Millennium Line - Broadway Extension: Planning & Pre-Construction

[cabotp]

On other news.

My hatred for Zwei has climbed to the point that if I saw him hanging off a cliff I'd continue on walking. Sorry but that is how I feel.

That guy is an idiot.

I'm the original quote and he responded to me in perfect Zwei fashion.

My counter argument is simply. Why should I as a transit user be forced to ride a street car system that has to run slower for safety reasons compared to a metro line. If there was both a metro line and a street car on Broadway. 90% of the time I would probably chose the metro line over the street car. The only time I would choose the street car is if I wasn’t going that far in distance.

You may not think nor may others like you who support the street car. But speed is a big factor for most people out there. The higher the speed the lower the commute time. I’m now waiting for the comment that speed and commute time are not a factor.

Zweisystem replies: Your comment, “Why should I as a transit user be forced to ride a street car system that has to run slower for safety reasons compared to a metro line.” refers to a streetcar system not light rail. The difference is a reserved rights-of-way. The question of speed is more to do with station/stop spacing rather than mode. Actually Paul, you are in the minority as more people want their transit on the pavement, handy to use as LRT has a far better record in attracting new ridership. And Paul, why should I be forced to use a pygmy transit system or metro, the compels me to use the stairs, when I have very bad knees and can only climb ascend or descent stairs in pain. Oh yes the station has an elevator, but by the time I wait in line to use it, my metro journey is now become an ordeal.

The actual speed of a transit system is not the prime factor is people using transit, it is the over all ambiance of the transit system, ease of tickets, the seamless or no transfer journey and several more factors, all combines to make transit easy and nice to use. The speed factor is a myth, use by the SkyTrain Lobby to scare people, oh yes, the Seattle hybrid light rail/metro, with large portions of its route in tunnel or on viaduct and has few stations and fast commercial speeds, oh wait for it 20,000 passengers a day – hmmmmmm, I guess speed of the system isn’t all what it is cracked up to be.