From: scum@pcthree.com (Steve Monroe)
Subject: Re: HOV abolished!
Organization: PC Three
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 12:11:54 GMT

ken@visix.com (Ken Mayer) writes:

>-->On Tue, 06 Oct 92 15:30:45 GMT, jpitts@norfolk.vak12ed.edu (Joseph R. Pitts) said:

> Joseph> ata@hfsi.uucp  writes:
>> Wonderful news folks!  Governor Wilder today has abolished the HOV lane
>> effective Monday on the Toll Road.

>Yeah, so what are you going to do when all three lanes are bumper to
>bumper at 3 MPH? Add a second level? I'm tired of enough of the stench
>of exhaust fumes as it is. 

But with the HOV in place the only place it wasn't moving 3MPH was the
HOV lane, and this includes Rt 7, the Georgetown Pike, and all the other
back roads.  When the HOV was lifted my commute down the G-Pike dropped
by at least 20 minutes.

>So much for elected representatives working for the greater good
>rather than the greater votes. As a side note, this ban is only
>temporary and will expire on July 1, 1993. By that time, however, I
>fear that any chance for intelligent, well-thought solutions to the
>larger problem of too many people in not enough cars will be forgotten
>for another 2 years.

Yeah, well that's what should have been done in the first place.  When 
they started the extra lanes, several years ahead of schedule because
the volume was already exceeding what they expected, they should have
known that it wasn't really going to do much.  Especially with all of 
the building going on out this way.. and it's still going on BTW.

I for one would be interested in public transportation, but, when it
takes three times a long to get some where and still costs be more 
than it does to drive, what's the point?  As a contractor/consultant
who bills by the how it just doesn't seem that I probably will.
Having lived in Germany for 4 years I really miss the bus/train 
system.  I never lived any place  or remember seeing any place that
wasn't close to a bus/train stop.  AND the price was certainly right!
Of course I'm sure that it was heavily subsidised.

Here, they raise the fares, the METRO ridership drops so instead of
getting more subsidies from the govts involved they raise the rates
again.  I'll bet that ridership drops once again.  Of course they
just announced that fares won't go up for at least a year.  I did
see the ad for their new "2-week flash pass".  I'm sure that it
is only good on the rail (didn't read that close) and will appeal
to only those who are "bulk" riders now.  I do remember when they
ran a special "family" plan where for, I think it was, $5 per
person you could ride unlimited for a full day (on the weekend/
holiday only).  The only catch, you could only purchase it at 
Metro Center during the day, no mail order, no other place.  Then
I read in the paper that they couldn't understand why no one was
using it! Go figure!  I've got to take time off from my job, spend
rush hour fares to get down there and back!  What a deal!  AND, yes
I did call them and told them how stupid this plan was as an 
incentive to get people to use it.

Enough rambling..
-- 
Steven C. Monroe            VOICE:(703)406-2082                PC Three, Inc.
scum@pcthree.com             FAX:(703)406-2078                  P.O. Box 1644
                                                              Herndon, VA 22070
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.soc