05-20-2020, 08:55 PM
(05-20-2020, 07:31 PM)jeffster Wrote: Not sure if even a good quality GO system would put a huge dent in it. You have a family and friends, and anything by train is too expensive, and too time consuming. Last time it cost us $120 round trip from Kitchener to Toronto plus $24 for TTC, grand total was close to $150. Never again. 401 to Downsview Station, $15 gas ($1.15 per litre), $5 parking, and $24 TTC. Transit was the most expensive component still, but total cost less than 1/3.
Firstly, if you think GO couldn't have a large impact on traffic between KW and Toronto, then you must have never experienced what commuter train networks are capable of. There are a massive number of single occupant vehicles going between KW and Toronto every day, and I think a lot of those people would prefer taking GO trains if they were operating at full commuter rail potential. Trains, ideally, should be more consistent and faster than driving. Not to mention being able to at least partially reclaim ~3 hours of your day by not having to be occupied with driving. In GOs current state I understand why someone would think the way you do, if you haven't experienced a proper rail network. I have been watching board meetings and town halls with the new-ish Metrolinx CEO, and I have to say I am impressed and much more hopeful for the future of GO than I was before, but we'll see.
Secondly, no one is asking everyone to stop driving completely. I think a fully (or nearly fully) occupied car is perfectly reasonable to have on the road.
(05-20-2020, 07:31 PM)jeffster Wrote: It isn't just a matter that 'service sucks' - any sort of transit isn't geared to families, those with disabilities, those who don't have copious amounts of time on their hands, and those that don't live close to the mains.
No, those are all examples of 'service sucks'. There are plenty of places in the world where families and the disabled do just fine depending on transit, and where transit is faster than driving (especially if all those people on transit were forced to drive instead). And not having good transit close to where you live is the most obvious example of 'service sucks'.
(05-20-2020, 07:31 PM)jeffster Wrote: I sometimes wonder for those people that don't drive, and/or those that hate cars, even have a slight understanding why people actually drive.
This comment bothers me the most though. I don't think it's possible to live in Canada and not understand why people drive. If you don't own a car, you are constantly reminded of the disadvantage you are put at because of not owning a car. At the moment, I make the conscious choice to not drive, and it's not because I hate cars (I don't). I think you are the one not understanding the other point of view; the belief that there are other, better, alternatives to driving in many, but not all, cases. But only if we invest equally in them.