People in Toronto have a crazy way of getting around the city: streetcars.
After a few days of enviously watching streetcars move through traffic-clogged streets (they have right of way), I finally snapped this picture on King Street.
There's momentum to expand streetcars in Cascadia, though it seems to be a question whether they could work in a city bigger than Portland.
Seattle has a tiny starter line and an expansion is a small part of the transit package, Prop. 1, on the ballot next month in the Puget Sound area.
I don't know why you're so envious. The streetcars are charming- but beyond that they're a pain in the neck. When not moved onto their own little boulevard, they block traffic and tend to clump up. In the morning, it's not unusual for me to wait for 20 minutes and then have 5 streetcars arrive, all at the same time.
Streetcars may be more comfortable than a bus, but they simply cannot compete with automobiles and subways.
Posted by: Allen | October 29, 2008 at 17:44