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To: NoKnownPurpose
I tried to use mass transit / alternative transportation in California about twenty years ago. After about six months of that I finally broke down and bought a car. I quickly came to the conclusion that the whole purpose of mass transit is to convince you of the necessity of buying a car.

True story: I was commuting from downtown San Jose to northern Santa Clara, a distance of about ten miles. I was taking one, major bus up one line to get to work, no transfers or anything. Well, the buses proved to be so unreliable that I started leaving earlier and earlier to be sure I got to work on time. I was finally getting out to the bus stop TWO HOURS early, hoping to get one that wouldn't break down or run out of gas(!) on the way to my job. This to travel ten miles, a distance I could drive (at the time) in about fifteen minutes.

The net effect was to not only drive me into owning a car, but to ensure my perpetual hostility to all forms of mass transit. Mass transit is socialized transit. Socialized ANYTHING results in poor, unreliable service, with no-one to be held accountable. To this day you couldn't pay me to ride a bus, I'd rather walk.

6 posted on 07/07/2002 11:10:27 AM PDT by Billy_bob_bob
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To: Billy_bob_bob
The net effect was to not only drive me into owning a car, but to ensure my perpetual hostility to all forms of mass transit. Mass transit is socialized transit. Socialized ANYTHING results in poor, unreliable service, with no-one to be held accountable. To this day you couldn't pay me to ride a bus, I'd rather walk.

That's your personal preference, which you're certainly entitled to.

However, it is myopic to assume that everybody shares your attitude.
In fact, YOU benefit when THEY choose to use modern, efficient mass transit through less highway congestion, greater availability of fuel and more abundant parking availability. You should be grateful that others use mass-transit.

37 posted on 07/07/2002 1:15:29 PM PDT by Willie Green
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