Ticket to Ride

Appropos of nothing, I was doing the math today on some logistics of life here in Chicago.  Let's say I was going to go into Lincoln Park for the day to shop.  I planned on spending at least 3 hours there.  Now, everything I have been told from the city says they want me to take public transportation, be it the El or a bus.  I agree with the concept in principle, I would rather not congest the streets with a single passenger car.  Believe it or not, I do feel that way. 

However, in the scenario here, the train would cost me $4.50 (at least, if I don't have connections).  Driving my own car and parking at a meter, even at the bullshit inflated prices of the new meter contract, would only be $3.  Additionally, depending on the time of day, driving is way faster.  Yes the train gets you in the vicinity faster, but then add in walking time, etc.  At best it's a wash for time spent, at most, the car is a better alternative.

So, why do I want to take the train?  I'm talking about a day trip here, not a night out thing with cocktails involved or to an area where you know parking is non-existent.  And Brian, exclude bikes here, let's pretend it's dead of winter.

If the city was really serious about cutting down on congestion and increasing the usage of public transportation, they would LOWER the CTA fees, not raise them as they're planning on doing in the next year.  The math simply makes sense.  People that HAVE to use the CTA will do so regardless of cost, so all they're doing is driving away the casual user, in exchange for pimping more money from the necessity user. 

It's similar to what Marvel did with Amazing Spider-Man when they increased production to weekly.  Many casual fans dropped off, myself included, and they simply squeezed more money out of their die hards.  Circulation overall dropped somewhat, but they made the money back on the wallets of fewer people.  That hardly seems like a responsible business tactic that a city should be foisting upon their citizens.

MotD: Taking of Pelham 123 (2009)

I wholeheartedly disagree with the public's distaste for John Travolta.  Scientology is crazy, yes, agreed.  He's made some shitty movies, who hasn't?  Check my sidebar for some of my own shitty vehicles.  He is still engaging to watch and he certainly was in this.  Mix in Denzel, who is always just amazing, and Tony Scott and you have a seriously good kidnapping thriller.  Remake, of course, of the same named Walter Matthau film, it veers somewhat in motivation.  It's tight, starts right where it needs to and takes you right to the end of the escapade.  See this and then I recommend watching the original as well.  Just as gripping, dramatically more of a character study, and both are quite good.