NO LOVE FOR THE RAIL
(In response to Raffy Ermac’s Aug. 26 column, “The advantages of owning a car.”)
As an off-campus student without a car taking classes at ASU on three campuses, I rely on public transportation.
With my U-Pass, the city is mine to explore. I ride the light rail pretty often, and was disappointed by the recent opinion column, “The advantages of owning a car.”
Not long ago, the notion of the light rail was seen as part of a crazy futuristic dream where we had jetpacks and robotic maids like in the Jetsons. However, here we are in 2011 with a light rail that stretches through three cities. It’s exciting!
Here are the advantages of riding the light rail: I don’t have to pay outrageous prices for parking or gas, don’t have to deal with traffic, can do some last minute homework I procrastinated on or even take a nap while in commute, meet some pretty interesting people, don’t have to worry about breaking down or maintenance ort polluting the air we breathe.
I agree that the light rail system isn’t perfect yet but it’s still new.
It could serve so many more people if we work to improve the technology rather than scrapping the entire idea, figuring out how to make it run more efficiently and extending the line so that it reaches more people.
The rest of the world is racing by into a cleaner, safer 21st century as we twiddle our thumbs, stuck in traffic in the 20th century.
Carrie Viers
Undergraduate
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