Stephen Harding wrote:
snip

But given automobile users aren't paying the *full* cost of automobile usage,
we're all passing the buck when we pay to drive our cars to some degree.

Health costs associated with pollution being the biggie, and car use is a
significant part of that.

I'm very much in favor of stealing money from the fuel tax fund to support
bus, train transport, and especially the conversion or "banking" of rail
corridors into bike lanes and paths. It's good long term policy.

Hmmm. I'll bet a good analysis would show the health benefits of auto transport
far outweigh the health costs, especially when compared to realistic
alternatives. There used to be 30,000 gallons of horse urine spilled in New
York City every day and though car collisions are dangerous, they don't kick
you in the head.

The improved earning power and standard of living allowed by independent autos
undoubtedly improves health care affordability and availablity.

Besides, not only does the train refuse to stop at the grocery store on the way
home, there is no place to put a weeks goods if it did. Worst of all, the train
only goes where the tracks go. What do you do when jobs and preferred types of
housing shift? Around here (Seattle area) the local annointed dream up ways to
penalize those who want to live outside "Rapid Transit" corridors.

Oh, yeah. Those old rail beds are almost allways on easments through private
property that is to be returned to the owner's use if the rails are removed.
The Legislatures get involved and steal the land for that massive number of
people who want to bike to work in the rain through the back yards of the lower
income families.

-- Charlie Springer