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Public transit is a public service. It should not be expected to turn a profit in order to justify its existence. The value it generates is the removal of frict
by danaris 1y ago
Public transit is a public service. It should not be expected to turn a profit in order to justify its existence. The value it generates is the removal of friction all throughout the system as people—especially people with low or no income—are enabled to get from place to place to better their lives.
- AlecSchueler 1y agoI totally agree with you that the services shouldn't be expected to turn a profit but the money for developing autonomous buses still needs to come from somewhere.
- xyzzy123 1y agoWhat if you could have 2x or Nx the services for the same public expenditure if you didn't have to pay drivers? How important is PT really? Should we cut pensions or cancer care to enable more PT? How hard-core are you about this? What I am getting at is that the economics of "good things" still matters and entails tradeoffs and value judgements. What is your weighting of the value of PT as a jobs program vs a way to help people get around? Do we have the perfect amount of PT now, or should we have more, or less? Personally I think "safety issues" will prove to be the sticking point with autonomy of PT but maybe it scales. I am pro automation but skeptical about social issues.