Why not leave the driving to the computer?

The saps are whining again.  Not surprisingly, "The Metro" has
experienced a drop in revenue, according to href="http://www.dmregister.com/news/stories/c4780932/22370829.html"
target="_blank">The Des Moines Register, apparently the fault of a lower
number of riders.  Until there's a real benefit from letting someone else
take the wheel, Desmoiniacs are sticking with the McVicker Speedway under their
own guidance and direction.

The bus will never take you where you want to go, when you want to go --
unless you seek a lifestyle that perfectly matches the bus routes &
schedules.  Nobody does that though.

There is still much to be said for mass transit.  Let's look at some
societal problems MTA could solve if it were used effectively.

• Drunk driving


• Reckless driving


• Unsafe driving


• Driving too fast


• Distracted driving


• Traffic congestion


• Car trouble


• Car accidents


• Rubber necking


• Financial responsibility

You can probably name a dozen more, but the common thread here will still be
the car.  Take it out of the picture and you have far fewer social issues.

The answer is faster, more efficient mass transportation.  If you could
really get to your job (or to the mall, or to the game, or to social gatherings)
affordably, faster and with less stress, you'd take that option.  I'm going
to briefly explain a model where we all get what we want.  A transportation
system that is favored over driving yourself to work (or where ever else you
want to go), while still having the freedom of recreational driving.  Under
this model, we'll cut the number of roads and all the associated expenses, while
making your commutes faster, more efficient and non-stop.

Light rail. Yes!  Light rail!  But, without the long trains and
waiting in line.  I'm talking about 1 to 5 passenger electric cars on light rail, with tracks servicing the
entire metro to within three blocks of your doorstep.  Freight and
deliveries use the same rail using slightly larger, aerodynamic, box-like
vehicles.  All computer navigation guides you through even the highest
congestion areas without ever stopping, because a network of guidance computers
negotiate the speed and direction of every vehicle at every point along the
route.  No stoplights means no stop & go inefficiency.

Driving is sold to the consumer as a fun thing to do, and it should be fun. 
So cars and motorcycles would always have a place in our society, but you would
never have to drive anywhere.

Small, electric, golf car-like vehicles can traverse the neighborhoods as a
convenience for people who have a hard time walking the (up to) three blocks to
the terminals.  These "local-only" vehicles would require only
slight, low-maintenance roads, similar to the unimposing sidewalks that connect
buildings of an apartment complex or college campus.  But most people would
walk to the station and ride to work in a relaxing and stress-free environment,
where they could read the newspaper or watch a morning newscast.

Who would own the rail cars?  Anyone who could afford it. 
Initially, companies would be expected to invest in fleets of these
ultra-efficient vehicles that meet the established criteria of this rigidly standardized
transportation system.  Of course, the general public would be free to buy
cars for the tracks and share them with other members of the public for a small
fee per trip.  So, ownership would be optional, and profits could be
made.  Cost of riding would be carefully calculated based on actual cost of
operating the cars, with a very small portion thereof going toward
infrastructure maintenance.

Presently, there are cars that go everywhere there are roads, providing
freedom, convenience and fun.  But this model is dangerous, expensive and
generally an unpleasant experience for most in metro areas.

In the future, we will have cars that go everywhere there are roads,
providing even more convenience and fun.  And, this model would be
inexpensive, nearly 100% safe and enjoyable to ride -- without all of the social
issues mentioned above.

Let's just hope the navigational computers don't all get a virus!