Prediction: High gas prices to further light rail ridership records

This week's prediction:  increasing gas prices, expected to set records this spring, will lead to further light rail ridership records. 

People are already taking light rail, setting records in many cities right now.  Google "light rail ridership" and see for yourself. 

And the record light rail ridership will encourage local officials to plan for more light rail lines. With the economy recovering, more cities will "dare" to plan for light rail expansion.  What do you think?

Photo: Me celebrating $4 gas in 2008.
Am buying hats now for $4.50 party

Comments

[D. P. Lubic]

Light rail and other rail transit, including intercity service (Amtrak) will grow, but there will be still more controversy against rail, at least for a while:

http://www.publicpurpose.com/charlotte.htm

http://reason.org/areas/topic/316.htmlindex.shtml

http://ti.org/Automyth.html

http://ti.org/LRMyth.html

Most or all of these criticisms have been debunked or at least proven manageable, but people still buy into them.

Make no mistake, it seems the car and oil people are scared, and willing to fight, and fight dirty.

http://www.nationalcorridors.org/df3/df02132012.shtml

http://getenergysmartnow.com/2012/01/30/the-murdoch-energy-lie-that-went-around-the-world/

http://www.desmogblog.com/heartland-insider-exposes-institute-s-budget-and-strategy

I personally tried to get a rail line instead of a highway my area, but failed--couldn't get any support at all, and outside of some friends, got a lot of criticism. Doubt I could do it even today, so it seems I've been kicked out of the game, and am reduced to twiddling my thumbs while I get stuck paying for the pricey gas I don't want to buy in the first place. Very, very disappointing, to say the least.

I wish there was a better way or easier way to handle this, or to change things, but I'm afraid they are not available to me.

[D. P. Lubic]

A couple of more examples, in this case promoting the suburban development pattern--and also what appears to be another example of the generational pattern. I have to say I wouldn’t have used the tag line of “World’s Worst Elected Official,” though; too many variables to judge, not to mention too many candidates!

http://grist.org/list/worlds-worst-elected-official-makes-the-case-for-sprawl/

The original essay:

http://www.oakgov.com/exec/brooks/sprawl.html