Saturday, June 30, 2007

What will they think of next?

Today's LA Times (front-page, above the fold) includes "Near the rails but on the road ... Billions have been spent on transit-friendly housing, but it appears people aren't leaving their cars behind ... Transit's lack of convenience cited ..."

I could not have said it any better. Well actually, some of us did -- over 30 years ago.

Yes, it is not pretty to say I-told-you-so. But the arrogant know-nothings inside LA's beltway (including LA Times writers and including some who still hold public office) have been confused on this issue for years. Their plans have cost billions and, along the way, made traffic much worse. It was exactly the sort of fatal conceit that Hayek wrote about many years ago.

Yesterday the same newspaper (front-page, below the fold) included "Will traffic-weary L.A. heed the toll call? ... The land of the freeway is poised to become a little less free ..."

What will they think of next?