Rick Johnson

Posting this as a follow up to a recent chat topic that mentioned
exactly this need:

Obama announces $8 billion investment in high-speed train
system

-- Portland-Eugene in Oregon

-- Seattle-Portland in Washington and Oregon

Rick Johnson

Bend, Oregon

Every revolutionary idea seems to evoke three stages of reaction...

One, it's completely impossible. 

Two, it's possible, but it's not worth doing. 

Three, I said it was a good idea all along.

Arthur C. Clarke

Yeah Rick hit the nail on the head... 

We should be planning at least 2 or 3 high speed rail lines, one
north, middle and south across the nation. And stop throwing our money
into "free"-ways.   Not super high speed rail because that takes an
exponential extra amount of money and engineering... , but just
sensibly fast like ~120 mph, with maybe some sort of smart
embarkation/debarkation where the train never stops... .   

In another 5-10-20  years when fuel prices are over $10 a gallon
it may be too late to afford any sort of infrastructure investments...

 

If you want to scare yourself silly, read "the long emergency" ..

 

On Thu, Jan 21, 2010 at 9:31 AM, Joe Cipale <joec@aracnet.com>
wrote:

Personally,
if I can take the train, I will take the train. It may be slower, but
it much more relaxing.



Joe

Rick C Johnson wrote:



> You all are just debating the symptoms of a diseased patient. The

> fundamental problem is that in America we basically have two
choices

> when it comes to long distance transportation - drive your car or
fly.

> Both require costly and inefficient infrastructure, both also
require

> copious amounts of fuel. The US airline industry couldn't exist at
all

> if it were not for government provided airports and air traffic
control.

> The industry is being squeezed by economic factors and is in turn

> squeezing it's customers.

> Write all the emails you want - it's not going to change things
one iota.

>

> Rick Johnson

> Bend, Oregon

>

> "Those who cannot remember the past, are condemned to repeat it" -
George Santayana

>

>

>

> Joe Cipale wrote:

>

> >Throwing my two cents in -

> >I used to travel for work for 2-3 weeks at a time. I would
always bring my bike in a Trico Ironman case. The best airlines to fly
(late 90's-early 00's) were Alaska and Delta. The worst, and I mean
WORST was United! Alaska would often waive the fee as the
bike/case/helmet/shoes/cloor pump/other bomb materials would weigh less
than 40 lbs. Delta would give me a surcharge of $25.00 becuase it was
an odd shape.

> >

> >United was just a bunch of effing pr****! They would charge an
oversize fee, a handling fee, and a bulk fee (WTH is a 'bulk fee'?).
Needless to say I tried to avoid United as much as possible.

> >

> >Joe

> >

> >Thomas W. Judson wrote:

> >

> >

> >

> >>I just found a really useful website,

> >>

> >>http://www.ibike.org/encouragement/travel/bagregs.htm

> >>

> >>By the way, it is really easy to email the airlines by
going to their websites.  And they do respond, especially if you are a
frequent flyer with elite status.  If enough people complain, they
might even drop their fees.

> >>

> >>Tom

> >>

> >>

> >>

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> >>

> >

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