Comments on: Kheel Plan Getting Lots of Play, Except Where It Counts http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/01/28/kheel-plan-getting-lots-of-play-except-where-it-counts/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:31:30 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Charles Siegel http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/01/28/kheel-plan-getting-lots-of-play-except-where-it-counts/comment-page-1/#comment-43749 Charles Siegel Wed, 30 Jan 2008 04:10:59 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/01/28/kheel-plan-getting-lots-of-play-except-where-it-counts/#comment-43749 A study just released in San Francisco recommends against providing free transit. It looked at some cities that tried it: "The experiments in Trenton, Austin, and Denver were abandoned, and higher costs were cited as just one reason. Another reason: Drivers and longtime passengers complained that the free rides attracted rowdy and destructive joyriders." http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2008/01/29/MNFQUNU4C.DTL A study just released in San Francisco recommends against providing free transit. It looked at some cities that tried it: "The experiments in Trenton, Austin, and Denver were abandoned, and higher costs were cited as just one reason. Another reason: Drivers and longtime passengers complained that the free rides attracted rowdy and destructive joyriders."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2008/01/29/MNFQUNU4C.DTL

]]> By: buford puser http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/01/28/kheel-plan-getting-lots-of-play-except-where-it-counts/comment-page-1/#comment-43700 buford puser Tue, 29 Jan 2008 19:16:10 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/01/28/kheel-plan-getting-lots-of-play-except-where-it-counts/#comment-43700 Odd that Kabak would say Kheel's plan is doomed because "People in New York City are, stupidly, married to their cars." Shouldn't that be "[The 40 % of] People in New York City [who own cars,] are, stupidly, married to their cars [and are so politically powerful that they automatically will overpower the other 60%]"? Wouldn't free transit for the non-driving large majority have _some_ political oomph? Odd that Kabak would say Kheel's plan is doomed because "People in New York City are, stupidly, married to their cars."
Shouldn't that be "[The 40 % of] People in New York City [who own cars,] are, stupidly, married to their cars [and are so politically powerful that they automatically will overpower the other 60%]"?
Wouldn't free transit for the non-driving large majority have _some_ political oomph?

]]> By: srock http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/01/28/kheel-plan-getting-lots-of-play-except-where-it-counts/comment-page-1/#comment-43636 srock Mon, 28 Jan 2008 22:18:32 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/01/28/kheel-plan-getting-lots-of-play-except-where-it-counts/#comment-43636 It should also be noted that the London Congestion Pricing program currently charges roughly $15 to enter the zone, up from their initial price of $8. This fee level has a precedent-- the same one the mayor has used repeatedly to argue for his pricing plan. There is no reason the Kheel plan shouldn't be politically palatable. It should also be noted that the London Congestion Pricing program currently charges roughly $15 to enter the zone, up from their initial price of $8. This fee level has a precedent-- the same one the mayor has used repeatedly to argue for his pricing plan. There is no reason the Kheel plan shouldn't be politically palatable.

]]> By: Benjamin Kabak http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/01/28/kheel-plan-getting-lots-of-play-except-where-it-counts/comment-page-1/#comment-43617 Benjamin Kabak Mon, 28 Jan 2008 20:08:06 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/01/28/kheel-plan-getting-lots-of-play-except-where-it-counts/#comment-43617 Funny thing about the Kheel plan is that everyone I know who's read the plan or my post about it loves it. When people understand that the plan can work and kicks back tangible returns in the form of free and improved transit, they want to see it implemented. Interestingly, another group of people not talking about the plan includes The New York Times. They were noticeably silent on it last week. Funny thing about the Kheel plan is that everyone I know who's read the plan or my post about it loves it. When people understand that the plan can work and kicks back tangible returns in the form of free and improved transit, they want to see it implemented.

Interestingly, another group of people not talking about the plan includes The New York Times. They were noticeably silent on it last week.

]]> By: rhubarbpie http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/01/28/kheel-plan-getting-lots-of-play-except-where-it-counts/comment-page-1/#comment-43604 rhubarbpie Mon, 28 Jan 2008 18:08:03 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/01/28/kheel-plan-getting-lots-of-play-except-where-it-counts/#comment-43604 While I tend to agree with Benjamin Kabak in that free transit "just won't happen," that's precisely what the rap has been on congestion pricing for years. Then a mayor got behind the idea. The same could happen with free transit. Mayor Bloomberg was dragged into his support for congestion pricing, but now it's a real possibility. If this mayor, ideally -- or the next mayor -- supports free transit and actually does the leg work to win support, this could also move. A serious candidate with the "free transit" pledge would shake up the race. Looking at the current crop of the most likely candidates -- Quinn, Thompson, Weiner -- I'd say it's a long shot that any one of them would got on this bandwagon. But it's worth pushing them for their views, and looking at the other potential candidates as well. While I tend to agree with Benjamin Kabak in that free transit "just won't happen," that's precisely what the rap has been on congestion pricing for years. Then a mayor got behind the idea.

The same could happen with free transit. Mayor Bloomberg was dragged into his support for congestion pricing, but now it's a real possibility. If this mayor, ideally -- or the next mayor -- supports free transit and actually does the leg work to win support, this could also move.

A serious candidate with the "free transit" pledge would shake up the race. Looking at the current crop of the most likely candidates -- Quinn, Thompson, Weiner -- I'd say it's a long shot that any one of them would got on this bandwagon. But it's worth pushing them for their views, and looking at the other potential candidates as well.

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