tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058766287077382431.post4696479752206994064..comments2024-03-23T04:01:39.348-04:00Comments on Understanding Society: Is a rail network a social structure?Dan Littlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15953897221283103880noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058766287077382431.post-6031776204051135952018-05-30T23:16:19.650-04:002018-05-30T23:16:19.650-04:00In the area where I live the rail system is not th...In the area where I live the rail system is not the most used mod of transportation. Once we had a rail system that provided transportation of goods and services from farm to farm. The rail would stop in rural areas and Hub in the capital. Farmers depended on the rail system for most of there transporting. As years past those farming areas were replaced with factories and large companies. Rezoning for the larger companies that would not need the rail system for the transport of the products. Even though the larger companies hired more employees than the farmers. When rezoning the state the rail system discontinued the multiple stops in these areas. Most employees no longer could ride the trains to work. Bus companies rezoned there route to assist the commuters however they failed to include a majority of the rail riders areas that would need the transportation the most. Years have past and our local downtown areas is revamping and expanding. People that once were able to live close to hubs or bus lines and the rail system now have to rely on owning a car for most of there transportation.Viviannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058766287077382431.post-53472783857265726112018-02-18T20:13:20.244-05:002018-02-18T20:13:20.244-05:00Where I live there is not local rail system like s...Where I live there is not local rail system like subways or trolly cars. The local government initiated public funds support for a bus system. It was supposed to provide reasonably cost effective transportation for worker that can't afford cars and to allow people to get to shopping malls that didn't have other transportation. The busses have extremely low ridership and the main positive effect is that having public transportation is a check off for businesses comparing places to locate businesses. The physical structure, routes and stop, is the best the professionals who are responsible for the design can come up with. At the personal level very few people use the facilities to get to their jobs and even fewer use it for access to shopping. Is the check off worth the cost to the taxpayers? For the companies that benefit by allowing a few minimum wage works to get to work maybe they are the ones that should subsidize the transportation or pay workers enough for them to afford a car. The infrastructure here is based on people having cars.Davenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058766287077382431.post-38197128006248128112017-04-30T06:49:52.521-04:002017-04-30T06:49:52.521-04:00In the rural area I used to live in,, the trains u...In the rural area I used to live in,, the trains used for freight and passengers were replaced by buses and trucks as they were considered cheaper to run and maintain....except then the country roads, unused to such usage by heavy vehicles, began to develop huge pot holes which caused damage to the buses and trucks, and passenger vehicles (as well as much fury and rude letters to the local newspapers) and then the local council eventually got rolled as they were so pathetic in doing anything about it i.e. not advocacting to the State Government to get the roads fixed, but rather saying 'not our problem'. Being car dependent, (no local public transport and living alone) I would only take my car to be serviced at the service station that provided me with a loan car. Older people were particularly affected once they could no longer drive though there was a Red Cross scheme of volunteer drivers - though trying to co-ordinate them was a nightmare! Then the taxi service (used by older people to get to the doctor) stopped so the doctor's had to do more home visits - so they couldn't see as many patients....so they closed their books on seeing any new patients outside the local geographic area. The real issue though is not perhaps transport but the small population and the large rural area and the cost benefit analysis to provide sufficient transport at a realistic cost. <br /><br />I now however live in the city where parking is so dreadful I use the frequent trams and trains or taxis - or just walk as there are so many more services which are close by.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058766287077382431.post-4597739736456945522017-04-30T06:47:04.629-04:002017-04-30T06:47:04.629-04:00In the rural area I used to live in,, the trains u...In the rural area I used to live in,, the trains used for freight and passengers were replaced by buses and trucks as they were considered cheaper to run and maintain....except then the country roads, unused to such usage by heavy vehicles, began to develop huge pot holes which caused damage to the buses and trucks, and passenger vehicles (as well as much fury and rude letters to the local newspapers) and then the local council eventually got rolled as they were so pathetic in doing anything about it i.e. not advocacting to the State Government to get the roads fixed, but rather saying 'not our problem'. Being car dependent, (no local public transport and living alone) I would only take my car to be serviced at the service station that provided me with a loan car. Older people were particularly affected once they could no longer drive though there was a Red Cross scheme of volunteer drivers - though trying to co-ordinate them was a nightmare! Then the taxi service (used by older people to get to the doctor) stopped so the doctor's had to do more home visits - so they couldn't see as many patients....so they closed their books on seeing any new patients outside the local geographic area. The real issue though is not perhaps transport but the small population and the large rural area and the cost benefit analysis to provide sufficient transport at a realistic cost. <br /><br />I now however live in the city where parking is so dreadful I use the frequent trams and trains or taxis - or just walk as there are so many more services which are close by. Marionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058766287077382431.post-91651224808011002652016-01-10T18:43:19.895-05:002016-01-10T18:43:19.895-05:00The rail network is undoubtedly a physical and soc...The rail network is undoubtedly a physical and social structure. As a social structure, besides and above what the article says, should benefit the environment. We are constantly reminded of climate change and we are seeing the effects of over contamination. Therefore, politicians and those in power should attempt to improve the rail network system in such a way that becomes a viable alternative for the majority of people.Luzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11756304252239786886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058766287077382431.post-26688217114014046172015-10-12T05:01:13.345-04:002015-10-12T05:01:13.345-04:00Queensland once had a steam rail system that was q...Queensland once had a steam rail system that was quite a lot more extensive than what it is today. From Roma Street you could commute to outback remote cattle stations inland from Rockhampton and relatives would often use the rail more frequently. Today Queensland Roads take the bulk of this and the old rail lines have been deregulated, in preference to cattle trucks e.t.c willie timmihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07963667614363510830noreply@blogger.com