Internet Doodlings - Transport NH doesn't like me much - Granite Grok

Internet Doodlings – Transport NH doesn’t like me much

I wonder if they know TreeHugger??

TransportNH seems to be yet another one of the “Sustainable Community Initiative” type websites  as in “let’s complain how rural New Hampshire is so unlike urban dominated Big States”.  For YEARS, I have been commenting about the local version of “Public Transportation” here locally in Central New Hampshire – two Winnipesaukee Transit System buses whose only purpose, it seems, is to keep a couple of bus drivers employed.  In fact, when I raised the issue a few years ago on how empty they were every time I passed one of them (1, maybe 2 people), they went and tinted the windows.  Given the fixed costs and the ridership (I got their budget, too), they might as well give a $20 voucher to the private cab services in town and end up spending taxpayer money more efficiently.

Stupid buses are still traveling the road – still mostly empty.  But I digress; back to a post I left a comment on – back on April 24:

What if you couldn’t drive?

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Rebecca Harris

Concerns about Public Transportation in New Hampshire:Transit:

  •  19% of New Hampshire residents are concerned about losing their ability to drive in the next few years.
  • 53% of New Hampshire adults would find getting things in the community difficult if they needed to use crutches or a wheelchair for at least 4 weeks.
  • No public transportation system exists for more than 80% of New Hampshire’s communities.

Data Source: Feb. 2006 Granite State Poll

From the Institute on Disability at UNH

So, I decided to try and start a conversation:

0 thoughts on “What if you couldn’t drive?”

If the MBTA in Boston, a rather dense population area, can’t make public transportation work without massive taxpayer subsidies, do you really think public transportation is “sustainable” here in rural NH? I watch the Winnpesaukee bus drive by – pretty much empty every single time (maybe 1 or 2 folks max).

How’s that working out for NH financially?

Really – Zero conversations?  I’m still awaiting moderation – almost a month later?  What did I say that was all that outrageous (heh!)?

Hmm, I went to the front page and saw yet another link to another one of these same type of sites: Commute Green NH and this is on it’s front page:

Why Commute Green? NH Department of Environmental Services would like you to give yourself a raise.

Take the pledge: Don’t Drive One-in-Five

Don't Drive 1 in 5 Pledge!

Commute Green NH encourages you to start a new habit by pledging not to drive one out of every five days from now through December 31st, 2013. Click here to sign up for the pledge. Then tell a friend or coworker to do the same!

 

 

NH Department of Environmental Services???

Nice to see that our own DES has decided that it isn’t enough to just do its job, but to be “social engineering” us as well.  Haven’t they seen how that has been turning out in DC lately?

Oh Wait!  I went to the About Page – all of the normal suspects (emphasis mine):

Organizers Include Representatives from:

  • Advance Transit/Upper Valley Rideshare
  • Berry Dunn
  • Central New Hampshire Regional Planning Commission
  • Community Action Program Belknap-Merrimack Counties
  • Contoocook Valley Transportation Company
  • Cooperative Alliance for Seacoast Transportation
  • Healthy Eating Active Living New Hampshire
  • Nashua Regional Planning Commission
  • NH Department of Environmental Services
  • NH Department of Health and Human Services
  • NH Department of Transportation
  • Rockingham Planning Commission
  • Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission
  • Southwest Region Planning Commission
  • The Scott Lawson Group

What a way to make yourself to seem to be ubiquitous – just keep pumping out these sites!  But ask yourself – WHY are Regional Planning Commissions all pushing for more “public transport”?  Especially here in New Hampshire where we have an over-abundance of “low population density geo-locations” (er, “not a whole people around for miles”).

Once again, we see the mindset of the Federal Govt’s “one size WILL fit all scenarios”.

Or just plain tax money-grubbing – take your pick.

>