Comments on: No Clear Transpo Agenda From GOP Presidential Candidates

By: Fred Camino

Fred Camino — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 00:08:21 +0000

So sad that our private urban railways were defeated by subsidized government roads but now conservatives and libertarians talk about the unfair subsidies public transit gets. Mass transit used to be private! It didn't die because people liked cars that much more, it died because cars got an unfair advantage of the form of endless government subsidies for the roads that make them usable. How could rail compete when rail companies had to buy their own right of ways build their own tracks etc etc. A true libertarian would realize that the car culture is a direct result of government intervention, not the other way around. See my post on the Democratic side to see how FDR's new deal helped set the foundation for the car culture.

By: Steve Davis

Steve Davis — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 20:35:49 +0000

No problem, Mark. Wish the news was as good on both sides of the aisle.

By: Mark

Mark — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 01:36:56 +0000

Steve, thanks for the links. That was enlightening.

By: Moser

Moser — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 23:10:37 +0000

Oh good, Segway freaks now showing up here.

By: Niccolo Machiavelli

Niccolo Machiavelli — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 20:25:51 +0000

Whaddya mean no agenda? Low fuel prices AND high tech, high mileage, super cars. It is a lot like the opponents of both Congestion Pricing AND MTA fare increases. Modern equipment, high level of service, no standing room and low fare cost with no visible tax support. That sounds like an agenda to me. Having my cake and eating it too. Don't say thats not an agenda.

By: galvo

galvo — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 20:25:34 +0000

NYS has effectively ruled out the trial of alt transportation with gov spitzer recent outlawing of segways on public roadways. segways may not be the answer to everything, but they are a good step away from a carcentric culture, especially in area where the hills make bicycle use difficult. Housing projects are still being designed as carcentric, built with thousands of spaces reserved for automobiles, no thought to possible alttrans rooms
many towns in the hudson valley fit into the train station down a steep hill but within range of the current segways.
i guess the loss of gas tax revenue is one of the reasons the governor and anti alternative trans people don't want segways.

By: Steve Davis

Steve Davis — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 20:08:19 +0000

We did this one a few weeks ago, covering energy and climate positions (and transportation where mentioned) of both sides of the aisle

Dems:
http://blog.smartgrowthamerica.org/?p=101

Republicans:
http://blog.smartgrowthamerica.org/?p=100

By: Larry Littlefield

Larry Littlefield — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 19:58:37 +0000

I went through all the candidate's positions on energy/environment, and was going to write about it on Room 8, but after reading them decided not to bother. You can read my views there.

Essentially, all the Democrats propose a "cap and trade" system (which presumably would favor existing companies) to reduce carbon emissions, along with rules and subsidies to have the lawyers in Washington decide what to do. Bicycles are not mentioned.

The Republicans come up with a long list of things they will do, but fail to give any indications how they will do them. You think they would propose a market solution -- use the tax system to make fossil fuels expensive and allow people and companies to decide for themselves how to solve the problem. But they don't.

They don't mention bicycles or walking either.

All in all, I'd rather not have energy and transportation policy decided in Washington.