Comments on: Passing Trains http://occamsrazr.com/2008/10/28/passing-trains/ communication. community. cognition. Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:46:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Adam Daniel Mezei http://occamsrazr.com/2008/10/28/passing-trains/comment-page-1/#comment-2045 Adam Daniel Mezei Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:01:30 +0000 http://occamsrazr.com/?p=905#comment-2045 Ike, For Laura: I hate to admit it, but what constitutes her "morning." ;-P Did anyone consider that? I mean, if morning's at 5am or 10am, this might clarify things a little more, wouldn't you think? For Rick: The additional train might have required servicing at the depot. It was bolted onto the main line, "towed" to the terminus, and as a result capacity was increased by an additional 250 spots for only *that* particular commute across town. ~~~~ Okay, I know it's a bit preposterous, but I like to try anyways... Ike,

For Laura: I hate to admit it, but what constitutes her “morning.” ;-P Did anyone consider that? I mean, if morning’s at 5am or 10am, this might clarify things a little more, wouldn’t you think?

For Rick: The additional train might have required servicing at the depot. It was bolted onto the main line, “towed” to the terminus, and as a result capacity was increased by an additional 250 spots for only *that* particular commute across town.

~~~~

Okay, I know it’s a bit preposterous, but I like to try anyways…

]]> By: Paul Foer http://occamsrazr.com/2008/10/28/passing-trains/comment-page-1/#comment-2033 Paul Foer Wed, 29 Oct 2008 19:25:32 +0000 http://occamsrazr.com/?p=905#comment-2033 One other note...I should have referred to both Laura and Rick as opposed to only Laura...and as an aside..."going Green" whatever that may be, has hardly ever played any significant role in transit use, thought it may be changing. It is more likely that people are making what might be described as Hobbesian choices based on simply getting hit harder with gas costs than with transit costs. At the same time, new transit systems, particularly urban rail have come on line in the last few years. What does this all have to do with Occam's Razor or RaZr.....not sure, but we can all go along for the ride. Next stop coming up--but isn't it always? One other note…I should have referred to both Laura and Rick as opposed to only Laura…and as an aside…”going Green” whatever that may be, has hardly ever played any significant role in transit use, thought it may be changing. It is more likely that people are making what might be described as Hobbesian choices based on simply getting hit harder with gas costs than with transit costs. At the same time, new transit systems, particularly urban rail have come on line in the last few years. What does this all have to do with Occam’s Razor or RaZr…..not sure, but we can all go along for the ride. Next stop coming up–but isn’t it always?

]]> By: Paul Foer http://occamsrazr.com/2008/10/28/passing-trains/comment-page-1/#comment-2032 Paul Foer Wed, 29 Oct 2008 19:08:58 +0000 http://occamsrazr.com/?p=905#comment-2032 Ike: When we hear hooves...think horses!? Or trains maybe? Iron horses??? Maybe, just maybe, Laura does, as my wife does, make casual, unsupportable assumptions that may or may not have any bearing on reality. Let us suppose that each observation was correct, that they were empirical and verified, that there were actually counts and that one time, one train, one day was statistically different than others. At that point, we could continue with your thesis--or observation, but until then, it's just one perception, one train, one moment in time versus the same thing at another time and place. In other words, just a personal hunch colored by all the personal GIGO -garbage in garbage out. As a public transit professional, we know that to have real substance regarding decisions, we have to make real counts over time. Besides that, highway use and vehicle miles driven are declining and in general, public transit is up--waaaay up. So there is so much noise in these observations that they are likely of little value. Have I added frustration to the conversation with these observations about these train stations and transportation rationalizations in our nation? Thanks Ike: When we hear hooves…think horses!? Or trains maybe? Iron horses???

Maybe, just maybe, Laura does, as my wife does, make casual, unsupportable assumptions that may or may not have any bearing on reality. Let us suppose that each observation was correct, that they were empirical and verified, that there were actually counts and that one time, one train, one day was statistically different than others. At that point, we could continue with your thesis–or observation, but until then, it’s just one perception, one train, one moment in time versus the same thing at another time and place.

In other words, just a personal hunch colored by all the personal GIGO -garbage in garbage out.

As a public transit professional, we know that to have real substance regarding decisions, we have to make real counts over time. Besides that, highway use and vehicle miles driven are declining and in general, public transit is up–waaaay up. So there is so much noise in these observations that they are likely of little value.

Have I added frustration to the conversation with these observations about these train stations and transportation rationalizations in our nation?

Thanks

]]> By: Jeremy http://occamsrazr.com/2008/10/28/passing-trains/comment-page-1/#comment-2029 Jeremy Tue, 28 Oct 2008 21:29:15 +0000 http://occamsrazr.com/?p=905#comment-2029 A friend in Chicago lives next to a Metra station. He percieves an increase in the number of park 'n' ride cars, so I'm inclined to believe it's a response to demand, not to greening. A friend in Chicago lives next to a Metra station. He percieves an increase in the number of park ‘n’ ride cars, so I’m inclined to believe it’s a response to demand, not to greening.

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