[PRCo] Re: PAT's cuts

[John Swindler]

Those on this list take it for granted that, since we know how to use public transit,  'everyone' must know how to use public transit.  But we are not the norm.

My transportation unit was sent to Rotterdam during Desert Storm, and early the second day, the XO lectured the unit members that they were not to roam about the city - something about getting lost.  The S-1 told him that the warning was too late - 'John was out riding the trams around the city last night.'  

But you are right - vast majority never saw anything of Holland other than the PX at a nearby air force base. A lot has to do with fear of the unknown.  I ended up putting together two articles for our unit newsletter - how to navigate - and pay fares - on the Rotterdam transit system and the same for the Dutch National Railway.  Also was the 'tour guide' on 4-5 occasions, including a trip thru Brussels to Luxemborg for a small group.  

Likewise, several Navy schools I attended in Oakland, Cal.  We were housed on Treasure Island, and most spend there time at the club bar.  But I didn't travel 3,000 miles not to figure out that an AC Transit bus would get me to San Francisco within a half hour after class.








> Subject: [PRCo] Re: PAT's cuts
> From: fwschneider at comcast.net
> Date: Sat, 4 Dec 2010 19:19:59 -0500
> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> 
> I don't think the U. S. military ever rode the civilian buses very much.   
> 
> Before I left the USA, I was detailed to a finance office at Fort Dix to type up payroll vouchers for servicemen returning from active duty in Germany.  I spent several days at that job to kill time before being sent up to Fort Hamilton to be put on the ship to got overseas.
> 
> What did I learn?   That we were paying most of the servicemen we discharged for the vacation time they could have taken in  Europe.   Perhaps 90% came home having taken absolutely none of their earned vacation time in Europe.    I think that suggested they walked to the nearest bar or NCO club to drink but didn't see any of the nation they were in which they were quartered for two years.   
> 
> I also learned I didn't want to be like them and come home and be paid for leave I could have used to see Europe free of charge.   
> 
> 
> On Dec 4, 2010, at 6:43 PM, Joshua Dunfield wrote:
> 
> > On 4 December 2010 23:38, Fred Schneider <fwschneider at comcast.net> wrote:
> >> "K-town" used to have about 200,000 which was 100,000 American sericemen, dependents, retirees and 100,000 Germans.   After we started chopping, I felt rather sorry because they didn't have a congressman to run to.   It wasn't just the military.   One of their biggest factories was the GM engine plant for Opals.
> > 
> > It's 150,000 now if you include the 50,000 military folks, but I don't
> > think they ride the buses very much.
> > 
> >> You work for GM?
> > 
> > No, for a German computer science research institute.
> > 
> > -j.
> > 
> > 
> 
> 
>