From: jmorriso@ee.ubc.ca (John Paul Morrison)
Subject: Re: Car culture
Keywords: cars, public transit, SkyTrain
Organization: University of BC, Electrical Engineering
Distribution: bc
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 01:54:27 GMT

In article <1992Nov22.014220.17027@cs.sfu.ca> jstrickl@cs.sfu.ca (James Strickland) writes:
>There seem to be at least a few people reading this newsgroup
>who are interested in public transit, so I was wondering what
>people thought of the following:
>
>An advertisement appeared in the Vancouver Sun on Friday on page B3
>with the following in very large letters: "Skytrain passengers can
>now see the latest in modern transportation."
>
>The ad goes on to say "The chances are you'll be seeing a lot of
>Skytrain passengers looking longingly out of the window when they pass
>Stewardson Way and Third Avenue.  That's the new home of ...Key West
>Ford Sales... You see, sharing a Skytrain with 50 people just can't
>compare with your very own Ford."
>
>It then goes on to mention various Ford products, and concludes with
>"So why not drop by Al Backman's Key West Ford dealership today.
>You're certain to be the envy of everyone on the Skytrain."
>
>
>I find this ad disgusting.  The ad implies that people only take
>the SkyTrain because they don't have a car, which is quite a
>regressive view of public transit. (ie well, I guess you have to have
>public transit for all those poor sods who can't drive).

I don't find this disgusting, because it's true.

When I was growing up, we didn't have a car, and I remember what it
was like to be trapped in the city, because there was no way you could get
out the West End, without it taking all day.

The most pitiful site on transit is to see a single mother with a stroller
and a couple of toddlers stuggling to get on and of the bus, get a seat
etc. And even better, just try bringing home a modest amount of groceries
home like that.  Oh, don't forget Vancouver's rain; that makes it even 
more miserable.

Now if you have a car, at least you have the CHOICE to face hordes of people
on the bus,, and wait forever for the bus, and then stand forever on the
bus.

For someone who doesn't have a car, that ad is correct. If do you have a car,
and you don't mind public transport, then you would think differently.
>
>It also implies that it is better to drive instead of taking the
>SkyTrain.  This is true if you are going somewhere the SkyTrain
>doesn't go, but if you are going somewhere the SkyTrain does go
>then you are almost always better off to take the SkyTrain.
>(I am reminded of the little girl I once saw on the SkyTrain who was
>looking down at the road, saying "passed them, passed them, passed
>them, ...")
>
THis assumes you always travel during rush hour. Since SkyTrain doesn't
cover all of Vancouver and the GVRD, I can get to UBC as fast by car,
and even faster when I drive during off-peak times (Richmond - UBC
approx 20 minutes).

What if you want to work late or study late at UBC or elsewhere?
By bus, you will have to wait for 1 bus, the get off, transfer, wait
another 10-15 minutes. Total time: 40-60 minutes by bus. 25 minutes by car,
plus you don't have to shiver in the rain, and you can play your stereo
as loud as you want.

Having a car is freedom!

>


-- 
__________________________________________________________________________
 John Paul Morrison                     |  
 University of British Columbia, Canada |  
 Electrical Engineering                 |   .sig file without a cause
 jmorriso@ee.ubc.ca              VE7JPM |  
________________________________________|_________________________________
Newsgroups: bc.general