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Alan Pisarski joins George Will's team against sensible transit
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Pisarski's slide--you, the people, are morons
Alan Pisarski, meet George Will! George Will, meet Alan Pisarski! Now you numbskulls have each other in these difficult times of people needing efficient public transportation and reasonable commutes.
Where Will’s inane tirade against LaHood was rooted in politics yet highlighted his deep rooted classicism, Pisarski’s argument is obviously about classism and fueled further by politics. Or, you know, one in the same, because in the end both are showing hate to the classes beneath them and those who do not drive. And what is Pisarski’s argument? Cars are really good, and using them for long commutes are even better. Also, guess what, there are so few people of this stature that everyone reading this post right now is beneath George Will and Alan Pisarski.
Streetsblog’s Elana Schor, who was forced to sit through Pisarski’s presentation at—shudder—the Heritage Foundation, questions Pisarski’s status as an “expert.” Pisarski’s diligence to his field has allowed him to make a number of ridiculous statements.
As explanation, and certainly not defense, Pisarki’s qualifications are described thusly (by way of his website, which is down, and press releases):
In the U.S. DOT he organized the major travel surveys of the nation and designed and managed the U.S. transportation statistical system under the Assistant Secretary for Policy, establishing programs that are still the basis of much of the U.S. transportation statistical system today.
And that’s where our problem is. Pisarski has a lot of experience, or prestige, and when Pisarski bloviates the following by way of poorly-designed Power Point presentation, we know we have a problem with how we approach public transportation in America. He foolishly states:
• Americans are wealthy because they work
• Americans have cars because they work
• Americans spend $ on transportation because they work
• The ratio of highest to lowest same for trans as for all spending (about 4.8)
So as far as Pisarski is concerned, we’re rich because we work. (And therefore, if you’d just work harder you’d have more money, and more cars!) If we all work, and we all drive, we won’t need high-speed rail! Facepalm! If only I’d realized how transportation and communities truly work, I wouldn’t have wasted all of your time discussing public transportation! And it would be better if we pay for gas instead of fare for our commute.
Pisarski doesn’t explain how I worked three jobs at one time through college yet relied on MTA because I couldn’t afford a car. Oh, that’s because Pisarski is blinded by his own bias.
Pisarski’s line of uncritical thinking is holding us back and preventing us from creating efficient communities.
And his belief that we are wealthy simply because we work is unfortunately not the worst of his presentation. It’s his love for suburban sprawl and fundamental belief that it would be best that we leave the cities in droves to keep the merit badge attached to our wealth. From Schor’s post:
In fact, Pisarski mocked the notion of planning communities that minimized travel time. When it came time for church on Sunday, he quipped, "we could all just change our religions and go to the one that's closer."
I’ll say it again: Until I live and work within reasonable walking or commute transit I intend to live miserably. My commute is killing me, and it’s time is below average on a good day (45 minutes) and average one a bad day (90 minutes or more). The average commute for DC is terrible, and we shouldn’t have to stand for it. We need affordable housing and we need smarter transportation.
Pisarski is ignoring that there are communities that are pedestrian-based. He’s also ignoring the studies that prove that long commutes make for irritable drivers.
He’s also missing why many work in the city—or within its closest suburbs—but live or commute from far away. Because people can’t afford to live where they work. Most of these people are not living in DC and commuting to New York City everyday by express train. (Does anyone really do that anymore?) Many of these people are not the perpetrators of White Flight, though Pisarski would likely argue that.
Pisarski is also, disturbingly, absolved the problem of air pollution. Granted, Pisarski was presenting in an organization that is open with its lack of concern for the environment. (It’s just not in its financial interest.) Why doesn’t he think less cars in Los Angeles wouldn’t provide cleaner air?
Ultimately, Pisarki’s “economic” and political bias are hindering his ability to accurately assess and assist Americans with their transportation needs. While Pisarski is claiming that a long commute is a status symbol, he also stated in his PowerPoint, “Transportation is all about reducing the time and cost penalties of distance on our economic and social interactions.” Allow me to sputter in disbelief.
But Pisarski clearly can’t explain that either.
This car centric thinking is hindering more than our ability to move forward. It is tainting our thinking. The mentality that a 5,000 lb vehicle rules supreme is how it’s my “fault” I was hit by a car in a crosswalk when I had the light, and how a man driving a SUV was not a fault in New York this week when it plowed through the street, hit, and critically injured a man.
It’s a good thing tomorrow’s Thursday Video (an unofficial weekly feature) is gut-busting hilarious in its poorly animated awkwardness! Or I’d never make to Friday.
For more info:
Transportation ‘Expert’: Long Commutes Are a Status Symbol, Streetsblog
Pisarski's presentation
Is Death an Appropriate Sentence for "Jaywalking" ?, Streetsblog
Commuting could be killing you, ABC News Los Angeles
George Will hates your bike, Portland, transit happiness
Transportation ‘Expert’: Long Commutes Are a Status Symbol, Streetsblog
Pisarski's presentation
Is Death an Appropriate Sentence for "Jaywalking" ?, Streetsblog
Commuting could be killing you, ABC News Los Angeles
George Will hates your bike, Portland, transit happiness
…Wait! I get it! Pisarski is married to his car! Well then, that makes more sense, doesn’t it? I’ve never been religiously devout. No wonder I missed it.
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