[rellimpank]

--for the mass transit fas out there--

[DaGman]

Not much cheaper than a cab in Vegas. Cab's probably faster.

[relictele]

Amazing that the casinos wouldn't subsidize the entire thing to get bodies through the front door.

Another mass transit utopia goes kablooey. Somebody tell the young commies writing in all those alternative newsweeklies in all those Midwest cities that light rail, monorail, and public transit in general is not a panacea.

[ex_desert_cowboy]

Wen to Vegas with my wife and kids and the monorail was way too expensive for what you get. It was robbery and I don't like being robbed (leaves a bad taste in my mouth). Compare to cost of NY Subway or London Tube ride. Vegas needs to substantially lower the price and they will get a lot more riders and make more money through higher ridership.
Simple economics, people will act in their own best interest and a taxi is much cheaper.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

I was there for the first time last week, and could't believe the fares for the damned thing.

[Vaquero]

Monorail

Lyle Lanley: Well, sir, there's nothing on earth
Like a genuine,
Bona fide,
Electrified,
Six-car
Monorail!
What'd I say?

Ned Flanders: Monorail!

Lyle Lanley: What's it called?

Patty+Selma: Monorail!

Lyle Lanley: That's right! Monorail!

[crowd chants `Monorail' softly and rhythmically]

Miss Hoover: I hear those things are awfully loud...

Lyle Lanley: It glides as softly as a cloud.

Apu: Is there a chance the track could bend?

Lyle Lanley: Not on your life, my Hindu friend.

Barney: What about us brain-dead slobs?

Lyle Lanley: You'll be given cushy jobs.

Abe: Were you sent here by the devil?

Lyle Lanley: No, good sir, I'm on the level.

Wiggum: The ring came off my pudding can.

Lyle Lanley: Take my pen knife, my good man.

I swear it's Springfield's only choice...
Throw up your hands and raise your voice!

All: Monorail!

Lyle Lanley: What's it called?

All: Monorail!

Lyle Lanley: Once again...

All: Monorail!

Marge: But Main Street's still all cracked and broken...

Bart: Sorry, Mom, the mob has spoken!

All: Monorail!
Monorail!
Monorail!

[big finish]

Monorail!

Homer: Mono... D'oh!

[coconutt2000]

Ridership in the first half of 2006 plunged nearly 30 percent from already weak passenger counts last year, with the sustained turnstile slowdown following a fare hike at the start of this year. Base one-way fares are $5, up from $3 in 2005.

Now that they've identified the problem, they have several options.

1) Reduce fares. 2) Raise gas taxes, taxi fares, and public parking rates. 3) Put slot machines and strippers on the monorail cars.

[rellimpank]

--for thse unfamiliar with it, the monorail was financed by a quasi-private entity. Harry Reid is already greasing the skids for "federal' money for an extension---

[Publius6961]

This is the classic template by the social manipulators, the clueless and the totalitarians.

Rapid Transit, monorail whatever, is a social accessory. In biological terms the tail on the dog.

The experience however, is invariably the monster tail with tiny dog attached. The servants very quickly become the masters, by affecting prices and expenses, without regard for the overall health of the original plan.

Fortunately, no government (yet) has found a way to both keep people from using their own cars, and simultaneously forcing them to pay exorbitant amounts to use the "public transit" system, which invariably becomes another insane combination bureaucracy and welfare system.

The whole nightmare is punctuated by the new oligarchy being able to hold hostage millions of citizens by going on strike and paralyzing all transportation, of course.

Rapid transit is normally accompanied by total neglect of the normal highway system.