Transit not suitable for quick jaunts

Calgary Transit will begin a project whereby they will reserve a certain portion of Park n Ride parking spaces (only at certain stations) for maximum 4 hour stays. This is designed to encourage people who need to make a quick trip into the downtown, to do so via light rail transit. The spaces will be free, but will require a dispensed ticket to be displayed on the dash to help enforce the 4 hour rule.

A local TV channel polled viewers on whether these new dedicated 4 hour stalls would entice them to use transit for quick jaunts into the downtown. An overwhelming majority said no. Is it any wonder? Calgary has made it so convenient to get downtown by car, that transit is only an option for those who have no car (and already take transit) or work downtown all day and find transit cheaper than a parking lot - and don't mind transit period. Which would you choose:

A roughly 60 minute ride (round trip) on a train costing $4.50, plus the risk of showing up at a station Park n Ride only to discover that no stalls remain, plus the drive time to get to the station in the first place; or a 40 minute ride (round trip) by car and a $2-4 parking meter fee?

Darlene also reminded me that our train system is far from reliable. What happens when you've budgeted 4 hours for your jaunt, then the train is unexpectedly delayed, or outright stops? It happens a lot - whenever there's an accident with a vehicle or pedestrian; mechanical problems..... How forgiving will city hall be about the late return to your car?