I agree with you that fatalities are much greater in number on the streets and freeways of Los Angeles, but I was referring to the consequences of an accident such as the Glendale episode on public opinion. People are afraid of getting into trains. The media coverage induces fear. Automobiles appear to be so much safer.
On Tue, 15 Feb 2005 21:17:43 -0800, Albert Sonntag
<berto55 at earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> Gar Lipow:
>
> >>>>Should the political will to change ever develop there is a
> technological solution to providing decent public transit outside of
> cities. Ultralight rail (sometimes also known as personal rapid
> transit or people movers) are forms of public transit suitable for
> moderate density populations (such as most suburbs and "edge cities"
> are.)
>
> The recent event in Glendale, California, when a man parked his SUV in a
> confused suicide attempt on the rails of the southbound light rail
commuter
> train from Simi Valley, causing two trains to collide, and resulting in
> several fatalities, has set the clock back for any innovations in public
> light rail transportation in Los Angeles for at least another fifty years.
>
> Albert R. Sonntag
> berto55 at earthlink.net
>
Presumably because automobile accidents result in so few fatalities on a daily basis in Los Angeles.
Albert R. Sonntag berto55 at earthlink.net