Free Public Transit

[Rashiminos]

capitalism encourages efficient allocation of resources

That's not capitalism. That's government trying to keep costs down.

Capitalism would cease operating at a loss, ie shutting the system down.

Pump your brakes. In many American cities there are next to no public restrooms. Calling homeless people "degenerates" for going to the bathroom where they can is not cool.

Which is to say public bathrooms died of attrition.

Someone crapping in a city bus is a degenerate, full stop.
If you really can't find a restroom, find a damn bush.

In American contexts, calling someone a degenerate over where they decide to use the bathroom is associated with racism. Heck, even using the word degenerate unironically will do that.

 

[amadeus]

capitalism encourages efficient allocation of resources

Finally, a statement I agree with!

Except the MTA is owned by the State of New York.

 

[Farm Boy]

I usually use degenerate to refer to media, or undergrads.

 

[Zkribbler]

Luxembourg's public transit is now free.

(CNN) — With a population of 602,000, Luxembourg is one of Europe's smallest countries -- yet it suffers from major traffic jams.
But that could be about to change. As of March 1, 2020 all public transport -- trains, trams and buses -- in the country is now free.
The government hopes the move will alleviate heavy congestion and bring environmental benefits, according to Dany Frank, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Mobility and Public Works.
Tiny country, big traffic
Landlocked Luxembourg is one of the richest countries in Europe, with the highest per capita GDP in the European Union.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Are there any studies that free rides lead to more 'frivolous trips' ? I think @Arwon said he favored heavily subsidized transit but there should still be some minimal cost to ride to deter excessive, pointless use. Is there anything to back this up? It sounds correct, but it also has a ring of truthiness to it.

I understand there is a need to meter public resources so that they don't get oversubscribed but I don't really care if Grandma Thelma decides to make 4 shopping day trips instead of 1 more efficient combined trip.

 

[Manfred Belheim]

This would reduce financial pressure on the working poor, move the middle class from autos into transit thus lessening traffic, pollution, and parking problems.

Don't understand the bolded at all. Public transport is already cheaper than running a car, in most cases at least, yet people still choose to pay more to run a car for the convenience. Why would they stop doing that? You can tempt them away from their cars by making it better or more efficient, but probably not by making it cheaper.

 

[Hrothbern]

Don't understand the bolded at all. Public transport is already cheaper than running a car, in most cases at least, yet people still choose to pay more to run a car for the convenience. Why would they stop doing that? You can tempt them away from their cars by making it better or more efficient, but probably not by making it cheaper.

A car has many advantages

But consider some negatives in crowded situations like traffic jams, parking cost, and walking from again that too far parking place to your office.

 

[Arwon]

Are there any studies that free rides lead to more 'frivolous trips' ? I think @Arwon said he favored heavily subsidized transit but there should still be some minimal cost to ride to deter excessive, pointless use. Is there anything to back this up? It sounds correct, but it also has a ring of truthiness to it.

I understand there is a need to meter public resources so that they don't get oversubscribed but I don't really care if Grandma Thelma decides to make 4 shopping day trips instead of 1 more efficient combined trip.

That sounds like something I might say but I'm not sure if I have strong views right now. It costs me about 5 or so dollars to go to work and back currently, which is of course way cheaper than petrol and parking in the city and I'm on a trunk route where one of my three bus routes comes at least every 5 minutes.

The main thing on my mind is when we had a free month of usage last time the network changed, patronage went up a lot, to the extent of overcrowding and delays, meaning that if that were a permanent stare of affairs we'd need more buses and light rail stock, more drivers and more frequent services.

Which does seem like a pretty good argument for getting those things given the government's net zero emissions target has now completed bringing electricity emissions to zero and moved on to transport.

 

[Zkribbler]

Are there any studies that free rides lead to more 'frivolous trips' ?

Why would anyone do that? Just because they aren't spending money doesn't mean they aren't spending time.

 

[Birdjaguar]

No such thing as a frivolous trip. If there were a downside to less important economic trips, it would only be at peak times and I doubt folks would "ride the train" at rush hour just for fun.

 

[Berzerker]

security camera at a walmart caught some guy taking a dump in one of the aisles

hey, ya gotta go, you gotta go

 

[Manfred Belheim]

A car has many advantages

But consider some negatives in crowded situations like traffic jams, parking cost, and walking from again that too far parking place to your office.

Yes but that already happens and people are still using their cars, rather than the cheaper public transport option. Again, just making it cheaper or free won't fix that.

security camera at a walmart caught some guy taking a dump in one of the aisles

hey, ya gotta go, you gotta go

Surely he could have at least found a bucket to use.