Public Transportation, New Orleans-Style. Chapter 611.
This is the 21st Century. You would not know it by looking at the streetcars in New Orleans.
Can you walk faster than the streetcar? It depends on the time of day, the season, and how far you are going. For short distances, the answer is usually yes. I know. I took the Canal streetcar the other day.
I cannot remember the last time I took a ride on the St. Charles streetcar line. I like to move faster than five miles an hour. I also dislike getting stuck in traffic.
There will never be a subway in New Orleans. There is no bedrock.
There was talk about building a monorail back in the 1980s. That could have changed everything about the city today. It could also have been a boondoggle, as many things New Orleans attempts turn out to be. The monorail scheme, which would have gone to the airport, was hatched during the 1984 World’s Fair.
The secret to happiness is low expectations.
In New Orleans, it is autumn in February. It is 72 degrees Fahrenheit but there are dead leaves everywhere. This this is the time of year the live oaks shed their leaves. They are green on the branch and brown on the ground.
There is no leaf-peeping season in New Orleans.
When walking around, New Orleanians look at the sidewalk. It keeps them from tripping.
I took the Canal streetcar line twice this week. These are the modern cars. You would know this by looking at them. They still go five miles an hour, top speed. They still get stuck in traffic. You can still walk faster than the streetcar most of the time.
Now, I will tell you about my ride on the No. 9 bus…