"Cars Are Dangerous"

So says Jon Geeting over at 'Keystone Politics' who goes on to say, "I’m amazed at how quickly I got bored with this story.... The idea that all these people “have to” drive into Philadelphia every day is the biggest lie in our transportation politics."

So sayeth Jon who has no tolerance for anyone who does not conform to his view of the world from where "he sits".

Robert (our neighbor) who's trade is in commercial ceramics, tile and brick. His company was the one that got the contract for the market street train station back when it was built. However his company is located well north of center city Philadelphia. He and his 30 man crew drove into center city every day to the work site.

The late father-in-law worked for Breyer's ice cream for over 20 years before Kraft bought Breyers. It was then that he was forced to commute to Philadelphia to pick up his truck for deliveries to finish out his career.

What both have in common is there was no, nor ever will there be trains or buses for either location. Robert's wife was a teacher in Allentown. The father-in-laws wife was a supervisor for the Bell Telephone operators on Linden Street in Allentown. As you can see moving down into Philadelphia would be impracticable for either of these two. Multiply them by the thousands who (like them) need to make the trek daily into Philadelphia and you can readily see why Jon's statement is one of either ignorance or callousness.

Presently one of my daughter's twins needs medical attention. It was recommended by our local medical specialist that she take her baby to 'Children's Hospital Of Philadelphia'. Should she take a two hour bus ride? Then call a cab to make the trek 3 miles across town and back? Then another two hours back home on the bus? This all the while changing diapers, feeding etc.?

Face it Jon no train or bus is ever going directly to any of these locations. The reason why the expressways and streets are full is because there's no other practical way of transportation for these people or folks like them no matter how may choo choos or buses there are in your world of fantasy.

And even if there were... the 14 mile stretch of PATCO is a mess. 1/2 of PATCO's elevators are out of service".

Considering how many 10,000's of drivers commute to New York they have a better safety record then the some of the 48 train operators falling asleep on the job over the last 4 years. Some of which were paid over $100,000 to see to it that their riders arrived safely.

Jon it's all great that you can say you are "bored with this story", but frankly I'm bored with your repetition against those who have very valid reasons to do what they have to do and to those who you feel are less intelligent then yourself as to why they need to own cars.

It's all fine that Jon can get by not owning a car, but Jon should respect those who do. The reasons why they are forced to do so for practical reasons doesn't make them less intelligent then Geeting who seems to think he is more so. Enough with your disdain Jon!