Linkie.
This is actually a well written article. I only have one problem. The source he's using is only showing $2 billion dollars of federal expenditure on roads. There's no way that's even close.
According to this link (same source): They're spending about $16 billion on roads.
You'll also notice from that link that lots of our fuel taxes don't go to road funding. And, other taxes do go to road funding. I think it's odd too.
Showing posts with label debunking portland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label debunking portland. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Debunking Debunking Portland, Part 2
Linkie.
This article is all about how unsafe light rail is. I'll sum it up for you: People get hit by trains.
The article is misleading because it presents deaths per passenger miles. This leads the reader to believe it's the likelihood of dieing from riding the train.
All of their 19 deaths were people hit by the train, none were riding the train at the time. Some weren't even at the train station.
In the US, about 4,000 pedestrians are killed each year. About 600 cyclists as well. A larger city, like Sacramento, can expect to have over 100 pedestrian fatalities.
They should look a little harder. Trains do crash, but I'd bet you're less likely to die in a train crash (per mile) than in a car crash.
This article is all about how unsafe light rail is. I'll sum it up for you: People get hit by trains.
The article is misleading because it presents deaths per passenger miles. This leads the reader to believe it's the likelihood of dieing from riding the train.
All of their 19 deaths were people hit by the train, none were riding the train at the time. Some weren't even at the train station.
In the US, about 4,000 pedestrians are killed each year. About 600 cyclists as well. A larger city, like Sacramento, can expect to have over 100 pedestrian fatalities.
They should look a little harder. Trains do crash, but I'd bet you're less likely to die in a train crash (per mile) than in a car crash.
Debunking Debunking Portland, Part 1
Linkie.
First I'd like to say this is an interesting site. It's well researched, they've found some sources of info I was previously unaware of. Now, onto the debunking.
Basically this page is trying to prove that it's inefficient to ride the bus or take the train. I'm just going to talk about the bus (we have buses here, we don't have trains).
They present a few vehicles:
1. The Honda Insight, as a hybrid example. Unfortunately, this car wasn't made anymore when the article came out (2006 was the last model year, so 2005 was the last production year). Also, unfortunately, there's no hybrid that's so efficient today. The Honda contains 1.57 people.
1. A bus, with 9 people on it.
1. A normal small car, with 1.57 people.
They point out that for the last 30 years buses have gotten far less efficient and cars have become far more efficient. That's almost true. Look at table 2.11: Buses have gotten slightly less efficient (Actually, they probably seat more. I've been in buses from almost every decade and the modern ones are roomy). Yet their per person energy has grown far less efficient. Simple division tells us that the average bus is transporting 9 passengers. I've been on a few buses in my life, and a normal size bus is meant to carry 80 people. It seats around 25 people (which is about how many it takes to be as efficient as the Insight).
I must agree with their conclusion though: If people drove smaller cars it would probably do more to reduce energy use than bus riding. And the reason is simple: People won't ride buses. I think there are a host of reasons:
1. The stigma.
2. The chicken and the egg problem.
3. Buses are run by cities, which is painfully stupid. The city of Lincoln actually cut its routes back due to high fuel costs.
So, ride the bus. It'll run the same route anyway. And, if you were the person who tipped the scales to add another bus to the route then it's safe to assume they have a decent passenger ratio on your route. Buses, as your head is telling you, are pretty efficient if people ride them.
First I'd like to say this is an interesting site. It's well researched, they've found some sources of info I was previously unaware of. Now, onto the debunking.
Basically this page is trying to prove that it's inefficient to ride the bus or take the train. I'm just going to talk about the bus (we have buses here, we don't have trains).
They present a few vehicles:
1. The Honda Insight, as a hybrid example. Unfortunately, this car wasn't made anymore when the article came out (2006 was the last model year, so 2005 was the last production year). Also, unfortunately, there's no hybrid that's so efficient today. The Honda contains 1.57 people.
1. A bus, with 9 people on it.
1. A normal small car, with 1.57 people.
They point out that for the last 30 years buses have gotten far less efficient and cars have become far more efficient. That's almost true. Look at table 2.11: Buses have gotten slightly less efficient (Actually, they probably seat more. I've been in buses from almost every decade and the modern ones are roomy). Yet their per person energy has grown far less efficient. Simple division tells us that the average bus is transporting 9 passengers. I've been on a few buses in my life, and a normal size bus is meant to carry 80 people. It seats around 25 people (which is about how many it takes to be as efficient as the Insight).
I must agree with their conclusion though: If people drove smaller cars it would probably do more to reduce energy use than bus riding. And the reason is simple: People won't ride buses. I think there are a host of reasons:
1. The stigma.
2. The chicken and the egg problem.
3. Buses are run by cities, which is painfully stupid. The city of Lincoln actually cut its routes back due to high fuel costs.
So, ride the bus. It'll run the same route anyway. And, if you were the person who tipped the scales to add another bus to the route then it's safe to assume they have a decent passenger ratio on your route. Buses, as your head is telling you, are pretty efficient if people ride them.
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