Hmmm… Can we assemble enough constituencies to really make a different transportation agenda happen?
From the press release:
AARP Joins the Transportation for America Campaign, Seeks Transportation Reform To Help Americans Live Well Independently
Source: AARP Press Center | 2009-03-24
Nancy Thompson
202-434-2560AARP Joins the Transportation for America Campaign, Seeks Transportation Reform To Help Americans Live Well Independently
As Congress debates budget priorities, AARP this week joined the Transportation for America Campaign endorsing its call for renewal of our national transportation program for the 21st Century. Following is a statement by AARP Executive Vice President for Social Impact Nancy LeaMond:
“AARP is delighted to join T4America, the Transportation for America Campaign, an impressive group of organizations, elected officials and businesses with the shared goal of building a modernized infrastructure to support livable communities where people can live, work and play. America is aging rapidly and transportation policy and spending must acknowledge this demographic shift. The upcoming transportation authorization can help the nation prepare both for its graying years and a greener future by making roads safer for drivers of all ages and also offering more user friendly options for pedestrians and transit users.
“In 2030 nearly 71 million people will have reached age 65+, doubling the retirement age population since 2000. Seventy-eight million Boomers born between 1946 and 1964 began turning 62 this year and the last of this group will turn 65 in 2029. In order to help them reach their goal of moving about safely into their 70’s, 80’s, and beyond, federal, state, and local policymakers need to improve the safety of roads, bridges, and sidewalks, but also improve the availability and accessibility of public transportation and paratransit services.
“AARP looks forward to working with T4America, Congress and the Obama administration to advance a transportation system that provides mobility for all regardless of age or functional ability.”
6 responses to “AARP Joins T4America”
I wonder: What is the libertarian solution to transportation for elderly citizens who can not drive a car?
My employer (www.rideconnection.org) is supposed to drive them everywhere…
Not that we’re able to do that without funding from the state, even through our volunteer programs.
I imagine the purely libertarian solution is to have one’s extended family be 100% responsible for caring for their elders. I wonder how many libertarians are caring for their parents and willing to drive them to and fro whenever it is requested?
The Libertarian solution is to open what are today closed markets and allow everything from corporate businesses to mom and pop part-time operators enter and leave the marketplace at will.
We might get 24 hour, seven day a week services as they have in some places with everything from express buses to jitneys and ride sharing cabs.
We need to lift the legal barriers to progrss that are blocking the way of innovation.
We might find we can reduce greenhouse gases by 30% or more according to some. Reduce road congestion, slow the development of the suburbs and maybe help low income groups find jobs, get batter access to healthcare and education. At little or no costs to taxpayers.
Michael,
Our average ride cost in Washington County (where the cab regulations are extremely relaxed compared to the City of Portland), for the services that we contract to “mom and pop” cab companies is still well beyond the financial means of most older adults and people with disabilities. Often, even buying a transit pass is difficult with their budgetary concerns. Because of their fixed incomes, their transportation is highly subsidized.
This ideology (I’m not seeing any solutions or even the actual problems outlined) doesn’t address the true costs of private transportation and lifting “legal barriers” is not going to make the cost of operating a cab, jitney or other private transportation service affordable to older adults and people with disabilities. Just the cost of gas and labor (no matter how cheap) puts it well beyond their budgetary means.
lifting “legal barriers” is not going to make the cost of operating a cab…affordable
Relaxing laws doesn’t change the cost of operating a cab. OK, it might lead to some innovation and efficiencies (for example, what about shared-ride taxis?), but it also might push down drivers’ wages (I’m ignoring people who are willing to take low/no pay to help out seniors/disabled).
Our low/no pay volunteer services run about $14.00 a trip on average…our shared ride cab system in Washington County is around $8.00 a ride, but this number doesn’t include all of the admin/overhead. It’s also significantly more expensive in rural areas if you break-out the rural areas and look at them individually.