Thank you, Mr. Kepler, for pointing out what far too many people do not realize, understand, or deliberately ignore (particularly the anti-transit/pro-single-occupancy-vehicle-let's-build-more-roads-to-solve-all-our-traffic-woes types). Yes, there are situations where rail-based transit should not be used, but there are many others where it can; cities are not carbon copies of one another and what works in one city may or may not work for another. That's why it is so important to do adequate research to determine what will work and where, as well as making sure the existing transit system is being properly maintained/operated and that citizens are encouraged to use it. Unfortunately, that is not the case in many U.S. cities (it certainly isn't so here in Albuquerque) and adding LRVs/streetcars to the mix probably won't make much of a difference since they will be as neglected and poorly utilized as the rest of those cities' transit systems (not to mention tying up funds that should be used for improving what already exists).

(That is the main reason why I will not support our wonderful Mayor Marty Chavez's streetcar plans - even though I certainly am a supporter of rail-based transit; neither he nor anyone on our eternally inept City Council has done a damn thing to really improve our existing bus system until recently, and while adding new hybrid buses and a "Rapid Ride" bus service - which has fewer stops than other buses and the same service frequency as LRVs; the articulated buses purchased for this service serve designated curbside stops and make use of a "priority signaling" system which allows the buses to pass through major intersections with minimal delay - are a step in the right direction, there is still a lot of room for improvement.)