Let’s not underestimate the costs of building rail. You’re always going to have roads first, because ambulances don’t go on rail. So that’s not optional. Rail is an addition, and you do have to factor in a lot to figure out if it’s really worth it (including environmentally). And if you need to literally make a tunnel or a bridge to add a train, like you do in most of Norway, it’s not really going to work.
Within urban centers however I do agree that rail is a good complement to good bicycle lanes, and it is a fact that deregulation and underinvestment in rail over the past 40 years really is hitting Sweden hard. Unfortunately the people who are in charge of public transit have never gone anywhere by bus, so they’re clueless of what to do.
Let’s not underestimate the costs of building rail. You’re always going to have roads first, because ambulances don’t go on rail. So that’s not optional. Rail is an addition, and you do have to factor in a lot to figure out if it’s really worth it (including environmentally). And if you need to literally make a tunnel or a bridge to add a train, like you do in most of Norway, it’s not really going to work.
Within urban centers however I do agree that rail is a good complement to good bicycle lanes, and it is a fact that deregulation and underinvestment in rail over the past 40 years really is hitting Sweden hard. Unfortunately the people who are in charge of public transit have never gone anywhere by bus, so they’re clueless of what to do.