I assume there are some laws or regulations that prevent these companies from offering service in the Metro Area? Maybe that should be changed? It seems to me that bus service could easily be offered by private enterprise, and subsidized by taxpayers.
Different bus service providers would be able to bid on different service lines. It would be easy to measure performance so we could be sure the company is providing the agreed level of service. When taxpayers buy a public service, it is important for our public dollars to buy as much as possible. The only thing that will achieve this is open and competitive bidding. This would be an obvious solution to the transit strike. Strikers do have a right to deny their services to their employers, but they don't have the right to keep their customers from getting the service elsewhere. During the Grocery strike in California, supporters of the strike shopped elsewhere. They didn't have to stop eating! The strikers could picket the bus stops, and the customers who support the strikers could simply refuse to get on the private busses. Bob Treumann Saint Paul > http://www.startribune.com/stories/373/4684315.html > > I remember when MTC wanted to 'absorb' these suburban bus lines so MTC > could take over some of that business (and get the revenue--it's always > about the money). Good thing that didn't happen. > > Tom Searles > Waconia, Twp. > _______________________________________________ > Twin Cities Metropolitan Issues Forum > http://www.e-democracy.org/tcmetro > Rules: Sign posts with real name. You may not post more than twice a day. > > _______________________________________________ Twin Cities Metropolitan Issues Forum http://www.e-democracy.org/tcmetro Rules: Sign posts with real name. You may not post more than twice a day.
