Comments on: Kheel Planners: MTA Austerity a Recipe for Gridlock Hell http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/11/21/kheel-planners-mta-austerity-a-recipe-for-gridlock-hell/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:08:53 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: t http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/11/21/kheel-planners-mta-austerity-a-recipe-for-gridlock-hell/comment-page-1/#comment-59367 t Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:03:47 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=4994#comment-59367 Gas prices are relatively low and subway fares will be high. That's a recipe for more cars on the road. Gas prices are relatively low and subway fares will be high. That's a recipe for more cars on the road.

]]> By: Fendergal http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/11/21/kheel-planners-mta-austerity-a-recipe-for-gridlock-hell/comment-page-1/#comment-59323 Fendergal Sat, 22 Nov 2008 02:13:18 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=4994#comment-59323 I see many more people riding in cold weather than I did in years past. I connect this uptick with the transit strike, when it was bitterly cold (19 degrees, IIRC). I think a lot of people realized, hell, I can do this. I see many more people riding in cold weather than I did in years past. I connect this uptick with the transit strike, when it was bitterly cold (19 degrees, IIRC). I think a lot of people realized, hell, I can do this.

]]> By: Streetsman http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/11/21/kheel-planners-mta-austerity-a-recipe-for-gridlock-hell/comment-page-1/#comment-59311 Streetsman Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:47:43 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=4994#comment-59311 Whenever I start to feel insane for biking in below-freezing temperatures, I take a wander over to Copenhagen Cycle Chic and check out how those fashionable Danish folks do it: http://www.copenhagencyclechic.com/ It gets a good deal colder there than it does here, but they still ride around in style. Dressing to bike in cold weather doesn't have to be any different from dressing to walk in cold weather. And virtually every New Yorker is used to walking 30 minutes or more in below-freezing temperatures during holiday shopping season. In fact, biking isn't even as bad because the exercise warms you up. You just have to remember to cover your face. Whenever I start to feel insane for biking in below-freezing temperatures, I take a wander over to Copenhagen Cycle Chic and check out how those fashionable Danish folks do it: http://www.copenhagencyclechic.com/
It gets a good deal colder there than it does here, but they still ride around in style.

Dressing to bike in cold weather doesn't have to be any different from dressing to walk in cold weather. And virtually every New Yorker is used to walking 30 minutes or more in below-freezing temperatures during holiday shopping season. In fact, biking isn't even as bad because the exercise warms you up. You just have to remember to cover your face.

]]> By: Timmy http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/11/21/kheel-planners-mta-austerity-a-recipe-for-gridlock-hell/comment-page-1/#comment-59288 Timmy Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:55:09 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=4994#comment-59288 Good points Harlan. Thousands of people are being fired Good points Harlan. Thousands of people are being fired

]]> By: Harlan http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/11/21/kheel-planners-mta-austerity-a-recipe-for-gridlock-hell/comment-page-1/#comment-59287 Harlan Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:38:58 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=4994#comment-59287 Fortunately, the Kheel model doesn't account for the crushing loss of jobs in Manhattan, meaning most of the people no longer taking the train in will be watching soaps all day rather than driving. Also, I'm not sure that the Kheel model takes into account ownership of cars. Many people who commute to work don't even have the option of taking a car if fares increase, because they don't own a car. (Myself, for example.) In contrast, everyone who owns a car and lives near public transportation has the option of taking the subway. It's not a symmetrical elasticity. So I'm not sure that the numbers are valid. Fortunately, the Kheel model doesn't account for the crushing loss of jobs in Manhattan, meaning most of the people no longer taking the train in will be watching soaps all day rather than driving.

Also, I'm not sure that the Kheel model takes into account ownership of cars. Many people who commute to work don't even have the option of taking a car if fares increase, because they don't own a car. (Myself, for example.) In contrast, everyone who owns a car and lives near public transportation has the option of taking the subway. It's not a symmetrical elasticity.

So I'm not sure that the numbers are valid.

]]> By: rlb http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/11/21/kheel-planners-mta-austerity-a-recipe-for-gridlock-hell/comment-page-1/#comment-59284 rlb Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:19:35 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=4994#comment-59284 If this were happening in the summer, it would be a great time for a "go buy a bike" campaign. Winter's another story. I continue to bike, but needless to say the numbers of two wheelers dwindle as the temperature hangs below 50. As the temperature drops towards 30, questions of sanity arise. If this were happening in the summer, it would be a great time for a "go buy a bike" campaign. Winter's another story.
I continue to bike, but needless to say the numbers of two wheelers dwindle as the temperature hangs below 50. As the temperature drops towards 30, questions of sanity arise.

]]> By: ibike http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/11/21/kheel-planners-mta-austerity-a-recipe-for-gridlock-hell/comment-page-1/#comment-59283 ibike Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:11:25 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=4994#comment-59283 Do they predict a big boom in bicycling from high subway fares combined with service cuts and lots of very visible bicycling improvements? Seems likely. Do they predict a big boom in bicycling from high subway fares combined with service cuts and lots of very visible bicycling improvements? Seems likely.

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