Then raise fares. This study makes it clear that more service is what people want. That fares are so low they are not bringing in money after collection costs is a sign they need to raise them.
almost no rider is asking for lower fares.
Better service benefits. Free transit benefits the car companies as it forces everyone to drive if they at all can.
Fare collection typically generates a subtantial amount of revenue and so you assumption that it doesn’t fails.
for most people a fare such that busy routes are profitable is perfectly reasonable and they will pay.That makes your subsidy for less but routes that are still worth having (in part because they feed to the busy route which wouldn’t be profitable without those riders).
as this study has found most people value service higher than the cost of a fare. Free fare advocates are killing the system by taking away a source of revenue that could instead be usedeto make the system better.
i’m all for helping the poor. Target just the poor with free fares. That lets you help the poor by giving them good service instead of service for the poor but ‘normal’ people drive*
The first should be solved by a subscription so you don’t feel like you need cash all the time. The second is incompetience - never allow more than one broken machine, if machines are not reliable find a better vender - in court you can end the contract early if they are not filling their end: making machines that work. (If this isn’t in your contract sue your own lawyers for incompetence)
i agree teens shouldn’t have to pay. Though I would put it in terms of they ride free on their parents subscription which helps get parents riding since they are paying for it.
there are also poor who need some sort of program as sell.