Public Transit Global Update: UK

Last Wednesday, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of England delivered her speech at the State Opening of British Parliament, rebroadcast on C-SPAN here in the former colonies. Among the numerous aims and goals set forth for the United Kingdom's newest legislative session:

- Granting free off-peak bus service to British pensioners

- Expansion of public transportation

Constitutional though the British monarchy may be, the Queen still remains the British head of state, and to hear a head of state directly address these concerns was rather refreshing. Never have I heard President Bush or anyone within his administration make any attempt to spark reform of public transportation. If these issues do not get brushed aside among the other items on the British legislature's agenda--many involving internal security--America may be brought closer to learning a thing or two from what is traditionally her closest ally.