mass transit

[Marco Anglesio]

On Sun, 9 Jun 2002, joanna bujes wrote:

> At 01:18 AM 06/09/2002 -0400, you wrote:
> >I'm against all this tax-masquearading-as-user-fee biz.
> >
> >I don't drive much, but I do buy fresh produce that was trucked in.  I
> >should pay for highways and bridges.  Similarly, I don't live near a
> >bus stop, but I should be happy to pay for people who do live near them
> >to use them.  Usually the cost to collect, count, bank, & secure fares
> >isn't worth it, especially when you factor in the time it adds to the
> >trip.
> 
> Right on!

I daresay that fare-charging (except, perhaps, in extremely low subsidy
locales such as Toronto and NYC, where the far covers a large part of
operating costs) is essentially a hedge against flooding the system beyond
capacity, especially during rush hours.

OTOH, I'm not sure if that would actually happen. Cynically, and I have no
proof that this would happen, it might be a hedge against homeless people
using public transit as a shelter or social service. Only fare-payers and
wage-earners inside the gate, you understand. 

m.

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>          Marco Anglesio           |    Alcohol, hashish, prussic acid,   <
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