16 votes

Should public transit be free? More cities say, why not?

7 comments

  1. vord
    Link
    I think free public transportation is step #1 towards being able to ban cars in metro areas, which will help reduce emissions far more than electric cars for everyone.

    I think free public transportation is step #1 towards being able to ban cars in metro areas, which will help reduce emissions far more than electric cars for everyone.

    9 votes
  2. anahata
    Link
    Public transit in Philadelphia (really, southeast Pennsylvania as a whole) is free for seniors, and I'd love for it to be free for everyone. And I'm happy paying a few extra dollars in taxes to...

    Public transit in Philadelphia (really, southeast Pennsylvania as a whole) is free for seniors, and I'd love for it to be free for everyone. And I'm happy paying a few extra dollars in taxes to make that happen. The point of having money (IMO) is to make the world a better place for everyone. If I can help people get where they need to go, great! Please let me give the city money to do that.

    3 votes
  3. [5]
    Peacekeeper
    Link
    Not free but cheap

    Not free but cheap

    4 votes
    1. [2]
      Comment deleted by author
      Link Parent
      1. Peacekeeper
        Link Parent
        I personally think it shouldn’t be free if you was it would be misused by people I think they should make enough money to run the service and pay staff and that’s it

        I personally think it shouldn’t be free if you was it would be misused by people I think they should make enough money to run the service and pay staff and that’s it

    2. [3]
      Comment deleted by author
      Link Parent
      1. [2]
        Peacekeeper
        Link Parent
        If should be enough to simply cover the running costs

        If should be enough to simply cover the running costs

        1. spit-evil-olive-tips
          Link Parent
          As far as I know, there are few (if any at all) public transit systems where fares paid by riders cover 100% of the operating costs. Pretty much every bus/train/subway/etc system in the world is...

          As far as I know, there are few (if any at all) public transit systems where fares paid by riders cover 100% of the operating costs. Pretty much every bus/train/subway/etc system in the world is subsidized in some way or another.

          Roads work the same way. The vast majority of roads don't charge tolls. People pay taxes, the taxes fund roads, and once that's done, there is no fee at the time of use.

          1 vote
    3. [2]
      Comment deleted by author
      Link Parent
      1. Peacekeeper
        Link Parent
        I think that they shouldn’t make any profit they should charge just enough to cover running costs of the service

        I think that they shouldn’t make any profit they should charge just enough to cover running costs of the service