KLRU
Transportation System Not Healthy
RECEIVED Mon., July 11, 2005
Dear Editor,
As Louis Black points out [“Page Two,” July 1], it's not economically healthy when some folks are very rich, some very poor, and there is no one in the middle. The same is true in the realm of transportation.
There are three classes in our transportation system. The much-too-powerful class of motorists has the power not only to move about, but also to kill whoever gets in the way. We spend vast sums of money on the powerful class, covering our city with toxic parking lots and highways.
The lowest class is the class without mobility. The class depends on being driven in a car by other people. Most children under 16, most people over 85, and many others fall into this unfortunate class.
The middle class consists of those with the power to move about, but not the power to kill. This is the class of people who move about on foot, by bicycle, and by public transportation.
In a healthy system, the middle class would be the largest class. But the middle trasportation class is shrinking, not growing. Forty years ago, most school children belonged to this class. This is no longer true. Children are now kept powerless till age 16, and then given the power to kill. Does anyone think this is wise?
Air pollution is by no means the only problem caused by cars. Any large, two-ton, personal vehicle will devour space, terrify people, and destroy both society and the plants and animals that live here. The middle class needs to grow. The too-powerful and powerless classes need to shrink. Please help us. Your personal decisions matter.
As Louis Black points out [“Page Two,” July 1], it's not economically healthy when some folks are very rich, some very poor, and there is no one in the middle. The same is true in the realm of transportation.
There are three classes in our transportation system. The much-too-powerful class of motorists has the power not only to move about, but also to kill whoever gets in the way. We spend vast sums of money on the powerful class, covering our city with toxic parking lots and highways.
The lowest class is the class without mobility. The class depends on being driven in a car by other people. Most children under 16, most people over 85, and many others fall into this unfortunate class.
The middle class consists of those with the power to move about, but not the power to kill. This is the class of people who move about on foot, by bicycle, and by public transportation.
In a healthy system, the middle class would be the largest class. But the middle trasportation class is shrinking, not growing. Forty years ago, most school children belonged to this class. This is no longer true. Children are now kept powerless till age 16, and then given the power to kill. Does anyone think this is wise?
Air pollution is by no means the only problem caused by cars. Any large, two-ton, personal vehicle will devour space, terrify people, and destroy both society and the plants and animals that live here. The middle class needs to grow. The too-powerful and powerless classes need to shrink. Please help us. Your personal decisions matter.
Yours truly,
Amy Babich
Amy Babich
