On Thursday, February 25, 2016 at 8:00:22 AM UTC-5, Robert Heller wrote:   
      
   > GMC, ESSO (now Exxon/Mobile), and Firestone really wanted to sell *cars*. The   
   > move from streetcars to busses was designed to make public transit *worse*   
   and   
   > drive people to buy 'Chevys'. So long as there was an efficient streetcar   
   > system, city people were not interested in buying 'Chevys' (at least not in   
   > the volume the GMC & friends wanted).  And streetcars did nothing for ESSO   
   and   
   > Firestone...  The film is pure propaganda indented to serve monied interests.   
   > (This is really old news).  (See the movie 'Who Killed Rodger Rabbit' which   
   > also covers this issue, although from a silly cartoon perspective.)   
      
   While obviously GM wanted to sell cars, I think back in the 1950s they   
   realized there still would be a significant place for public transit,   
   and they could (and did) make good money selling buses.  GM had a near   
   monopoly on transit and intercity buses.   
      
   Actually, in the 1950s, GM had more demand for cars that it could handle.   
   Lots of people desperately needed a new car since none were built during   
   the war.  Others had junkers that were worn out.  Finally, tons of people   
   had better jobs in the postwar prosperity and were ready to get a car   
   for the first time.   
      
   In Philadelphia, not mentioned in the film, was that PTC did a major   
   route rationalization at the time.  In the central sections, service   
   was provided on every block.  After the rationalization--as a result   
   of declining ridership (people were buying cars and moving to the 'burbs)--   
   service was provided on every other block.   
      
   Also, in the 1950s, when a new suburban section was built, the transit   
   companies provided service to it (including PTC).  Enough people still   
   rode transit to justify it.  However, by the 1960s, this was no longer   
   done as often.   
      
   As an aside, SEPTA just extended Rt 53 to serve a redeveloping area.   
   Rt 53 used to be a streetcar, and the extension would have been   
   impractical had they had to lay track.   
      
   (SEPTA did lay track for a short extension of Rt 15.)   
      
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