Comments on: Portland’s light rail, and grumps who oppose it

By: Tammy

Tammy — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 19:49:01 +0000

That sign where the cyclist is eating it on the lightrail tracks is my favorite. It also makes me laugh. Every time.

I lived downtown for 5 years with no need for a car because of Portland’s mass transit. Now I have to sit in traffic because I live and work in suburbia … and it sucks.

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 15:39:57 +0000

Because it was dumb.
Duh.

By: shib

shib — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 23:01:21 +0000

Matt, when an issue is decided by government, it is political. I didn’t say anything about a particular party. Unless this light rail is being put in by a private company with no government funding or approval (unlikely), then it has to go through the political system. That’s just what the word “political” means. We had politics even before Dems and the GOP.

I don’t see how public transit could not be a political issue. Do you want there to be only one government leader who makes all the decisions without being accountable to anyone? Probably not. Then any policy that needs to be debated is a political issue.

Eric wrote a blog entry and I pointed out some flaws in it, why is it that when people disagree with Eric we have to assign “dumbness” to their views?

By: Lance Armstrong

Lance Armstrong — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 17:35:44 +0000

I am in favor of mass transit. But I do not approve of any light rail system that instantly and unexpectedly turns my front tire into a big stick.

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 23:33:16 +0000

Shib,
What about this is political? A guy wrote a dumb letter to the editor and Eric pointed out the flaws in it with some real data. There is no reason why public transit should be a political issue. Why is it that every time people disagree about something we have to assign a political party to their view?

Gross.

By: Lowdogg

Lowdogg — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 21:06:31 +0000

I wasn’t aware that transportation debates were political in nature.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 20:24:22 +0000

I’m glad they’re adding the light rail, but don’t know why they’re putting it on the bus mall going through downtown. I saw a rendered video of the final thing and it has trains, buses, and cars all weaving in and out and around each other. It looked rather comical.

The only other concern I have is that the light rail at rush hour is already maxed out. Every train is bulging at the seams with people. And they can’t increase the length of the trains since Portland blocks are so small. So if a million people really move here in the next 20 years like they say, we will need even more public transit than this.

By: David Cornelius

David Cornelius — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 20:02:18 +0000

“(Did I spy Mr. Cornelius? THE Mr. Cornelius?)”

Well, you spied A Mr. Cornelius, at least.

By: Karen Stout

Karen Stout — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 16:11:12 +0000

Does anyone know how to remove a gypsy curse on a car? After I ran over the guy’s chicken, I offered him various gold coins, essential oils, and home-made banana nut bread, but he was not moved.

I’m sorry, Eric. Good thing you live where Miss Folsom is not really needed.

By the way, I’m not sure I understand shib’s objection. This IS a blog, isn’t it?

By: Carrie

Carrie — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 14:31:18 +0000

(Did I spy Mr. Cornelius? THE Mr. Cornelius?)