Friends of transit:
I would urge you to read Joe Tarr's "Boundary issues" piece on page 6 of this week's Isthmus (the July 29 edition). http://www.thedailypage.com/isthmus/article.php?article=34212 <http://www.thedailypage.com/isthmus/article.php?article=34212&sid=bf4b18361 a77f07e0d6ee966c7367181> &sid=bf4b18361a77f07e0d6ee966c7367181 In the article Dane County Supervisor Eileen Bruskewitz asserts that rather than wasting money on public transit, "a better idea is to help poor people buy cars". Apparently WisDOT helped to launch a "Wheels 'n Work" program which gives low-income folks loans of up to $4,500 to buy a car, and Dane County is applying. While I can see the value of this program in some instances (rural areas and small towns without any transit), Bruskewitz's disregard for people who CAN'T drive and people who don't WANT to have to drive everywhere should not go unchallenged. There is some really ugly elitism at work in this state - some of it intentional but probably most of it due to the fact that so many people never "walk in the other guy's shoes." I think it's time for ped/bike/transit advocates to target Bruskewitz and a few other elected Happy Motoring troglodytes. "What are YOU doing in YOUR neighborhood to make it safe, practical, and pleasant for OTHER people to walk, roll wheelchairs, push baby strollers, and ride bicycles? What are you WILLING to do to make it possible for people who cannot drive - and people who don't WANT to enslave themselves to the automobile - to live in YOUR community?" "Guess what? Sitting on your rear end and driving everywhere isn't helping THEM - nor is it helping YOU to understand what THEY have to put up with. You need to spend some time on the other side of the windshield." Anyone game? If so, how shall we proceed? Hans Noeldner Pedestrian/Bicycle/Transit Advocate <http://www.entropicjournal.blogspot.com/> www.entropicjournal.blogspot.com Oregon, Wisconsin 608-444-6190
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