Comments on: Senate Dems reach deal on tentative MTA plan

By: 2009: The year the money vanished :: Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 21:04:59 +0000

[...] brought a tentative agreement on the MTA’s funding package. It was an imperfect solution and one that cost then-CEO and [...]

By: Boris

Boris — Thu, 07 May 2009 15:30:38 +0000

No, we shouldn’t accept what we have. But I think the question is, how do we make all New Yorkers (or Americans) transit advocates? To me, the need for better transit is self-evident, because I travel a lot and see how it is in other places. But most of my friends either believe driving is the best way to get around or public transit will never improve to fulfill their needs.

I have a friend who sometimes has to work on weekends. She believes that good weekend bus service is impossible, which is why her right to drive for free between Queens and Manhattan should be preserved. She just can’t believe that the toll would improve bus service (which she can choose) or her driving experience (if she continues to drive). When your subway station was last painted before you were born, it’s hard to believe change is possible. But now she is moving to San Francisco, where she will see first hand how much better a transit system can be in America.

By: Senate approves questionable MTA package :: Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog

Thu, 07 May 2009 06:47:03 +0000

[...] state’s approach to transportation undergoes a massive reform. As long-time SAS reader Boris said earlier this week, “Even among New Yorkers there are many people who don’t think the subway can, or should, [...]

By: rhywun

rhywun — Wed, 06 May 2009 02:51:15 +0000

Well, now it’s an encouragement not to get a driver’s license… perhaps the first ever.

By: Al W

Al W — Wed, 06 May 2009 02:18:22 +0000

Boris, I think you’ve hit the head of the nail. Americans don’t think much of mass transit, and this mentality is evident even in New York City. While people of all classes ride the subway in New York City, many people in New York City also drive. Many of these drivers don’t feel or understand the urgency of reforming mass transportation finance, which is why the political establishment has been less than attentive to the problem.For that matter, even many people dependent on mass transit seem to think in the same was as drivers…

By: Benjamin Kabak

Benjamin Kabak — Tue, 05 May 2009 21:42:22 +0000

At least registration fees are going up, but the point remains: People who use their cars should pay for it. People who own a drivers license as a form of ID and hardly drive shouldn’t have to fund everyone else.

By: Ariel

Ariel — Tue, 05 May 2009 21:41:00 +0000

The same applies to the charges on the rental cars and taxis. There are rare occasions where I need a car so why should I, someone without a car, get penalized? Rental cars and taxis need to stay cheap to make owning a car less of a necessity.

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 05 May 2009 21:20:08 +0000

I know, but then I can’t actually drive on an occasion when I might need it (i.e., visiting my parents, who do not live in NYC)

By: Rhywun

Rhywun — Tue, 05 May 2009 20:54:13 +0000

But you have a point, Matt; why should people who hardly drive be punished at the DMV the same as people who drive all day.

By: Rhywun

Rhywun — Tue, 05 May 2009 20:50:51 +0000

You can choose not to drive and get a cheap “Identification Card”… (I hope the price of that isn’t going up! Luckily I just renewed mine and it lasts for 8 years…)