This is my inagural diary, so fair warning to you all. I've been following DKos for a year-year and a half, now, and have been on of that silent horde, who read, and seldom comment.
A bit about me, first, to give context: I was born in London, moved to Virginia when I was 4, and fled back to London 2 years ago, after 17 years of living in the south.
One of the things I have grown to love the most here is the public transportation system. We all complain about it, but the memory of what it is like in Richmond Virginia gives me pause. I think now is the time to start to push for more public transportation efforts in the US for some key reasons. More and poll on the flip
In the wake of the hurricane Katrina and Rita evacuation disasters, I started pondering what would happen if something likewise happened in London. My first instinct was that the city would board any and all trains getting out of the city. Turns out that this is in fact
London's plan. Put lots and lots of people on trains and move them away from the city. Under something called Operation Sassoon, people would walk to rail stations and be taken out of the city.
In addition to being able to move more people, rail transport in this case would not discriminate, except for potentially railway stations. Finally, rail is generally more environmentally friendly than everyone driving. Safer too, as those of us who happen to get drunk won't feel compelled to drive home, but instead can train it back.