Submitted by Travis, who says:
I made an animated visualization of the light rail infrastructure of San Francisco from 1850–to–nowish. I was wondering if you would be interested in posting!
Transit Maps says:
I sure would be, Travis! This is a great 15-minute video that succinctly outlines the rise and fall of rail-based street transit in San Francisco, Oakland and even Marin County. The sheer number of competing companies in the early years is quite staggering! The impact of the Great Earthquake is covered, and there’s even a look at a couple of “alternate future” San Franciscos – one dominated by all the freeways that were once planned, and another where much of the rail infrastructure had been kept. Nicely animated and clearly narrated, it’s well worth a look to get an overview of transit history in the Bay Area.
Note: Travis acknowledges his error regarding San Francisco’s current population at the beginning of the video; don’t hold it against him!
Source: Travis Emick/YouTube
Really good right up to the Big GM Conspiracy which is 99 44/100 pure BS.
WOW. Great work. Prior commenter … the GM conspiracy has been presented as fact for years and I’ve never questioned it. Could you point me to some reading to support the BS claim? I could see that GM might have bought the lines because they could see the handwriting on the wall, as opposed to something more nefarious but – evidence for either? Thanks.