[sustran] Re: Bus, LRT, and heavy rail - comments from a by-stander

[Jonathan E. D. Richmond]

Gina, you are indeed right in that advocacy positions by definition do not
have a claim on truth -- they are pushing a particular position and will
marshall evidence only to defend it. Confusion arises when people who do
objective analyses that find one way or the other get lumped with the
advocates.

                                      --Jonathan


On Tue, 4 May 2004 Regina_Therese_MANZO at ura.gov.sg wrote:

>
> Hello Jonathan and Sustran -
>
> Gina Manzo wrote:
>
> It reminds me of boys
> and their need to be "king of the hill", the need to strive for the
> superlative - in sport, warfare, in the professional field, etc.  Perhaps
> everyone needs to go out for a good joust or round of football/soccer.
>
> Jonathan replied:
>
> Alas, Gina, there is indeed a risk of the arguments appearing this way,
> but with such a characterization
> it appears that both sides are in an
> advocacy position and neither one nor the other has a special claim on th=
e
> truth.
>
> This is the case - neither postion does have "a special claim on the
> truth."  Both rail and bus are important, and the complexities of each ha=
ve
> to be assessed for each metro region.  Let's understand more details of
> each so we can better use each as appropriate in a sustainable transport
> system - not one at the exclusion of the other.
>
> regards,
> Gina
>
> Regina Manzo, AICP =84X Urban Redevelopment Authority =84X 45 Maxwell Roa=
d =84X URA
> Centre =84X Singapore 069118 =84X? ph +65 6321-8305 =84X
> Privileged / Confidential information may be contained in this message. I=
f
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>
>
> |---------+--------------------------------------------------------------=
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> |         |           "Jonathan E. D. Richmond" <richmond at alum.mit.edu>  =
          |
> |         |           Sent by:                                           =
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> |         |           sustran-discuss-bounces+regina_therese_manzo=3Dura.=
gov.sg at list.|
> |         |           jca.apc.org                                        =
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> |         |                                                              =
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> |         |                                                              =
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> |         |           04/05/2004 12:12                                   =
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> |         |           Please respond to Asia and the Pacific sustainable =
transport |
> |         |                                                              =
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> |---------+--------------------------------------------------------------=
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>   >----------------------------------------------------------------------=
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>   |                                                                      =
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>   |        To:      Asia and the Pacific sustainable transport <sustran-d=
iscuss at list.jca.apc.org> |
>   |        cc:                                                           =
                         |
>   |        Subject: [sustran] Re: Bus, LRT, and heavy rail - comments fro=
m a by-stander           |
>   >----------------------------------------------------------------------=
-------------------------|
>
>
>
>
> Gina Manzo wrote:
>
> It reminds me of boys
> and their need to be "king of the hill", the need to strive for the
> superlative - in sport, warfare, in the professional field, etc.  Perhaps
> everyone needs to go out for a good joust or round of football/soccer.
>
>
> Alas, Gina, there is indeed a risk of the arguments appearing this way,
> but with such a characterization it appears that both sides are in an
> advocacy position and neither one nor the other has a special claim on th=
e
> truth.
>
> Pro-rail forces have distorted data, sometimes because their advocacy has
> simply led them to take the most positive assumptions, but also sometimes
> through outright dishonesty. The performance results in the US are quite
> clear, as I found in a comprehensive study that set out to be entirely
> objective.
>
> Unfortunately, there are rail opponents who are against public transport
> in general. Some of them favor more roadbuilding; others are against any
> form of public expenditure on transport systems. The presence of their
> arguments clouds the issues and does indeed make it all appear like a
> football (or possibly boxing) match, and it becomes extremely hard for
> people like myself who care about providing good value transport systems
> -- especially to serve the poorest members of society -- to get the truth
> through.
>
>                                                   --Jonathan
>
>
> -----
>
> Jonathan E. D. Richmond                               02 524-5510 (office=
)
> Visiting Fellow                               Intl.: 662 524-5510
> Transportation Engineering program
> School of Civil Engineering, Room N260B               02 524-8257 (home)
> Asian Institute of Technology                 Intl.: 662 524-8257
> PO Box 4
> Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120                        02 524-5509 (fax)
> Thailand                                      Intl:  662 524-5509
>
> e-mail: richmond at ait.ac.th               Secretary:  Ms. Nisarat Hansuksa
>         richmond at alum.mit.edu                                  02 524-605=
1
>                                                                    Intl:
> 662 524-6051
> http://the-tech.mit.edu/~richmond/
>
>
>
>

-----

Jonathan E. D. Richmond                               02 524-5510 (office)
Visiting Fellow                               Intl.: 662 524-5510
Transportation Engineering program
School of Civil Engineering, Room N260B               02 524-8257 (home)
Asian Institute of Technology                 Intl.: 662 524-8257
PO Box 4
Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120                        02 524-5509 (fax)
Thailand                                      Intl:  662 524-5509

e-mail: richmond at ait.ac.th               Secretary:  Ms. Nisarat Hansuksa
        richmond at alum.mit.edu=09=09              02 524-6051
=09=09=09=09=09      Intl:  662 524-6051
http://the-tech.mit.edu/~richmond/