[PRCo] Re: pat__service__cuts__2007.01.23-changed to 2/1/07

[John Swindler]

Hi Fred

U.S. has a lot of empty space, and Lancaster Co. is not part of it (empty 
space part).  Suspect that is why you have made some favorable comments 
about Montana (?)

Never thought about it until several years ago, but when it comes to 
intercity travel in US there seems to be two countries:  northeast US east 
of Appalachian Mtn. and north of DC, and then there is rest of US.  In this 
area, we can show visitors several cities - almost like western Europe.  But 
further west/south you go, it could be a day-trip just to get to nearest 
city.  It's just a perception, but distances really seem to spread out once 
south of DC. (gosh, I've been traveling .... forever ..... when will we ever 
get to .....)

Suspect reflections on retirement and where to retire had a lot to do with 
observing this perceived diffeence.  And I don't like the options.

John



>From: Fred Schneider <fwschneider at comcast.net>
>Reply-To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>Subject: [PRCo] Re: pat__service__cuts__2007.01.23-changed to 2/1/07
>Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2007 11:52:35 -0500
>
>Germany has 232 people per square kilometer, we have 31.   Sorry if
>you don't like the idea of kilometers but the rest of the world
>does.   Even Canada uses them these days.   (Roughly one square
>kilometer = .39 square miles so it would be 90 people per square mile
>in Germany versus 12 in the U. S. if anyone needs it that way.)
>The point I was making initially was that they have a lot more people
>in the same space as we do and that they don't need to drive as far
>to go see friends ... and this proves it.   They have 7.5 times more
>people in the same space as we do.   That makes it a lot easier to
>get their people to use public transport to go to work than it does
>to force our people into a bus or tram or subway car or railroad
>car.   It also makes it much more cost effective to run a transit
>vehicle when you can fill it up than when you have 9 people in it ...
>even if you do subsidize it, the subsidies can be much lower per user.
>
>And Germany isn't the only country with a high population density.
>The United Kingdom has 246.    Italy has 193.    Switzerland, in
>spite of all the mountains, has 176 people per square kilometer.
>Czech Republic (Boris Cefer's home) has 130.    France has 110.
>Austria has 98.   Maybe that gives you some clue why I've spent so
>much time chasing trolleys in Europe.   They have them.
>
>India has 336.   Oh yes and Puerto Rico, which they list separately
>from the U. S. (in spite of U. S. Post Office trucks running all over
>the island, has 436 people per square kilometer.
>
>But why waste your time.   Click on the link below, then you can
>clock each country for more information.   You can spend hours
>looking at information and have a real geography lesson.
>
>
>
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_population_density
>
>On Feb 5, 2007, at 11:06 AM, John Swindler wrote:
>
> > What's the population density of Germany vs. U.S., Fred?  What part of
> > Germany compares to spread out nature of our mid-west?
>
>

_________________________________________________________________
Check out all that glitters with the MSN Entertainment Guide to the Academy 
Awards®   http://movies.msn.com/movies/oscars2007/?icid=ncoscartagline2