollutes less and uses less energy. But they are also virtues of 'mortification' and personal sacrifice - of consuming less. Support for mass transit must be based on a steadier foundation than mere virtue signalling. It has to offer an advantage over the personal automobile that elicits 'willingness to pay'. The success of mass transit requires parity with the automobile: 1) right of way is provided without cost to users/operators; 2) vehicle storage space is provided, for free, by any/all private developments, as a matter of course. Can you imagine the difference that free guideway and free vehicle storage would make for buses? Only by imagining the reverse--can you imagine the effect on automobile travel if the gas tax was actually high enough to fund the roads? Or free parking non-existent?
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