I have a letter in the Idaho Statesman today, pasted below. Thanks to any newcomers who are checking out the blog after seeing the link:
Buses use ads
I had to laugh at Fred Birnbaum's March 19 letter accusing ValleyRide of silk-screening its buses so people can't see how few riders are inside. Actually, Fred, those buses are rolling billboards that help keep ValleyRide on the road. ValleyRide needs all the help it can get since our lawmakers refuse to give Treasure Valley citizens local control over transit funding.
Speaking of those ads, one is from a major local homebuilding company. I don't want to pick on this company, but the philosophy behind its bus slogan — Live Large — explains why our air is foul and our roads are clogged. People who buy big homes usually live far away from work, shopping, schools and entertainment. When we choose instead to live a little smaller and closer to our workplaces, our kids' schools, and shopping, we can take the bus, walk or bike more often. For more on these issues, see http://boisebusblog.blogspot.com.
I wasn't surprised to see rural legislators like Lenore Barrett and Ken Roberts deny local control to the Treasure Valley. Local Reps. Mike Moyle, Gary Collins and Robert Schaefer are the fellas who ought to be ashamed — and who ought to be replaced next November.
Julie Fanselow, Boise
2 comments:
I was similarly amused by Birnbaum's stupid comment. He said we don't need more funding for transit because no one rides the bus. Fred, in case you're reading: THAT'S WHY IT NEEDS MORE FUNDING, MORON.
Uh-huh.
My Jackson post from a few days ago points out that when people have good options, they'll ride transit.
When we have one bus an hour and the bus stops running at 6:15 p.m. ... not so much.
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