Despite my mania for all manner of irresponsible personal vehicles, I’m actually a public-transportation nut. A few of the reasons: • I can read, check email, send text messages, or catch a few winks while I’m zipping to my destination • I have built-in motivation for walking, given that I have to get to and from the bus or train stop • I feel good that my ride isn’t fueled by the conversion of fossilized sea life into impending climate catastrophe • I get to trade small talk and occasional newspaper sections with fellow transit riders.
But I know you have your very good reasons for being among the 98 percent of the population that shuns public transportation: • You can read, check email, send text messages, or catch a few winks while you’re swerving into oncoming traffic and pedestrians • You have built-in motivation for stopping at Wendy’s for celebration takeout, given that you haven’t had to walk more than nine consecutive steps the entire day • You feel good about the copious burning of hydrocarbons, which is creating valuable new beachfront property • You get to trade hand gestures and occasional gunfire with fellow traffic jammers.
