tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12596769.post5675110261922634170..comments2023-12-23T13:25:43.770-08:00Comments on Rob Kremer: Stark contrastRob Kremerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13842508120324878364noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12596769.post-3228091517993121502007-03-03T23:47:00.000-08:002007-03-03T23:47:00.000-08:00Rob:I'm not a big fan of the gravel that they use ...Rob:<BR/><BR/>I'm not a big fan of the gravel that they use here (it really messes up the bike lanes for months), but I can tell you that there are many disadvantages to salt. In the Midwest, where I come from, it's rare to buy a car that is 20 years old. Most are rusted out and worthless by that age simply because of the salt.<BR/><BR/>Aside from that, there may be environmental concerns about salt. I'm just postulating - I don't know that for a fact.<BR/><BR/>However, to say that our local government is guilty of inaction during snow storms is pretty unfair, I think. All the arterials near my neighborhood were cleared the day after the big snowstorm this year.<BR/><BR/>Also, as I understand it from news reports, many of the crews were prepping for the snow the night before it came. TriMet, on the other hand, seemed completely unprepared as they sent buses out without chains. In general, they strike me as completely clueless when it comes to understanding how the weather will affect their services.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12596769.post-351082079168331692007-02-28T18:02:00.000-08:002007-02-28T18:02:00.000-08:00That's actually a good point, Rob. There are some...That's actually a good point, Rob. There are some who believe that if it's too expensive or too much trouble, government shouldn't bother. I'm more in the camp of having government do little things when they're really necessary, even if they can't do everything. Our government seems to have a bias towards inaction, and a bevy of quality excuses - mostly environmental - for why they can't/won't act.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12596769.post-24090813378797205172007-02-28T11:43:00.000-08:002007-02-28T11:43:00.000-08:00The point, however, is that the attitude here is t...The point, however, is that the attitude here is that we shouldn't do anything special to get the snow off the roads. No salt, no real preparation.<BR/><BR/>I totally agree that we can't afford to be as prepared as the east coast. But what would a little salt hurt, once or twice every two years?Rob Kremerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13842508120324878364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12596769.post-70825986110395714452007-02-28T10:25:00.000-08:002007-02-28T10:25:00.000-08:00It snows there many times every year so it is nece...It snows there many times every year so it is necessary to invest in the equipment, people and time necessary to clear the snow when it comes. Here, it barely snows once every year so the investment would largely be wasted.<BR/><BR/>What we really need is to work out an exchange/sharing program with another city where it barely snows. Of course, that city couldn't be in close proximity which would mean transporting the equipment quickly enough would be impossible.<BR/><BR/>Star Trek transporters, where are you when we need you??Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com