Comment 25981

By Rusty (registered) - website | Posted July 17, 2008 at 16:36:30

Folks - this is way too much analysis!

To me the free transit debate is pretty simple. The question is a. what do we want more of and b. what do we want less of? Given that the answer is obviously a. mass transit and b. cars then how do we redress this balance? Simple - we encourage one behaviour and discourage the other. The easiest way to do this is through the pocket book.

This debate as to roads versus transit, libraries versis transit is not really relevant in my opinion. We've gone beyond the point of debating whether mass transit is beneficial, whether it's something we need to build, whether it is something that benefits the public good...that is all a given (at least it should be) The debate is really: How do we encourage more people to use transit?

Also, these arguments around maintaining security and pride in our transit infrastructure don't wash with me. The idea that transit will be less secure or subject to deterioration if we don't pay for it don't appear to be based on much, and such problems, if they did occur, could be rectified.

The solution is, of course, two-fold: Provide free or cheap transit, and invest heavily in it's expansion and efficiency improvements. In short, do whatever you can to make it more user friendly.

Cheers

Ben

Ben Bull. Cap'n Bully has a new Blog! http://bullysmoviereviews.blogspot.ca/ or something like that.

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