06-02-2017, 07:19 AM
I don't think I'm in favour of free-to-the-user transit. As it is, plenty of people don't have respect for the system and the others using it. On my way home yesterday, an average of about twenty-five people had to be subjected to a couple of gentlemen talking exceedingly loudly, every fourth or fifth word being the 'f' word. I can imagine how much less respect they and similar people would have if their fellow passengers weren't even paying anything for the privilege of riding. (I don't know if my idea that paying for things encourages people to show more respect for them is correct, but I've read things suggesting it is in some cases.)
That having been said, I agree with the statement "We need to rethink transportation, and what is free and how other things should be paid for." Right now, it's free for the user to access the road network, provided you have a car. At the municipal level, the amount you contribute to the upkeep of our roads depends on the value of the property you own- whether you're a light user, heavy user, or otherwise.
I think "stable" rates are indeed important. Transportation is a big part of most people's household budgets- not knowing whether that cost will outpace by a factor of two or three isn't a good situation.
That having been said, I agree with the statement "We need to rethink transportation, and what is free and how other things should be paid for." Right now, it's free for the user to access the road network, provided you have a car. At the municipal level, the amount you contribute to the upkeep of our roads depends on the value of the property you own- whether you're a light user, heavy user, or otherwise.
I think "stable" rates are indeed important. Transportation is a big part of most people's household budgets- not knowing whether that cost will outpace by a factor of two or three isn't a good situation.