I still contend that bus transportation has bad connotations for many, many Americans, as it represents being at close quarters with--in their perception--"undesireable" elements of society. Also, to many people, using public transportation suggests a lack of self-determination that driving a personal vehicle would represent.

From this point of view, are streetcars any better? Of course not. However, streetcars have a nostalgic, warm-and-fuzzy cachet for many who view anything on rails as old and therefore representative of better times in the past. Pogo and P.T. Barnum had it right, but uou might as well enjoy it (with apologies to bus enthusiasts everywhere).