The Unlevel Playing Field Between Mass Transit And Private Cars

Matthew Yglesias, writing for Slate:

This completely destroys bus operators’ flexibility. But I would also note that the traffic study is an outrageous burden on bus operations. If private car operators had to conduct a “traffic study” before getting permission to drive their cars on a particular route or stop in particular places, there would be no automobile industry in the United States. Buses are a much more efficient use of space, and at the margin shifting people out of single passenger cars and into buses reduces traffic. But if buses need to conduct traffic studies and private cars don’t, the regulatory system will always push people out of buses and into cars.

How true.