But then where would Ford/Shell/GM/Exxon send their campaign contributions?
And really, the Republicans bread and butter has never been and will never be cities. They will always have a supply of middle-of-nowhere low information voters to propel them back into power, especially with the gerrymandering and electoral college.
Statistically speaking, I suspect most population-based stix increase in most calendar years.
As for Vehicle Miles Traveled, here's a pretty picture. Somebody jog my memory ... when did that Great Recession start?
I'll admit to being surprised there were more transit riders in the mid-1950s than there are now, with roughly half today's population and the baby boom in full swing.
It used to be that you had to drive to The City to get a job.
Now there are good jobs all over the region.
But it's only recently that good regional transit has been implemented.
Also the amenities like shops and restaurants in the suburbs have improved immensely so you don't always have to go to a downtown to get the good stuff. Sometimes it's right there at Redmond Towne Center or Kent Station.
As a person who has spent my entire life in the suburbs, I look forward to getting an apartment in or near downtown along good mass transit service. My current living arrangements make owning a car a necessity, and everything requiring a 10 minute drive gets old rapidly.
The Census reports that in 2009 105 million workers drove to work alone and about 7 million commuted by public transportation. That alone would translate into 52 billion auto trips versus 3.5 billion public transportation trips.
If it scales (for population increase and percentage of non-work trips) we'd be comparing 10 billion plus public transportation trips to 150 billion automobile trips. Which hardly spells the end of the automobile hegemony.
I'd love to see more public transportation, but we have to figure out how to make substantial gains versus solo vehicles.
@9: Your point is a good one. Those of us who ride transit are still a vast minority when you take the country as a whole, even in most urban areas. The number of cities with anything approaching a comprehensive, convenient transit system is shockingly small.
We don't.
And really, the Republicans bread and butter has never been and will never be cities. They will always have a supply of middle-of-nowhere low information voters to propel them back into power, especially with the gerrymandering and electoral college.
As for Vehicle Miles Traveled, here's a pretty picture. Somebody jog my memory ... when did that Great Recession start?
I'll admit to being surprised there were more transit riders in the mid-1950s than there are now, with roughly half today's population and the baby boom in full swing.
That plus infill.
It used to be that you had to drive to The City to get a job.
Now there are good jobs all over the region.
But it's only recently that good regional transit has been implemented.
Also the amenities like shops and restaurants in the suburbs have improved immensely so you don't always have to go to a downtown to get the good stuff. Sometimes it's right there at Redmond Towne Center or Kent Station.
If it scales (for population increase and percentage of non-work trips) we'd be comparing 10 billion plus public transportation trips to 150 billion automobile trips. Which hardly spells the end of the automobile hegemony.
I'd love to see more public transportation, but we have to figure out how to make substantial gains versus solo vehicles.
http://www.census.gov/prod/2011pubs/acs-…
THIS DICHOTOMY IS TEARING ME APART INSIDE
Mom was stuck at home, or Dad carpooled or took public transportation, and the kids were ferried by school buses.