>

Philadelphia's Subway-Surface trolleys are the only true trolleys that are still in use in a wide-scale basis in any American city, aside from historic lines and museums.

 

Don't forget trackless trollies, also known as trolly buses. Seattle, San Francisco, Boston, Philidelphia, and Dayton have them. For lots of material about trolleybuses, see Trolleybuses.net

 

Actually, trolley buses instead of streetcars on rails are starting to grow on me, especially after that discussion of underground utility work required to install rails.

>

Philadelphia's Subway-Surface trolleys are the only true trolleys that are still in use in a wide-scale basis in any American city, aside from historic lines and museums.

 

Don't forget trackless trollies, also known as trolly buses. Seattle, San Francisco, Boston, Philidelphia, and Dayton have them. For lots of material about trolleybuses, see Trolleybuses.net

 

Actually, trolley buses instead of streetcars on rails are starting to grow on me, especially after that discussion of underground utility work required to install rails.

 

Ugh...go to Dayton, try them out, and let me know what you think.  They're simply NOT as comfortable as riding on rails.

 

As for the trolley lines in Philly.  I was just watching some videos on YouTube and noticed some trolley back to back at a light and then taking two directions when the light changes.  How do the track switches occur on those lines?

Ugh...go to Dayton, try them out, and let me know what you think.  They're simply NOT as comfortable as riding on rails.

 

Never send a bus to do a train's job, but a bus is better than nothing at all.

 

As for the trolley lines in Philly.  I was just watching some videos on YouTube and noticed some trolley back to back at a light and then taking two directions when the light changes.  How do the track switches occur on those lines?

 

Historically, some streetcar lines had manual switches where the conductor had to get out and throw the switch. Some busy lines had manual manual switches where a man was posted to throw the switches. I have also heard of a switch that could be controlled from inside the car by the motorman - it had to do with how much power the car was drawing.

Actually the Sharon Hill and Media lines are Trolley lines , they streetrun 60-80% of there lines....all future trolley lines in SEPA will mostly be streetrunning replacing crowded bus lines...

 

 

 

 

 

They're streetcar or light rail lines, but technically, they're not trolley lines because they use pantographs instead of trolley poles. That was the whole point of my post. Whether they're street-running or not is irrelevant, but the Media line uses a dedicated right-of-way for much of its length. (I'm not as familiar with the Sharon Hill line.) The Subway-Surface trolleys are entirely street-running except for the portions that run underground near Center City.

I've never ridden a "trolley", but I have ridden streetcars in several u.s. cities. They are surprisingly comfortable.

So, Chris Finney has now gone to U.S. District Court in Cincinnati to sue the State of Ohio to have Ohio's law against making false statements to affect the outcome of an election declared unconstitutional.

 

Soo...Has the fishwrap covered this at all? Or any other Ohio paper, as it pertains to Ohio law and is bizarre and interesting?

>

Philadelphia's Subway-Surface trolleys are the only true trolleys that are still in use in a wide-scale basis in any American city, aside from historic lines and museums.

 

Don't forget trackless trollies, also known as trolly buses. Seattle, San Francisco, Boston, Philidelphia, and Dayton have them. For lots of material about trolleybuses, see Trolleybuses.net

 

Actually, trolley buses instead of streetcars on rails are starting to grow on me, especially after that discussion of underground utility work required to install rails.

 

Are you Mark Miller in disguise? He wrote some goofy editorial last time around about why "trolley busses" were better than streetcars. Randy Simes counter argued on UrbanCincy and pointed out why Miller's straw man argument about busses was just a distraction from the real conversation.

 

There's a reason cities are emulating Portland's Modern Streetcar system and not Dayton's trolleybus system (hell even Seattle opted for modern streetcars and it already has Trolley Busses (maybe they weren't too concerned about the utilities?))

 

I just got back from Chicago last night where I used both CTA busses and trains. The friends I brought with me never use public transportation at home (one had ridden a few metros in Europe). It was funny how much easier of a time I had getting them to ride Red Line subway with me compared to when I had to convince them to hop on the bus with me (they were so wary of the bus, they offered to cover all cab costs for the rest of the trip).  Point is, rail is more attractive, has a higher capacity and is easier to navigate for those who don't regularly use or understand public transit. I've lived in Cincinnati for 22 years and have worked downtown regularly for three years, I still find METRO and TANK's routes and "schedules" difficult to understand and if it's after 10 PM they don't do me any good anyways.

So, Chris Finney has now gone to U.S. District Court in Cincinnati to sue the State of Ohio to have Ohio's law against making false statements to affect the outcome of an election declared unconstitutional.

Soo...Has the fishwrap covered this at all? Or any other Ohio paper, as it pertains to Ohio law and is bizarre and interesting?

heck, it's not even in the UrbanOhio Ohio Politics section....

Gordon helps to make the larger point that miller isn't against streetcars, he is against anything that might benefit cincinnati. Miller is against anything that is not intended to help him. He takes advantage of the big divisions between cincinnati's 'tribes' to make some money while working against something that will help people and places he wants to hurt. That's it. No high principles here.

[Are you Mark Miller in disguise?

 

No.

 

 

 

Point is, rail is more attractive, has a higher capacity and is easier to navigate...

 

And buses have a lower capital cost, buses are more flexible, and Cincinnati already has the associated maintenance facilities and 50 years of operation experience.

 

No one choice of technologies is the best for every purpose. Rail is better in some applications, and buses are better in others.

 

 

No one choice of technologies is the best for every purpose. Rail is better in some applications, and buses are better in others.

 

No one is saying that that isn't true. And you aren't adding anything to the conversation. What IS being said is that in this application, a Streetcar is superior to buses.

Any legally registered voters in the city of cincinnati at this time? That's all that matters at this point.

I'm legal and registered!  Voting on tuesday:)

 

Can't wait to laugh at losers Finney, Smitherman, and Miller all over again!

I'm legal and registered!  Voting on tuesday:)

 

Can't wait to laugh at losers Finney, Smitherman, and Miller all over again!

 

I've heard Smitherman already has plans for another initiative should he lose.  So you may get a 3rd laugh as well.

 

First things first, lets destroy this crappy amendment at the polls like a COAST member destroying a toilet in the bathroom stall after an All you can Eat Golden Corral Buffet

 

 

Point is, rail is more attractive, has a higher capacity and is easier to navigate for those who don't regularly use or understand public transit.

 

Well, that is really subjective to one's perspective and preference. But as for capacity, there is no major difference in capacity when comparing a streetcar, trolley or bus in the exception that there may be more frequent service on one mode, and the capacity of the individual vehicle. A bus can carry as many as 300 (http://news.jongo.com/articles/07/0315/9180/OTE4MAmXAYhbF0.html), but many are much lower (ranging from 40 to 220 for some standard bus models) and looking at a standard Portland streetcar design, they (Skoda-Inekon Astra) have a design spec for 154 and a crush load of 221.

 

Of course, Metro once carried far more many bus riders on its existing lines than it does today, so one could say that our existing Metro bus system is vastly underutilized for whatever reason.

 

I'm not sure how navigation plays a part in this. When I was in Austin for a week, I was carless all but two days. I was able to find bus route information by calling Capital Metro Transit and finding the best available route from the Holly neighborhood to downtown (#12, etc.). Via my smartphone, I was able to find the transit times via Google Maps (what Metro has going now, I believe). Most stops had QR codes that you can scan on your phone that takes you to that bus route's web-site so you can find timetables, route maps, and so forth. Very handy.

 

I said it before and I will say it again: if people find buses confusing, it's because they haven't used that particular system long enough or are unfamiliar with how they operate and are always running behind or late to the stop. I also believe that Metro's stops are ... terrible in comparison to many other cities that have shelters (heck, even a bench would be nice), large signs that have route maps and stations marked with QR codes and timetables legible...

God, I hate when people assume everyone has a smart phone.

 

Yes, bus systems need timetables to be useful to anyone who hasn't "used that particular system long enough". Metro needs to install those, ASAP. Fewer stops? Fine. Put in some maps and timetables. Seriously.

 

More on the "haven't used that particular system long enough": That's the point. Streetcars don't have a learning curve like buses do. People with transportation choices are not wont to bother with a mode which has a daunting learning curve. And it might be subjective for each individual that rail is more attractive, but it's a fact that statistically more people with transportation choices will take rail than will take buses. There are reasons for those preferences which are not subjective, such as a smoother ride. (And a lower learning curve.)

40% of the U.S. now owns a smartphone, with penetration in the coveted 18-49 demographic at around 67%. Just because you don't have one (or don't understand its growing importance) does not mean that it's not a useful tool - one of *several* that should be considered. Of course, you can call Metro for a timetable or for general information, and they are friendly in assisting you in how to get from point A to point B. It's really not that hard.

 

Here is what Austin's system had at stops in downtown: QR code, timetable, bus route map with major stops listed and a bench. Some had shelters. Further out in the neighborhoods to the east at least, the stations had a timetable, bench and some shelters on the busier stops. One had a QR code, which was random. By UT, there were generally QR codes, timetables, maps and shelters with a bench. I suspected they added features correlating to the stop usage. And QR codes are still not all that popular in the US, but the growth has been remarkable as developers and marketers finally figure out how to properly use the QR codes for their benefit (and for their customer), but it tails that of Japan. (Did you know QR was developed by Denso way back in 1994 for tracking vehicles?)

 

I agree on your last point - but the streetcar is one loop. Just think if this was a city that had 30 streetcar lines, multiple transit hubs, and a myriad of bus lines running all around the place. There would be a much steeper learning curve involved than a single loop. I understand that the streetcar stops will be well labeled and signed, with a map and seating? Will there be a sheltered feature?

So, Chris Finney has now gone to U.S. District Court in Cincinnati to sue the State of Ohio to have Ohio's law against making false statements to affect the outcome of an election declared unconstitutional.

Soo...Has the fishwrap covered this at all? Or any other Ohio paper, as it pertains to Ohio law and is bizarre and interesting?

heck, it's not even in the UrbanOhio Ohio Politics section....

 

Then it's up to the internet and alternative publications to get the news out. If print media truly is obsolete, then now is the chance to prove it.

 

I've shared it on Facebook, Tweeted it and e-mailed it....

Smart phones make it easier for people who already ride buses to find them, but they aren't going to single-handedly enable anyone who has never ridden a bus to start riding them.  Meanwhile, someone visiting Cincinnati who has never ridden a bus is likely to ride the streetcar. 

There's so many technology out there that few people are going to take the time to sort them all out. People have to pick and choose based on what they want from technology, and right now a smart phone isn't at the top of my list. It'd be nice if most bus stops had more information. Rail stops have a wealth of information posted, but a lot of bus stops have a orange stripe painted on a telephone pole as their only info.

I found bus stop signage in London -- as well as signage and wayfinding throughout London's transit network -- to be very helpful in making the system easy to use. Considering this was my first visit to London in over a decade and that I'm unfamiliar with much of the city, I never had any trouble figuring out how to get where I wanted to go. This is a pretty typical bus stop in London:

 

 

The fact that the buses themselves are mostly double-deckers with comfortable seating made the idea of using the bus much more appealing in London, even compared to NYC and Chicago, whose buses and signage aren't much better than Cincinnati's.

 

But then, the entire mentality of public transit in London is different than here. In London, it's an integral part of the civic realm that's used by a wide variety of people -- not just those who have no other option. As such, the general public has high expectations for the user experience, including such factors as comfort, wayfinding, ease of use, and design. Here in the US, public transit is generally looked upon as a form of welfare, and with few exceptions (the Washington Metro comes to mind), transit facilities and vehicles are designed as if they are being used to transport prisoners. Even the mighty NYC subway, as extensive and functional as it is, rarely wins any points for beauty or comfort.

 

Projects such as the streetcar are a much-needed step towards shifting perceptions of public transit from something that's used only as a last resort (i.e., because you can't afford a car or had your license suspended) to something that's used because people want to use it.

Rail transit drastically improves the perception of the bus system in every city I can think of.

Meanwhile, someone visiting Cincinnati who has never ridden a bus is likely to ride the streetcar. 

 

This is quantifiable. Over 50% of Charlotte's LRT riders, for example, report never to have ridden a city bus.

Also, too, I think that even if Cincinnati never had a fixed rail system (which would be a shame), it could do 1,000 times better simply by creating high-frequency busways along a few major corridors and developing zoning overlays that promoted TOD on them. The bus system now, of course, just kind of wanders through town as a public service, but clearly the population patterns aren't any kind of mass-transit conducive.

 

I'm kind of rambling, this has been talked about before in more appropriate threads.

Cincinnatians for Progress re-files action with Ohio Elections Commission, and this time, Mark Miller is personally named in the complaint along with COAST.

 

The fact that the buses themselves are mostly double-deckers with comfortable seating made the idea of using the bus much more appealing in London, even compared to NYC and Chicago, whose buses and signage aren't much better than Cincinnati's.

Here in the US, public transit is generally looked upon as a form of welfare, and with few exceptions (the Washington Metro comes to mind), transit facilities and vehicles are designed as if they are being used to transport prisoners.

 

Aren't you guys being just a bit too hard on Queen City Metro as far as its transit shelters and buses?  Let's be honest now--how many of our Cincinnati U/O posters actually routinely ride Metro? (probably very few).  More and more Metro buses are the new ones--the "low riders" that are easy to board and exit. No, they're not Megabuses, but they're nowhere near being POW transports either.  And, unlike years ago, Metro has consolidated the majority of its routes so they pass either through or nearby its centrally located Government Square sheltered area. Helpful signage all around.  No, you won't find stewardesses or an open bar or urinals here, but how much gumption and guts does it take to plop $1.75 in the fare-box, go sit down, and enjoy the ride?  Yes, I'm too well aware that these vehicles don't take off like rockets or race out to Cincy's farthest-flung exburbs (as do the trains on Long Island, etc.), but they're not all the terrifying welfare-coaches that many of our posters envision them to be.  And, NO, I don't work for Queen City Metro and, YES, I do drive when necessary--and I can affirm that one can learn to appreciate this city's bus service, i.e., by actually using it!

I have to agree with subocincy. While it certainly isn't the best system, and while there is definitely room for improvement, it certainly isn't nearly as bad as many are making it out to be. I ride Metro on a fairly frequent basis to work and around town (w/in the city limits).

Miller has been asking for the last 2-3 days for CfP to refile... he asked, and now he shall receive...

I ride Metro semi-regularly. I think they do the best they can with the resources they have available to them, but it's still a shadow of the bus service you'd expect to find in someplace like where transit is taken more seriously (even if you leave rail out of the equation). IMO, the biggest issue comes down to frequency of service. In New York or London, I can simply stand at a bus stop and expect a bus to show up within 5-10 minutes. In Cincinnati, I have to go online, look up the timetable, and plan my life accordingly.

 

Fortunately, Metro will be taking a huge leap forward when they roll out their new fareboxes and stored-value farecards early next year, and they've been making great strides in making their timetables and routes available for mobile apps and Google Transit. They have good people in leadership positions and have the right ideas; they just need the resources to follow through.

 

Going forward, Metro bus service needs to be integrated as seamlessly as possible with the streetcar and TANK bus service across the river. That means showing all routes (Metro bus, streetcar, and TANK bus) on maps, and having all three systems using the same fare system.

Miller has been asking for the last 2-3 days for CfP to refile... he asked, and now he shall receive...

 

Him and COAST under fire for lying about Issue 2 now as well.  Ed schulz talking about it tonight

 

I wish all this news had come out a week ago....I'm still seeing tweets and facebook posts of people thinking the choice is cops/fire or streetcar

 

How the FOP and the Fire departments support COAST/Smitherman is beyond me...

Anyone know the ratio of fire/police who live in/outside the city. Maybe they support it because a majority live outside the city and follow the typical "if OTR does well my neighborhood won't".

 

I think some municipalities require certain employees (depending on job) to live in the city or at least the same county). Thoughts?

For Immediate Release

 

November 7, 2011

 

Cincinnatians for Progress today re-filed an action with the Ohio Elections Commission, charging COAST and Mark Miller (who sends out Twitter posts on behalf of COAST) with knowingly making false statements to affect the outcome of the Issue 48 election vote.

 

The filing cites 20 instances in which Miller, on behalf of COAST, stated that Cincinnati firehouse brownouts resulted from the city's streetcar project. COAST's tweets urge voters to support the anti-rail charter amendment based on these repeated false statements.

 

Knowingly making false statements to influence the outcome of an issues election violates Ohio Revised Code section 3517.22, an offense punishable by six months in prison and a $5,000 fine.

 

Cincinnatians for Progress is leading the effort to defeat Issue 48, which would prohibit the city from investing in rail transit until 2021. We are pursuing this case because we believe COAST and its leaders must be held accountable for their misleading tactics.

 

 

 

An analogy between the bus/rail debate could be the steam/diesel debate that happened earlier this century. Diesel has a lot of advantages over steam: lower regular maintenance, lower start-up time, and lower fuel cost (in 1930.) So a lot of railroads switched from diesel to steam.

 

However, many of the steam locomotives were 50 years old, and maintained in shops that were 100 years old. The steam engines were being compared to brand new diesels that were maintained in new shops. It wasn't really a fair comparison.

 

I'm not advocating a return to steam, and neither am I promoting buses over rail. I think that each technology should be evaluated in the application that it may be used. But I agree that the standard line of "passengers prefer rail" is not necessarily a fair comparison, for the same reasons that steam wasn't fairly compared to diesel:

 

Most bus systems run older equipment, often in run-down neighborhoods, with transfer points in high-crime areas. Many bus systems are operated at a loss, "subsidized" by revenue sources not related to transportation, and are treated much like a welfare system. Quite frankly, the controlling boards of some bus systems have as their goal to reduce service. By contrast, most streetcar and light rail systems in cities such as Portland, Seattle, Salt Lake City, etc., are newer, well-funded, and are accomodated by marketing campaigns, excellent signage and stop improvements, etc.

 

I read that in Denver, about 40% of the cost of the light rail system was for "urban design," which included new pavement, street furniture, etc. Of course a new rail system on a well-designed street is going to do better than a dirty old bus on a burned-out street that hasn't had any investment in decades, other things being equal.

 

Look at the Cincinnati-Chicago route. Megabus is gaining in popularity all the time, and attracting the choice riders. Amtrak is pathetic. (No offense to the good people at Amtrak). Clearly, passengers perfer the bus. Why so? Because it is clean, new, well-marketed, simple, fast, non-stop, easy to use, and has convenient schedules.

 

 

Anyone know the ratio of fire/police who live in/outside the city. Maybe they support it because a majority live outside the city and follow the typical "if OTR does well my neighborhood won't".

I think some municipalities require certain employees (depending on job) to live in the city or at least the same county). Thoughts?

You can expect to find out if Smitherman gets elected.

http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/01/26/loc_loc1asmith.html

Cincinnati tried forcing employees to live in the city but I think it was found illegal.

Surprisingly few fire and police live in cincinnati. They do have to live in hamilton county, technically. I've never met one who did live in cincinnati. I very much doubt they form a significant voting block. They are just the sort of middle middle class people that want as little to do with cincinnati as possible. I've known a couple of cincinnati cops who prided themselves on being able to live as far from cincinnati as possible while still being in hamilton county. Most of them are employees, not voters in cincinnati elections.Cincinnati is their job, not their home.

>Most bus systems run older equipment

 

Um, no.  Few city buses last longer than 15 years.  Meanwhile, nearly all rail transit vehicles last at least 30 years.  The original 1970's subway trains from the Washington Metro and BART are all still running, for example, as are some 1960's era trains on the New York subway. The durability of electric-powered streetcars and trains is a big reason why GM orchestrated its hostile takeover and dismantling of transit systems 50 years ago. 

 

This raises an extremely important financing issue -- bonds typically can only be sold for items that will outlast the term of a bond's repayment.  So the sale of 30-year municipal bonds for rail transit vehicles makes perfect sense.  The fact that buses, city vehicles like police cars, and roads themselves deteriorated so quickly posed a major problem for cities in the 1920s -- cities could not pave all of their streets before the first streets to be paved needed to be repaved.  Cities could not usually sell bonds to pay for these things and so took money out of their general funds to pay cash for them, to the detriment of their bonding ability, and items that were typically paid for by repaying bonds, namely rapid transit lines.  Cities got around the bond problem in part by using bonds to pay for permanent street improvements, especially widenings.  In the 1920's downtown Cincinnati had its various streets, one by one, widened by 2-4 feet (sidewalks were narrowed) in order to justify the sale of bonds to pave them. 

 

'Twas the night before Elections, when all through the debate

Not an Issue 48 opponent was stirring, not even eigtgh and state

 

The arguments were heard by the electorate indeed,

In the hopes that supporters of 48 would concede

 

The COASTers were nestled all smug on their knees

With visions of Mozzarella cheese sticks from a local Applebees;

 

And Chris Smitherman with his petition, Chris Finney with his chances

Seem to be exhausted from chasing ambulances,

 

When out on the pavement there arose such a shiller,

I sprang from the bed only to see one Mark Miller.

 

I stepped back from the window and was taking some heat,

Mark had his laptop and continued to tweet

 

And tweet he continued, no truth or no sense

I did get a chuckle when he tripped on the fence

 

When, all of the sudden my eyes saw a glider,

With a miniature streetcar, led by John Schneider

 

Mark Miller stood there, frightened with fear

That's when I jumped up and let out a cheer

 

From my vantage point, I heard Miller's rants

Then I witnessed him immediately pee down his pants

 

Out of the bushes, there came a change of plan

Out came 700wlw with Barry Horstman

 

John Schneider erupted, and called on his kin

Jake Mecklenborg, Rob Jaques and Living in Gin

 

Civvik, GCrites, natininja and KJP

Made 700wlw instantly flee

 

Horstman walked to Miller, willing to embrace

Of course this was done at a 6.5 mph pace

 

They stood there in shock, ready for battle

At this point they thought they'd rather live in Seattle

 

Issue 48 opponents, circled the two

And simply told them both to go shoo

 

Running up to his car, Mark decides to drive,

Immediately getting stuck in traffic on 75

 

Cursing and yelling, he took a huge breath

But that was just simply to inhale all the meth

 

Barry Horstman turned around, feeling the heat

And merged into traffic, using his feet

 

As I drew my head in, and prepared for a shower

I remembered to set my clocks back an hour

 

But that's neither here nor there, I digress can't you see

I should get back to this unique story

 

John Schneider and kin, approached my apartment door

They knocked politely then said 'excuse me senor'

 

'Issue 48 is dangerous, we went through this years ago

It bans all rail, we urge you vote no'

 

And with that they left, as quick as they came

To the next neighbor, for more of the same

 

But I heard them say, as they continued to boast

"Vote NO on Issue 48, and COAST will be TOAST"

Bravo!

Your poem was brilliant, I've read it just now

And all I can say is "ROFL, LMAO!"

"Most bus systems run older equipment."

 

As opposed to a brand new streetcar on a new route. Yes, in cities that already have rail, the rail vehicles are likely to be much older.

 

Thanks for the excellent analysis on bonds.

'Twas the night before Elections, when all through the debate

Not an Issue 48 opponent was stirring, not even eigtgh and state

 

I'm honored to place in your poem, but you spell Eighth worse than I do!

Thanks for the laugh. How long did it take to write that?

 

Happy election day everyone!

Okay...what the heck is my problem.  I can't find poll hours anywhere on the Hamilton County BOE website ANYWHERE!  Can anyone here help?

Polls are open from 6:30am to 7:30pm

Fortunately, Metro will be taking a huge leap forward when they roll out their new fareboxes and stored-value farecards early next year.

 

Going forward, Metro bus service needs to be integrated as seamlessly as possible with the streetcar and TANK bus service across the river. That means showing all routes (Metro bus, streetcar, and TANK bus) on maps, and having all three systems using the same fare system.

 

Actually, the new fareboxes should be installed next week. I heard from a driver today that on November 14 the new ones will be in place. I also think it would be great to allow a card that is good for TANK and Metro that you can reload. The driver made it sound like we were getting the same fareboxes as TANK, so it seems entirely possible to do that.

 

Personally, I am hoping they can institute a fare card that is tied to your bank account. I visited my cousin in Chicago, and she has a card that just takes money out of her bank account each time she rides it. That way she doesn't have to reload the card or get a new card every month. A card like that that is usable on both Metro and TANK would be incredible!

I won't be surprised at all if Issue 48 passes tomorrow. I'm hoping it doesn't, but this IS Cincinnati we're talking about. Not to mention that Smitherman is dangerously influential.

^I think the proliferation of credit cards has cloaked the cost of gasoline and car repairs for most people.  Meanwhile, cash has generally been needed for transit.

 

^ What if you forget to reload your bank account? Not only do you get turned down and possibley left stranded, but you also share that information with all your neighbors.

 

It wasn't that hard to bring change back when the fare was lower. In a round about way, our federal monetary policy has not been kind to transit. How about minting dollar coins?

 

How does one put money on the farecard?

^I think the proliferation of credit cards has cloaked the cost of gasoline and car repairs for most people.  Meanwhile, cash has generally been needed for transit.

 

 

So has the transferal of road user costs (not including the societal/environmental costs) from the point of access to every April 15th, or parking costs to the purchase of price of the goods or services you're buying in the building you drove, rode or walked to.

 

And BTW the quality of Megabus vs. Amtrak (or, to keep this on topic, local transit) service isn't necessarily up to the carriers, not when neither carrier owns the rights of way they use or has much influence over the public policies affecting the viability and quality of those rights of way.

'Twas the night before Elections, when all through the debate

Not an Issue 48 opponent was stirring, not even eigtgh and state

 

The arguments were heard by the electorate indeed,

In the hopes that supporters of 48 would concede

 

The COASTers were nestled all smug on their knees

With visions of Mozzarella cheese sticks from a local Applebees;

 

And Chris Smitherman with his petition, Chris Finney with his chances

Seem to be exhausted from chasing ambulances,

 

When out on the pavement there arose such a shiller,

I sprang from the bed only to see one Mark Miller.

 

I stepped back from the window and was taking some heat,

Mark had his laptop and continued to tweet

 

And tweet he continued, no truth or no sense

I did get a chuckle when he tripped on the fence

 

When, all of the sudden my eyes saw a glider,

With a miniature streetcar, led by John Schneider

 

Mark Miller stood there, frightened with fear

That's when I jumped up and let out a cheer

 

From my vantage point, I heard Miller's rants

Then I witnessed him immediately pee down his pants

 

Out of the bushes, there came a change of plan

Out came 700wlw with Barry Horstman

 

John Schneider erupted, and called on his kin

Jake Mecklenborg, Rob Jaques and Living in Gin

 

Civvik, GCrites, natininja and KJP

Made 700wlw instantly flee

 

Horstman walked to Miller, willing to embrace

Of course this was done at a 6.5 mph pace

 

They stood there in shock, ready for battle

At this point they thought they'd rather live in Seattle

 

Issue 48 opponents, circled the two

And simply told them both to go shoo

 

Running up to his car, Mark decides to drive,

Immediately getting stuck in traffic on 75

 

Cursing and yelling, he took a huge breath

But that was just simply to inhale all the meth

 

Barry Horstman turned around, feeling the heat

And merged into traffic, using his feet

 

As I drew my head in, and prepared for a shower

I remembered to set my clocks back an hour

 

But that's neither here nor there, I digress can't you see

I should get back to this unique story

 

John Schneider and kin, approached my apartment door

They knocked politely then said 'excuse me senor'

 

'Issue 48 is dangerous, we went through this years ago

It bans all rail, we urge you vote no'

 

And with that they left, as quick as they came

To the next neighbor, for more of the same

 

But I heard them say, as they continued to boast

"Vote NO on Issue 48, and COAST will be TOAST"

 

What? No  Luken? No Louis? No Kasich? Hardly seems right to leave them out.