> Meanwhile, on the world of facts and data, we see that car commuting is a privilege of the wealthier classes.

98% of all commuting is by car. Driving is one of the most egalitarian and universal experiences in the US. There is a small minority of urban poor reliant on mass transit, but that doesn’t even account for the majority of poor people. Meanwhile, rail transit is heavily used by higher income people. (Median income for DC metro is $115,000.)

> The answer is to build MORE of this great thing so there is enough for poor people too.

I agree. The problem is that at current prices, a new rail line is a once in a generation project. Metro’s 2040 plan doesn’t even contemplate a new rail line.

Source on the 98% figure? That strikes me as very, very wrong.

That's about passenger-miles, not commutes by person.

The statistic I'm seeing is that 76% commute to work by driving themselves. Another 9% carpool, and then the rest walk, bike, bus, train, etc.