I consider public transit to be a common good along with education, libraries, roads, national parks (and state parks) and other services and places that benefit everyone in a society. I realize that few are going to agree on my whole list and many people would add things that I wouldn't agree with. I prefer items that all citizens can use, not just some special interest group or those who fit some special guidelines. I would prefer that these services be provided by private enterprise, rather than public, but as things stand now these are mostly provided by the government, which doesn't do a great job, but it's what we have.

What these common goods do is give us a place where we can all meet regardless of race, color, creed, gender, sexual preferences, religion (or lack thereof) and whatever other divisions that people come up with in the name of unity. These have been called third places , where people can meet on a neutral ground and services that everyone can use together and that bind a community together. One third place is the corner cafe, but these are hard to come by nowadays. Libraries are a good example of a common good service. Guys keep pointing out the local bar as a good third place, but women never do. Women mention coffee around the kitchen table, but this is not really open to everyone. Again, I would prefer that these be provided by private enterprise but I would rather they be provided by anyone than not at all.

Transit is a very necessary service as it is often the only way that people can get to work. If they can't get to work they end up on welfare. While many people insist that if they "really" wanted to they could get to work, often reality is different. If you have children you can't walk several miles to a day care and several miles to work and repeat this in the eveing without being exhausted, and not being either a good employee or a good parent. Even a young, single person will have difficulty finding a job if they can't get there and they can't get a car without a job. Catch 22. Transit is also the only way that many older or disabled people have to get around.

I don't expect or even want everyone to give up their cars. I rent a car occasionally and really enjoy cruising down the road, and enjoy the convenience of having a car. However, many people who would prefer to not have the expense and hassle of owning a car are told they have no choice. We prefer to not look at the massive expenditures that are necessary to keep all these cars moving which include not only parking lots and roads but police forces and medical costs. When a plane goes down this country goes into extended mourning, but hundreds of plane loads of people die in auto accidents each year and we just shrug it aside unless it affects us personally.