Evening star., 1935-06-15
Questions Substitution
OF Buses for Street Cars

why are we having all this daily
and hourly news about the revolu-
tionary changes about to be placed in
effect for the public transportation in
the District Of Colunbia7 We need
more and better transportation In sew
eral sections; but do we need this con-
tinual persistent propaganda against
the street cars and in favor of the
buses?
have heard many people wonder
ing about all this cry for more and
more buses. It is true the buses
serve their purpose and many people
want to ride in them. But is it nee
essary to remove street cars from lines
where the traffic by motor is already
| like a madhouse and add heavy large
busses to the present motor conges-
ton? Is it necessary to require many
suburban sections to either take bus
in order to 60 to and from downtown
without change, orsto transfer at least
once between cars and busses? Are
many suburban people to be penalized
for living in the suburbs?
How the replacement Of street cars
on Connecticut avenue between the
Calvert Bridge and the Lake. and re-
| placement OF street cars straight from
town to Anscostia and Congress
Heights, and even replacement Of the
cars on the beautiful line to Cabin
John, which has been proposed by the
peoples counsel, will be improve
ments" Is beyond my small brain to
understand.
Is the urge for buses to replace
cars backed up by large motor in
terests? 1t certainly seems that there
Is a definite purpose behind all the
daily propaganda constantly in the
papers on the subject. The public has
now been so trained to prefer motor
service Of every kind that the majority
seem to give no thought to the matter
except to agree that busses are best.
AS Albert NJ. Levers said in a letter
to The Star, flexibility and speed, sup
posed to be bus advantages. are not the
most important things in a public
conveyance; but that is the only rea-
son bus enthusiast can give, in the
majority of cases. 1t is an interesting
study of human nature to hear some
bus enthusiasts talk. They will crowd
| into a two-by-four bus-or even the
new-style ones, with narrow aisles only
wide enough for cat TO walk: with
their heads almost humping through
the ceiling: one man driving and be-
ing responsible for everything; not one
in a thousand passengers probably
knowing there is an emergency exit,
much less how to use it. and almost
worst of all. the place saturated to
suffocation with bus gas and bad air
yet II the same person is in crowded
street car, even though it is a two
man crew, with much wider aisles,
feet or more over the head and no
suffocating gas. how they will express
their disgust and heap ridicule on the
Capital Transit Co. and its street cars!
If we are to start on these revolu-
tionary changes. it should be remem-
bered that 1t will have a vast and
lasting effect for years TO come; that
the city is very rapidly expanding,
especially in the suburban sections of
the District; what will be the best.
safest, most comfortable. nearest and
speediest system and routes even only
! five years from now?
Another consideration-thoug of
course, that is Of no moment to many
people-what of the present employees
Of the street cars? Are We to be
forced into one-man buses? If so,
what happens to the present large
force of conductors on street cars to
be displaced?
One other consideration: How much
thought has been given to the matter
of Winter transportation? For sew
eral weeks last Winter our streets were
almost daily a smooth glare Of ice, or
else deep mountains and valleys of
ice and snow. What happened to the
auto owners and bus riders then?
Most of us know that they rode in
the street cars until 1t was very notice.
able how the cars were crowded with
extra passengers; many OF them
showed they were new to the street
cars by the questions they asked about
transfers, etc. Many suburban people
are very glad to leave their autos at
home in that kind of weather and
trust to the street cars. How safe will
they be in buses in such weather?
How about the bus that skidded few
nights ago and almost went over a
15-foot bank? No ice on Cathedral
avenue then. either!
Mr. Hanna, president of the Capital
Transit Co.. said the other day for
publication that if the public wants
to ride the rails the company will pro-
vide that kind of transportation; if
the public wants buses they will be
operated. If the public and the powers
/ in control will give some real support
and encouragement to the Capital
Transit Co., in few months or so we
might be seeing the beginnings of real
/ first-class street car service and a
| system of transportation that will be
4 comfortable and convenient and as
safe as possible. We will not make
progress in that direction so rapidly
/ if We have nothing but ridicule for the
present transporta tion-whether street
/ cars or buses. And I own no stock
or interest whatsoever in any of the
/ lines and know none Of the individuals
connected with them.