Meer Macatawa

« Bus | Main | Technorati Test »

Who Killed the Streetcar?

December 04, 2005

Another interesting article in Trains Magazine this month, this one entitled “Did a conspiracy really kill the streetcar?” Written by John Diers, a veteren transit industry veteran, this seven-page article disputes the common planner’s myth that streetcars were killed by GM & its associated conspirators.

I first learned a version of this story back at Calvin College in my Introduction to Urban and Regional Planning class when we watched the PBS special Taken for a Ride. The special worked its magic on me, and I came to believe the story of GM’s evil plot to rid the world of good ol’ public streetcars and replace them with nasty, dirty buses.

Now I’m not so sure. While the article is rather short (one cannot explain the complexities of the dissapearance of streetcars in a mere seven pages), and its focus specific (Twin City Rapid Transit), it does a major service in positing a new explanation (at least to me) to the near extinction of the streetcar.

What is this theory? That the people of America ruined the streetcar. How? By choosing to drive cars, live in the suburbs, and bypassing the existing streetcars. Public policy also brought about the death of the classic streetcars - one-way streets (to improve automobile movement) rendered two-way streetcars obsolete unless they were to spend thousands of dollars to build new rail (utterly impossible given the limited financial status of existing systems at the time, due to increasing costs and lower ridership). Another part of the explanation goes to the fact that people were already choosing automobiles and buses before GM overtook the streetcars. In other words, people didn’t choose autos and buses because there were no streetcars, people chose them because they liked the different transportations options these new methods afforded.

Yes, GM and its underling, National City Lines, were guilty of promoting their buses. And, it is true that employees of the related companies were convicted of crimes related to their bus systems, but the crimes all revolved around the buses themselves (GM monopolizing the bus business).

Lest we forget, streetcars until the mid 60’s were privately owned and operated, public franchise, such as Oklahoma Gas & Electric and DTE Energy are today. Therefore, they were just as subject to competition as automobile manufacturers are today. In the spirit of competition and capitalism, it is not at all unfair that streetcars died out.

But, as a planner and a nostolgic person by nature, I cannot help but pine for the days of the streetcar. As I move into a new neighborhood, one that was carved out along a streetcar line, I wish I could hop onto a streetcar every morning on my way to work. I desire the car-free lifestyle a streetcar could provide. New and/or restored streetcar systems are growing across the country. People are realizing the benefits to less driving and more relaxing. Even Oklahoma City is looking at proposing a light-rail/streetcar system in its new Fixed Guideway Study. I hope I can see it come soon.

Posted by paul at December 4, 2005 09:15 PM

Post a comment

Name:

Email Address:

URL:
Remember Me? YesNo

Comments: