I wonder how many people are glad they don't ride public transit because they think it reduces their chances of being hit by a terrorist strike. Automobiles, being so decentralized, are not very good mass terror targets. On the other hand, they are driven by people, and in 2002 in Minnesota 657 people were killed in auto accidents. In comparison the New York Subway system has had only 126 fatalities in 5 years

I'm not sure how to compare usage of the two systems (Minnesota Roads, and New York subway system) but I'd say they are roughly comparable in size.

Actually, that's a good question: How to compare the size of road/driving systems with transit systems? The trouble is that the transit system is strictly for moving people, while the road network is for moving people and goods.Comparing the number of people moved is one method, but if you are killed by a jacknifing semi carrying sugar beets on county highway 85...  Or electrified by the third rail after beeing pushed in by a delusional homeless man.  Well, that's just comparing apples and oranges.

11:18:08 PM       comment []