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Wed. June 7, 2006, 07:11am PDT
Dump the pump tomorrow
As my wife pointed out to me, tomorrow is "Dump the Pump" day. The event encourages you to get out and try public transit for a day. I've taken the bus downtown from our house a few times and have had a great experience. The ride is a bit longer than driving but just the freedom from having to worry about other drivers is enough. PublicTransportation.org's website has facts and info about the gas savings that occur when public transit is used. My biggest thought is the more the merrier. In areas where mass transit is used, and I mean really used (e.g. New York, Boston, San Francisco and pretty much anywhere in Europe) it's safe by virtue of the numbers that use it. Even here in Tacoma on a work day any "crazies" you may encounter are far outnumbered compared to other folks heading to or from work.
Anyway, since towns like Tacoma don't yet have a streetcar to call their own, try out a bus and save a little fossil fuel. I'm pretty sure you can do it for one day! Don't know your local bus schedule? Look it up.
Wed. June 7, 2006, 07:28am PDT
Letter to the Editor: Bring trolley back ...hide the wires
I sent a letter to the editor in response to the buzz around Tacoma about starting a streetcar/trolley project. As I wrote, I'm all for it, just hide the wires. Here's my letter:
I understand the need for a solid public transit infrastructure here in Tacoma. I also think having a trolley running around town would be a charming way to do so. But, please, can we do it without the ugly overhead wires?
There are too many lines dangling above our heads in this city as it is and I'd hate to see the skies in some of our most beautiful districts marred by ugly wiring.
I know electrified rails are dangerous but why not put the connections under a covered power rail or something? I refuse to believe that in over 100 years of trolley history no one has thought of a good way to do it without overhead wires.
Tacoma’s not the "wired" city anymore so, if this is going to happen, let's get creative and do this right.
Turns out there are ways to hide the wires as Jamie pointed out to me in a comment on his site. Here's some info on a ground-level power supply. Let's make sure to let the folks over at Tacoma Streetcar know (possibly at their June 8 meeting?) that we don't want more ugly wires over our heads but instead a clean solution.
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