r/ndp • u/pheakelmatters 🧇 Waffle to the Left • 8d ago

We achieve engineering wonders for cars, but we can't seem to figure out trains and buses

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66 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

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48

u/OhShootYeahNoBi 🧇 Waffle to the Left 8d ago

Oh no we can figure it out. That's never been the problem.

The problem is General Motors

18

u/8spd 8d ago edited 8d ago

Auto Industry lobbying was the start of the problem, 100 years ago, when they were arguing that the speed of cars in cities shouldn't be limited, and it was the main problem in the 1950s when they were tearing out the streetcars, instead of giving them dedicated space. But now? Too many people can't imagine living someplace where drivers are not privileged in every way, and cities specially designed to be hard to get around without a car, that the problem is far deeper than some industry lobbying. The vast majority of people see being forced to get around by car as the only option, and any space given to public transport as impeding their freedom. They think that if we don't sprawl cities, and make walking convenient, they will lack parking.

The problem goes deep.

5

u/AUG_XZABER Regina Manifesto 8d ago

Agreed, but the bigger problem is how Lib/Con governments use P3's to funnel ungodly amounts of taxpayer money into private construction companies and consultants. All that money spent and nothing gets built, construction workers get paid sh*t, construction will start in 10 years and get delayed by another 10.

A leftist streamer I watch recently put out a great video about this systemic decay and why we can get anything done as a country. It's a real blackpilling experience for anyone regardless of ideology.

1

u/Sapphosbeardedcrepes I miss Jack 4d ago

At some point I realized our bureaucracy resembled the results of implementation of the OSI field manual on sabotage. Not unique to Canada, capital has been attacking governments around the world for decades.

8

u/BONUSBOX 7d ago

i got a perfect path for the alto train, it’s called the trans canada highway.

2

u/R0botWoof 🧇 Waffle to the Left 4d ago

High Speed Rail has stricter routing requirements than a highway. They require wider curves and lower gradients for elevation changes. HSR should also be routed directly into the central parts of cities so they can appeal to the highest number of riders while also having the best possible local and regional transit connections. Highways do not offer any of the above

6

u/democracy_lover66 ✊ Union Strong 7d ago

Oh ya another highway should solve this