Comments on: Metrolink Begins Random Searches. Riders React. http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/06/16/metrolink-begins-random-searches-riders-react/ Covering Los Angeles's livable streets movement Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:06:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Zane Selvans http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/06/16/metrolink-begins-random-searches-riders-react/comment-page-1/#comment-1158 Zane Selvans Mon, 16 Jun 2008 19:10:44 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/06/16/metrolink-begins-random-searches-riders-react/#comment-1158 I feel like *most* of the "security" measures we've implemented in relation to transportation since 9/11 - at least, most of the ones that people actually see - are actually a combination of theater (to make people feel like the government is doing something, even when it doesn't help much), and a long campaign to normalize invasive behavior by the state. If you have to be registered and fingerprinted to drive a car, which will have its license plates (or built-in insurance transponder...) scanned tracking your movements, and submit to a search of your person and belongings if you want to use a train or a bus or airplane, movement becomes something that you can really only do with the tacit permission of the state. "No fly" list? How about a "No rail" or "No drive" list? I feel like riding a bike is the fastest point to get from point A to point B without the government snooping on you. I just wish it could also be done with a little government infrastructure! I feel like *most* of the “security” measures we’ve implemented in relation to transportation since 9/11 – at least, most of the ones that people actually see – are actually a combination of theater (to make people feel like the government is doing something, even when it doesn’t help much), and a long campaign to normalize invasive behavior by the state.

If you have to be registered and fingerprinted to drive a car, which will have its license plates (or built-in insurance transponder…) scanned tracking your movements, and submit to a search of your person and belongings if you want to use a train or a bus or airplane, movement becomes something that you can really only do with the tacit permission of the state. “No fly” list? How about a “No rail” or “No drive” list?

I feel like riding a bike is the fastest point to get from point A to point B without the government snooping on you. I just wish it could also be done with a little government infrastructure!

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