Great discussion Jim and Bill. Couple of thoughts: I agree with Bill that high speed rail is always going to be a boondoggle. Aside from the ridiculous expense, who is needing to travel 700 miles in two hours? The same people that flew the Concorde. Ivan Illich addressed this issue of speed (and space and time) in his 1974 book *Energy a…
Great discussion Jim and Bill. Couple of thoughts: I agree with Bill that high speed rail is always going to be a boondoggle. Aside from the ridiculous expense, who is needing to travel 700 miles in two hours? The same people that flew the Concorde. Ivan Illich addressed this issue of speed (and space and time) in his 1974 book *Energy and Equity*, with chapters like "Speed-Stunted Imagination", "Net Transfer of Lifetime", and "The Ineffectiveness of Acceleration." This book is free online in PDF Form.
As far as tracks being converted to rail trails, I am a dedicated bicyclist and I am very much against this trend. I'd rather see the trails built adjacent to the railroad tracks, to preserve them for their original use down the line.
Great discussion Jim and Bill. Couple of thoughts: I agree with Bill that high speed rail is always going to be a boondoggle. Aside from the ridiculous expense, who is needing to travel 700 miles in two hours? The same people that flew the Concorde. Ivan Illich addressed this issue of speed (and space and time) in his 1974 book *Energy and Equity*, with chapters like "Speed-Stunted Imagination", "Net Transfer of Lifetime", and "The Ineffectiveness of Acceleration." This book is free online in PDF Form.
As far as tracks being converted to rail trails, I am a dedicated bicyclist and I am very much against this trend. I'd rather see the trails built adjacent to the railroad tracks, to preserve them for their original use down the line.