tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976144462093297473.post4782308404829796936..comments2024-03-26T19:10:00.791-04:00Comments on West Coast Stat Views (on Observational Epidemiology and more): Drilling down in the Citi-Bike topicJosephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10760453165301871031noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976144462093297473.post-69706437214428591322013-07-01T22:58:27.550-04:002013-07-01T22:58:27.550-04:00If we put aside, opportunity costs (which complica...If we put aside, opportunity costs (which complicate the picture greatly), bike share programs are pretty much all to the good. My concern is that what looks like a pretty good idea for improving urban transit and quality of life is being treated as a climate change solution.<br /><br />For example:<br />"You probably think that bike-sharing programs are a modest, environmentally friendly way to give people another option to the fossil-fuel-based car culture that dominates our major cities."<br />http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/06/05/2106001/wall-street-journal-slams-totalitarians-behind-dreadful-bike-share-program-that-has-begrimed-ny-city/Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14705408455380402571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976144462093297473.post-66349008427529949122013-07-01T21:35:42.675-04:002013-07-01T21:35:42.675-04:00I completely agree about Vélib being a substitute ...I completely agree about Vélib being a substitute for mass transit.<br /><br />But I wouldn't underestimate the importance of adding good substitutes for mass transit. In the U.S. we tend to think that transit options are all about "getting people out of their cars" and should be evaluated in that way. But adding mass transit options is a good thing in itself. For one thing, this takes a load of of existing transit resources which are strained, in addition it's always good to have more transit options, just as it's good for drivers to have both surface streets and freeways.<br /><br />Regarding users: don't forget tourists and temporary residents of a city.Andrew Gelmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02715992780769751789noreply@blogger.com