craschworks

For some reason, public transit activists aren’t very enthusiastic about jitney cabs. But it seems to me to be the ideal form of public transit.

• Billions in additional subsidies not required
• No eminent domain seizures for new rail lines
• 24 hour operation
• Uses existing roads
• Flexible routes and schedules
• No dependence on transit unions (which shut down city operations if they don’t get their way in labor negotiations)
• Employs low-skill workers (retirees, new immigrants)
• Wide range in service levels (from bare bones to luxury)
• Low cost

End the taxi cab medallion monopoly, and a lot more people would step up to offer rides. Check out these links for more info:

http://www.mackinac.org/article.aspx?ID=2536
http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2010/06/cabbies_sue_to_halt_20_million.php
http://venturebeat.com/2010/10/26/ubercab-ryan-graves-cease-and-desit/
http://www.jstor.org/pss/724795