Author's Response
Abstract
CommentsAuthor's Response SAGE Publications, Inc.1993DOI: 10.1177/0739456X9301300108 Alan Black University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045 USA The idea of building more rail transit systems in the United States evokes strong reactions, both positive and negative, from many people. Two anonymous reviewers of my original manuscript criticized me for being biased against light rail transit. Professor Moore, on the other hand, belongs in the group that is strongly opposed to rail transit. His arguments are fairly typical. Moore and I agree on many things. I believe bus service can be greatly improved, and it deserves more money. I think rail transit has a specious glamour that bedazzles many people. I hate to see money that would lower bus fares diverted to expensive rail lines that are sparsely used. Moore's principal objection to my article is that I did not go far enough and issue a blanket condemnation of light rail transit. This I am not willing to do. He claims that objective evaluation of light rail proposals made in North America will show them to be unjustified 100% of the time. That's not what I'd call open-minded. I have little to add to my article, where my views on many