We’ve all seen the results of the recent KITV/Honolulu Star-Bulletin poll. Forty-seven percent of Oahu residents polled believe light rail transit is the best solution to our traffic woes. Asked, “If a vote were held today, would you vote to continue development of rail transit for Oahu or to stop development of a rail transit system?” 60 percent said they would support continuing development. Since so many people are all gung-ho for mass transit, no doubt we can expect Islanders to eschew their automobiles en massé and hop on the rail when (and if) it’s ever built. Right?

Well, not necessarily. The aforementioned poll also asked, "How do you commute to work, school or other locations?" Eighty-one percent of Oahu commuters said they drive to work--alone--in their cars. (In a perplexing display of secrecy, about 2 percent refused to answer the question.) That's not surprising, since 9 out of 10 Americans drive to work, based on census figures. Only 5 percent use mass transit. According to Anthony Downs, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, people commute in private vehicles because "doing so is faster, more private, more convenient and more easily adapted to multiple activities on a single trip and often cheaper than using transit."

Granted, commuting can be a chore, and hardly anyone likes being stuck in traffic. And higher fuel costs have lead to increased use of mass transit. For example, the American Public Transportation Association reports ridership on light rail systems has increased about 10 percent nationwide. Yet there is no real reason to believe people are ready to abandon the habit of driving themselves to work. After all, research by the Pew Research Center shows that 69 percent of American drivers like to drive. Why do they enjoy driving? "Being alone and getting time to think or relax" was most common answer.

Perhaps this helps explain the results of another study. According to The Honolulu Advertiser, while many Oahu residents say they support the rail system, a Hawaii Poll found that "47 percent said they were very unlikely to regularly ride the train. Another 12 percent said they were somewhat unlikely." Only 16 percent said they "were very likely to be regular train riders." Interestingly, the KITV/Honolulu Star-Bulletin poll found that about 15 percent of commuters relied on TheBus. It's reasonable to assume the bulk of those who would be riding the rail currently ride on TheBus. After all, when Portland Oregon launched its rail system, their transit agency polled riders as to their previous mode of transportation and at least two-thirds said they previously rode buses.

The bottom line: Oahu's residents want rail, but they don't plan to use it. They will stick with their personal automobiles. So what's the point? It might sound cynical, but perhaps Island drivers are hoping all the other Island drivers will embrace rail and abandon the roadways, leaving the highway clear of traffic for those who prefer to be behind the wheel, who can then enjoy a breezy commute, singing along to their car stereos while everyone else is stuffed into a train. A bit selfish? Perhaps... and certainly not very likely.

-GIR-

Brandon Bosworth is a freelance writer living in Hawaii and is GRIH's Publications Consultant.