No Free Ride

Two Bay Area transit authorities released their annual survey on traffic in the San Francisco area and, as the Chronicle reports, it's bad and getting worse. No surprises there.

So the paper asked some so-called ordinary people the question, "What would get you to use public transportation?" Much like politicians, the half-dozen drivers surveyed failed to answer the question that was actually asked. Instead, they each complained about how lousy public transportation is and held forth about why they don't use it.

With one exception. Daniel Curzon-Brown of San Francisco laid out his wish list: "It would take public transportation coming into my garage when I want it, and a riding area devoid of people, especially threatening or annoying ones, except for me, and a drop-off 100 yards from my office."

Not a scientific survey, but probably pretty indicative.