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Most public transit systems are already bankrupt and have to be propped up by taxes collected from other services. Making it free will most likely not increase

Most public transit systems are already bankrupt and have to be propped up by taxes collected from other services. Making it free will most likely not increase ridership and will almost definitely make the quality of service lower.

southerntofu 5y ago
As you have pointed out, public subsidies are already the main financing source for public utilities. If you're worried about bankruptcy, you may be worried that ticketing/controlling equipment and personnel has a substantial cost for transportation agencies (also: environmental cost). French law already has obligation for your employer to pay (at least parts of) your travel fees. You could also have a tax on hotel rooms and airbnbs for tourists to help finance it. There's already cities across the globe practicing free public transport and so far i haven't heard any complaining or finding unexpected difficulties. Also, specifically about quality of service, we could argue having a service orientation driven by workers and users (a sort of coop if you like) would yield better results than what David Graeber refers to as "manageurial feudalism" sucking public services dry through dehumanizing micromanagement techniques, absurd salaries for the higher-ups, and various forms of corruption such as "private-public partnerships".
Tijdreiziger 5y ago
> Most public transit systems are already bankrupt and have to be propped up by taxes collected from other services. Hold on, this is a pretty odd way to frame a public service. By this logic, you could equally say: - Most road systems are already bankrupt and have to be propped up by taxes collected from other services. - Most schools are already bankrupt and have to be propped up by taxes collected from other services. - Most fire departments are already bankrupt and have to be propped up by taxes collected from other services.

southerntofu 5y ago

As you have pointed out, public subsidies are already the main financing source for public utilities. If you're worried about bankruptcy, you may be worried that ticketing/controlling equipment and personnel has a substantial cost for transportation agencies (also: environmental cost). French law already has obligation for your employer to pay (at least parts of) your travel fees. You could also have a tax on hotel rooms and airbnbs for tourists to help finance it. There's already cities across the globe practicing free public transport and so far i haven't heard any complaining or finding unexpected difficulties. Also, specifically about quality of service, we could argue having a service orientation driven by workers and users (a sort of coop if you like) would yield better results than what David Graeber refers to as "manageurial feudalism" sucking public services dry through dehumanizing micromanagement techniques, absurd salaries for the higher-ups, and various forms of corruption such as "private-public partnerships".

Tijdreiziger 5y ago

> Most public transit systems are already bankrupt and have to be propped up by taxes collected from other services. Hold on, this is a pretty odd way to frame a public service. By this logic, you could equally say: - Most road systems are already bankrupt and have to be propped up by taxes collected from other services. - Most schools are already bankrupt and have to be propped up by taxes collected from other services. - Most fire departments are already bankrupt and have to be propped up by taxes collected from other services.