My local House member, retired now, fought for years for me to have public transportation, even in a rural area. For all extent the Transit Authority will be bankrupt next year.
I can get on a bus less than two blocks from my house. I live in a small rural town of under 10,000 folks. Rail line both 3 and 8 miles from my house. But nobody uses it. $2.50 for two hour rail service. Ride whereever you want. $7 for the day. Any rail service gives you a free bus transfer. Parking at the rail lines is free. Supper clean. Safe. Senior citizens ride for free.
I get I am different then most around me. I grew up here. Moved back after living 15+ years in DC. Last place I lived was less than three blocks from Union Station. I used public transportation almost every day of my life. Moving back here it was simple to continue to use it.
Not sure I can express how much of a hill we have to climb about public transporation. I had just moved back. Walking the 2 or so blocks to buy a pack of smokes. My neighbor pulls her car next to me and asked if I want a ride. Said nope, just walking to the store. Says sure you don't want a ride?
School bus stop a little over a block from my house. On a perfect day, not a cloud in the sky, 75, parents drive to pick up their kids in a car to drive them a block or two.
How do I explain to them public transportation is a good idea? I had one person say to me that only "poor people" use public transportation. In kind of a weak moment on my part I said I could "buy you." I am not poor. We just have a wonderful service right in front of us and you won't use it.
We were late to game getting this rail line here. It is just pretty much a straight line and not spurs off of it. Not perfect. But how many folks here live in a very rural area, I am not a suburb of a large metro area, have this access? We worked hard for it and if I lose it I will be sad!