From: thetibetanmonkey@gmail.com   
      
   On Friday, December 12, 2014 4:31:05 AM UTC-5, Jeanne Douglas wrote:   
   > In article <54e458af-25e3-4d9d-a121-35509bc85c07@googlegroups.com>,   
   >  "Free Spirit, Chief of Quixotic Enterprises"    
   >   wrote:   
   >    
   > > On Thursday, December 11, 2014 10:08:49 AM UTC-5, Dave Head wrote:   
   > > > On Tue, 9 Dec 2014 12:38:03 -0800 (PST), "Wise TibetanMonkey, Most   
   > > > Humble Philosopher"  wrote:   
   > > >    
   > > > >On Tuesday, December 9, 2014 3:17:51 PM UTC-5, Your Name wrote:   
   > > > >> In article ,   
   > > > >> Wise TibetanMonkey, Most Humble Philosopher   
   > > > >>  wrote:   
   > > > >> > On Tuesday, December 9, 2014 12:01:11 AM UTC-5, Alan Baker wrote:   
   > > > >> > > On 2014-12-09 02:11:20 +0000, Wise TibetanMonkey, Most Humble    
   > > > >> > > Philosopher   
   > > > >> > > said:   
   > > > >> > > > On Monday, December 8, 2014 7:22:17 PM UTC-5, Alan Baker wrote:   
   > > > >> > > >>   
   > > > >> > > >> Clearly, the people with the most experience of the situation    
   > > > >> > > >> disagree...   
   > > > >> > > >> ...because they are CHOOSING to use their cars.   
   > > > >> > > >    
   > > > >> > > > Do they have a choice?   
   > > > >> > >    
   > > > >> > > Yes.   
   > > > >> >    
   > > > >> > A choice of one? You could give me two at least, right?   
   > > > >>    
   > > > >> You've got way more than one .. you've got a massive choice of Toyota,   
   > > > >> Mazda, Ford, Honda, Nissan, Suzuki, Hyundai (for poor people), Ferrari   
   > > > >> (for rich gits), ... Then there's numerous models within those to   
   > > > >> choose from.  ;-)   
   > > > >>    
   > > > >> If you're stuck in a traffic jam, then in a car you've got the choice   
   > > > >> of using a different route. Those fools on the bus are stuck with just   
   > > > >> where the bus route says it must go, which is usually along the   
   busiest   
   > > > >> and most congested roads.   
   > > > >   
   > > > >You are better off sitting in traffic on the bus...   
   > > > >   
   > > > >While on the bus you've got someone to talk to. You don't see your   
   fellow    
   > > > >human being as competition. You may even philosophize, talk about    
   > > > >revolution or pick up a girl.   
   > > > >   
   > > >    
   > > > Better off?   Are you crazy?   
   > > >    
   > > > First of all, I DON'T WANT to talk to anyone unless its maybe a   
   > > > friend.  Talking to anyone else is just asking for trouble. Eventually   
   > > > you're going to say something that offends one of their weird beliefs,   
   > > > so its best not to start.   
   >    
   > How sad for you. I've had lovely and sometimes fascinating conversation    
   > with people on the bus. Sometimes even with decidedly crazy people, who    
   > seem to gravitate to me (I hope it's because they sense I'm not judging    
   > them and will treat them with the same respect I treat everybody else).   
      
   Sorry, that wasn't me. I happen to love sharing with people.    
   >    
   >    
   > > > Othwise I'm "better off" in my car where I can:   
   > > >    
   > > > Control the temperature the way I want it controlled.   
   > > >    
   > > > Play the radio at any volume I care to.   
   >    
   > That's what earbuds are for.   
      
   Right.   
   >    
   > > > Tune the radio to any source I care to.   
   >    
   > That's also what earbuds are for.   
   >    
   > > The bus allows you to talk on the phone and be social. You may use   
   Internet,    
   > > read a book or curse the loud PA reminding you every silly thing you don't    
   > > care about. That PA really drives me crazy.   
   >    
   > What PA?   
      
   The buses in Miami have this VERY LOUD public announcer telling you trivia   
   from the street you are on (you have a display anyway) to reminding you not to   
   cross in front of the bus (right, you are an idiot) to telling you not to   
   place your backpack on the    
   next seat, etc.    
      
   You can not hold a conversation with anyone because the damn thing goes off   
   all the time.   
   >    
   >    
   > > > Not have to wear any sort of ear covering to do the above.   
   > > >    
   > > > Smoke, drink, and or eat if I care to.   
   > > >    
   > > > Talk on my cell phone and say anything I want as loudly as I want to   
   > > > without anyone else knowing what I'm saying.   
   >    
   > That's what texting is for.   
      
   Right.    
   >    
   > > > Carry a self-protection weapon without violating any laws, rules, or   
   > > > regulations.   
   >    
   > You're not allowed to bring pepper spray or a whistle on the bus?   
      
   Again, that's him.   
   >    
   >    
   > > > Have an umbrella or raincoat along without having to plan to take it,   
   > > > or look ridiculous carrying it around on a morning where it is 86   
   > > > degrees and sunny, only to step out after work and its raining cats   
   > > > and dogs and 47 degrees and dark.   
   >    
   > How does taking a bus prevent you from having an umbrella? And why don't    
   > you have an umbrella in your desk at work for emergencies?   
      
   Right, I carry a poncho in my backpack. My backpack is loaded with stuff,   
   including mixed nuts and a laptop. ;)   
   >    
   >    
   > > > Carry all my accessories without having to actually carry them.   IOW,   
   > > > I don't have to remember to pack the GPS in a hand-carry bag, nor my   
   > > > sunglasses, nor any of the other things that I just leave in the car,   
   > > > and which are available without having to plan to have them along, or   
   > > > carry them off a bus at the end of a ride.   
   >    
   > That's what purses are for.   
      
   Right.   
      
   >    
   >    
   > > Well, I do my own show on the bus. I stand up and say "Join the   
   revolution!"    
   > > while handing out my fliers. Obviously they are opposed to the car if that    
   > > means having options. Forcing the poor to drive is very cruel...   
   > >    
   > > I'm all for multimodal transportation, not because I love public    
   > > transportation, but because it gives me options. The way the sprawls are    
   > > built in America, no public transportation can be very effective. What can   
   be    
   > > very effective is a combination of train and bicycle. I plan to be doing   
   that    
   > > pretty soon, since this DecoBike in Miami Beach is totally dysfunctional.   
   I    
   > > waited 5 years but that was long enough. That was a cruel joke.   
   > >    
   > > America is made for the car and only Armageddon can change that.   
   >    
   > I've lived very happily in Los Angeles without a car for more than 25    
   > years.   
   >    
   > --    
      
   Oh well, many people survive with buses. But no matter how you put it the   
   sprawl is difficult to cover with buses. It's not an argument against it, just   
   that the bicycle covers the missing spots IF you are able to carry it on the   
   bus. The killer    
   combination is:    
      
   BICYCLE + BUS (trains are even better)   
      
   By the way, Los Angeles is about to face "Carmageddon." ;)   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)