Mass transit as mobility for all and for climate protection

[Kolesar]

Hello forum users. I do a good amount of activism on energy policy. One glaring, obvious point is that the type of sprawling development that is *encouraged* in a lot of America makes Americans car-dependent. Well, obviously, many of us cannot drive. This is going to be even more notable of a problem as the population ages. Especially in a state like Ohio with no population growth and young people leaving the state.

I am trying to write a credible thesis for advocating for mass-transit on the basis of enabling those who cannot drive to get to work, shopping, appointments, or recreation. I think you can see my message.

Have any of you seen any activism of this sort? Could you direct me to or imagine what groups would be good to approach as a coalition partner for mass transit? thanks

[heidler1]

1. IMO public transportation is probably the quickest and best answer to both our dependence on foreign

oil and Global Warming.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

2. I know only a couple of local groups

There's Citizens for Sensible Transportation in Portland, Oregon, and Transit for Livable Communities in Minneapolis-St. Paul.

You might also see if your state has a "1000 Friends" organization, since these groups work on land use and transit.

Also, see if there's a RailVolution meeting coming up this year. These are nationwide meetings of transit and railroad professionals.

Good luck!

I lived in Portland for ten years without a car, and my greatest regret about returning to the Twin Cities is having to drive, because the transit system is so bad. (They tore up a perfectly good streetcar system in 1954.)

You might also want to check out newcolonist.com, which is a website devoted to issues of urban livability and sustainability and is run by a man who has lived in Los Angeles without a car for decades.

Good luck!

[enid602]

3. LA

As Los Angeles has found, uncontrolled sprawl (in a basin contained by the sea and very high mountains) actually increases the need for mass transit. They now have 700 miles of heavy rail, and Metro and Metrolink are real alternatives if you want to get anywhere in a reasonable amount of time. A few years ago they changed their auto-oriented zoning to enable developers to build garage-less and parking-less housing units and businesses within 1/4 mi (an easy walk) of heavy rail stations. There are over 200 such stations in the 5 county area. Well over half the units built in LA City last year were built without any kind of accomodations for cars.

[Ayesha]

8. LA is a NIGHTMARE

I just moved from there and the traffic is horrendous nearly 24/7. It takes forever to get anywhere, and using public transportation takes even longer. In addition, there is a very negative attitude towards public transportation, especially the bus system. Basically the only people who take the bus are those who are too poor to afford cars, i.e. mostly immigrants and homeless people. The buses are perceived as dirty, and are in fact often dirty (in my experience) because they are underfunded and looked down upon. Middle class people rarely use them as you're seen as inferior if you ride them. Disgusting, I know, but that's how it is there. If they are building housing without parking spaces (which I hadn't heard about), they are only exacerbating the parking and traffic problems. There is a severe parking shortage, and in my old neighborhood, where the buildings WERE supposed to provide parking, I would sometimes drive around for half an hour to find a space within three blocks of my condo.

I fear that LA is addicted to cars and will never change. The yuppies will not abandon their leather-seated SUVs to ride with the unwashed masses. I'm just so glad I don't live there anymore.

[eppur_se_muova]

4. A book you might want to read for background ...

Robert A. Caro's "The Power Broker", a biography of Robert Moses, who designed much of NYC's transportation infrastructure, and was responsible for much of the pro-car, anti-MT bias among city planners in the latter 20th century. This is a massive book, but hugely important. WARNING: Some chapters of this book may cause your blood to boil.

[Kolesar]

5. Great ideas, all. Especially Enid. I am mostly looking for the disability angle

Who advocates for the disabled? I suppose even AARP would be a good contact for less highway dependence.

[Traveling_Home]

6. ADAPT.ORG

Originally (before ADA) - "Americans with Disabilities for Accessible Public Transportation"

Bob or Stephanie in Texas would be a great place to start

http://www.adapt.org/context.htm#Texas

[Kolesar]

7. Thank you

I am going to go read up on it. And thanks for the reference!

[KamaAina]

9. Project ACTION, brought to you by Easter Seals

http://projectaction.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=ESPA_homepage

[silverojo]

10. There's just one problem:

How do those of us with disabilities manage to walk from the mass-transit drop-off (i.e., a bus stop) to our destination? By the time I walked to the bus stop nearest to my home, I'd be too exhausted to go anywhere. :(

A solution for this problem would be a big help. :)