The Washington Post reports today that “a majority of (D.C.’s) Metro directors, who set policy for the region’s subway and bus system, say they have never ridden a Metrobus or can’t recall the last time they did. About half rarely or only occasionally ride the subway. And none is a daily passenger on either bus or train.”
The irony of the Post’s survey/interview findings is too rich:
A handful of the suburban representatives said they rode the subway to the weekly meetings at Metro’s downtown headquarters. Others, including the District representatives, said they were likely to drive to the meetings and park in their free, reserved parking spots in the garage beneath headquarters near MCI Center.
(Board member Gladys) Mack said her schedule is too busy to rely on public transportation. “My travel, my destinations and my time frames make it very difficult for me to use the system,” said Mack, who lives near the Friendship Heights Metro station and works near Howard University. “I would have to take two trains and two buses. . . . It just makes it very inconvenient for me to depend on the system on a regular basis.”
Duh! Some enterprising reporter — if it hasn’t already been done — needs to conduct a similar survey of all the nanny-statist lifestyle directors out there who want light rail in Raleigh and Charlotte.