The following appeared in the editorial section of a local newspaper:
“Commuter use of the new subway train is exceeding the transit company’s projections. However, commuter use of the shuttle buses that transport people to the subway stations is below the projected volume. If the transit company expects commuters to ride the shuttle buses to the subway rather than drive there, it must either reduce the shuttle bus fares or increase the price of parking at the subway stations.”
Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refute the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion.
Commuter use of the new subway train is exceeding the transit company’s projections. However, commuter use of the shuttle buses that transport people to the subway stations is below the projected volume. If the transit company expects commuters to ride the shuttle buses to the subway rather than drive there, it must either reduce the shuttle bus fares or increase the price of parking at the subway stations.’ This statement is factually correct. Commuters using the subway are increasing in number and using the train is increasing as well. The shuttle trains, however, are below the projected volume, which the transit company must either reduce the price of parking or increase the frequency of shuttles
The article states that ‘Commuter use of the new subway train is exceeding the transit company’s projections.’ Commuters have clearly been using the subway. The company had been projecting 60,000 trips daily though December 2013. Through November 2013, actual trips exceeded projections by 18,000. The transit company claims that ‘Commuter use of the new subway train is exceeding the transit company’s projections.’ Yet, the subway is only half the station. Commuters must either drive to the subway station or use one of the shuttles. As the company anticipates that commuters will use the shuttles rather than drive, it must either reduce the price of parking at the subway station or increase the frequency of shuttles
The article states that ‘Commuter use of the new subway train is exceeding the transit company’s projections.’ This is, of course, true. The transit company must either reduce the price of parking, increase the number of shuttles, or change its projections to reflect the increase in commuter use of the train
If the transit company expects commuters to use the shuttles rather than drive, it must either reduce the price of parking at the subway station or increase the frequency of shuttles. The company has not said whether it expects commuters to use shuttles or drive, so the statement carries no weight. Commuters in New York expect to park at the subway stations, and parking is comparatively inexpensive. As the number of trips increases, the price of parking cannot increase at the same rate. One way for the transit company to reduce the price of parking at the subway station is to increase the number of parking spaces. In addition, the company could reduce the number of spaces that allow drivers to parallel park. In urban areas, such spaces take up valuable real estate that could be used for pedestrian walkways, benches, or trees. If commuters continue to drive to the subway stations, the transit company could charge more for parking, or it could lease the spaces to private businesses, such as grocery or convenience stores
Those who commute during peak hours prefer to drive to the subway stations, and the price of parking at the stations reflects this. Commuters must either drive to the stations or pay a surcharge for parking. The transit company must either reduce the price of parking at the subway stations or increase the frequency of shuttles. Either way, commuters will benefit from using the subway system rather than driving.