Why Community and Public Transportation Should be Fare-Free

In this article, the author presents an argument for no longer charging passengers for public transit, particularly in light of the threats related to global warning. A number of communities are listed that provide free rides on buses, trams and ferries, as well as states and countries that have offered fare-free transit. The author suggests that each private vehicle owner receives essentially a $3,700 subsidy from the U.S. government to travel in an individual vehicle. A case study of a fare-free success story is presented in the Whidbey Island, Washington transit system, which operates 56 buses and 101 vans, and operates on a budget of more than $8 million a year. Ridership tops a million, yet none of the operating budget comes from fare collection, just a 0.6 percent sales tax. A second success story is related for the Belgian city of Hasselt. The author concludes by noting that one of the primary reasons for ending ridership charges is that collecting fares is expensive, whether it is done by machines or humans.

• Record URL:
  • http://web1.ctaa.org/webmodules/webarticles/articlefiles/ct/summer07/Why_Community_and_Public_Transport_Should_Be_Fare_Free.pdf
• 
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/08954437
• Authors:
  • Olsen, Dave
• Publication Date: 2007

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Pagination: pp 8-9
• Serial:
  • Community Transportation
  • Volume: 25
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: Community Transportation Association
  • ISSN: 0895-4437

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Buses; Fares; Free fares; Public transit; Transit operating agencies; User charges
• Subject Areas: Finance; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01080379
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: UC Berkeley Transportation Library
• Files: BTRIS, TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 31 2007 6:39AM