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In many cities I think that this is a good idea, but in New York I worry about how effective this would be because of the outsized number of non-resident, non-t

In many cities I think that this is a good idea, but in New York I worry about how effective this would be because of the outsized number of non-resident, non-tax-paying riders (tourists) who use the system.

sokoloff 4y ago
Most of the tourists will be paying a nightly hotel tax (which could be adjusted).
jrockway 4y ago
I'm completely fine subsidizing tourists' use of the system. Every subway ride is one less rideshare ride; less rideshare rides mean more space for buses, bikes, and people walking. Well worth the tax paid! That farebox revenue needs to cover operational costs for public infrastructure seems just crazy to me. The fire department doesn't need to make a profit on putting out fires. Public parks don't need to make money by charging an admission fee. It's just something we pay for for public good. I'm pretty sure that public transportation fares are something nobody has ever really thought about; the networks used to be run by private companies, and when they were taken over by the government (which put them out of businesses by building highways) nobody ever thought to get rid of the fares. It's certainly time to think about it.
WeylandYutani 4y ago
Tourist tax. Like when you check-in to your hotel they ask you to pay 15 euro.
- mattnewton 4y ago
  This already exists, and there are various excise taxes the city levels on things tourists are likely to consume too.
godelski 4y ago
Interestingly there has been a parallel conversation with EVs since money for road maintenance typically comes through gasoline taxes. The idea being that the more you use the more you pay (more driving == more gas, heavier vehicles == lower mpg, etc).
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
wongarsu 4y ago
Wouldn't you want tourists to travel as efficiently as possible so they leave lots of money at various places (which the city participates in via sales tax)
- algog 4y ago
  I'd want locals to travel as efficiently as possible too- to get to their jobs.
chmod775 4y ago
> non-tax-paying riders (tourists) They're literally carrying money into the local economy, yet one should worry about them getting a free ride on the subway along with everyone else? A taxpayer may need months to generate the same amount of wealth a tourist leaves behind in a single week. Making public transport free/cheap for only tourists would make more sense. In fact some places do just that (usually bundled with discounts/tickets to popular attractions).
wittenbunk 4y ago
Tourists pay sales tax, Uber tax hotel tax etc

sokoloff 4y ago

Most of the tourists will be paying a nightly hotel tax (which could be adjusted).

jrockway 4y ago

I'm completely fine subsidizing tourists' use of the system. Every subway ride is one less rideshare ride; less rideshare rides mean more space for buses, bikes, and people walking. Well worth the tax paid! That farebox revenue needs to cover operational costs for public infrastructure seems just crazy to me. The fire department doesn't need to make a profit on putting out fires. Public parks don't need to make money by charging an admission fee. It's just something we pay for for public good. I'm pretty sure that public transportation fares are something nobody has ever really thought about; the networks used to be run by private companies, and when they were taken over by the government (which put them out of businesses by building highways) nobody ever thought to get rid of the fares. It's certainly time to think about it.

WeylandYutani 4y ago

Tourist tax. Like when you check-in to your hotel they ask you to pay 15 euro.

mattnewton 4y ago
This already exists, and there are various excise taxes the city levels on things tourists are likely to consume too.

godelski 4y ago

Interestingly there has been a parallel conversation with EVs since money for road maintenance typically comes through gasoline taxes. The idea being that the more you use the more you pay (more driving == more gas, heavier vehicles == lower mpg, etc).

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]

wongarsu 4y ago

Wouldn't you want tourists to travel as efficiently as possible so they leave lots of money at various places (which the city participates in via sales tax)

algog 4y ago
I'd want locals to travel as efficiently as possible too- to get to their jobs.

chmod775 4y ago

> non-tax-paying riders (tourists) They're literally carrying money into the local economy, yet one should worry about them getting a free ride on the subway along with everyone else? A taxpayer may need months to generate the same amount of wealth a tourist leaves behind in a single week. Making public transport free/cheap for only tourists would make more sense. In fact some places do just that (usually bundled with discounts/tickets to popular attractions).

wittenbunk 4y ago

Tourists pay sales tax, Uber tax hotel tax etc