513. Should Public Transit Be Free? (Update) | Freakonomics Radio

It boosts economic opportunity and social mobility. It’s good for the environment. So why do we charge people to use it? The short answer: it’s complicated. Also: We talk to the man who gets half the nation’s mass-transit riders where they want to go (most of the time).
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[@dndrumer2]

I miss this kind of journalism in the United States. As mentioned in the end of the video, all U.S. mainstream media is tailored to the echo chambers of listeners. You never hear in-depth conversations with experts on both sides of the issues, mostly "gotcha" questions from the interviewer. Thank you for trying to bringing back real journalism and honest debates.

[@nunyabidness117]

I remember working in Alaska for a summer. Every Wednesday all the workers would stand in line for free food at the food bank. It wasn't because people were hungry as everyone had plenty of money but the less money they spent on food the more that was left for beer and drugs.

[@nunyabidness117]

By 'free' you mean paid for by someone else.

[@johnweiner]

Context-sensitive...yes! Here in Paris, France public transportation (run by the RATP in Paris proper and Île de France Mobilité in the Paris region) is NOT free, but it IS used (maybe overused...some lines are groaning with insufficient capacity to meet demand), by everybody...not just poor people. I have never heard the "fare-free" argument proposed here although there are some cities in France where it is being tried out.

[@lightspeedguru]

I believe that public transit goes hand in hand with density. You can’t really expect good things from one if it’s not accompanied by the other. For example, I live in a predominantly suburban city that has a reasonably well run transit system that no one uses because it simply can’t be effective in a place that was built around the idea that everyone would have two vehicles in their driveways.

[@2010-BTC-yep]

Yes, Cooperations and Small business should cover the cost. Customer acquisition.

[@joea1433]

I participated in the civil rights movement of the mid 1960s where the key word was “integration” which evolved into the lengthy jargon bleated out by that mayor. Once the Democratic Party realized if black people were integrated they would stop being a solid voting block for the party, so they embarked on what we see today, constant around the clock sensationalism of sad incidents between the races to keep Blacks paranoid and afraid to leave their neighborhoods. Education is the main way that people progress in life. The billions and billions spent on public transit could be reduced by just buying cars for the poor, providing insurance and repairs. And it would be less damaging to the environment. The Democratic Party are THE systemic racism. I have watched this nonsense go on for 60 years!

[@andrewlm5677]

Making something “free” just means that somebody else pays for it. This is great for the person who no longer pays the fare and crappy for the person who is now footing the bill The idea that this might have some long term impact that harms the sustainability of the service seems plausible. The impacts are probably long term enough where the “generous” politician offering free stuff accepts little near term risk of being blamed for any negative side effects.

[@generictester]

TAX 70% of income of 1% of wealthy individuals + take 15% of published profits from SP500 corporations. You can have free buses and rail for everyone + you can triple teachers' salaries.

[@bsmithhammer]

There's no such thing as "free." There are only different options for how you are going to pay for something.

[@JIIKX1]

However when people use the word "free", they're referring to it being free at the point of service. Obviously anything of value requires money to finance.

[@bsmithhammer]

@@JIIKX1 Yes, that's exactly my point. However "free at the point of service" still isn't free in any sense of the word. Call it what it is - taxpayer subsidized. Anything else is deceptive.

[@aiistyt]

@@bsmithhammer It’s only deceptive if you’re cognitively challenged

[@omarsanchez9709]

I agree with you. I would be open to the idea of having all forms of public transportation be subsidized, but only if the gov. Isn't the one in charge of the building or maintaining it but rather have a private company do it based on who gives the best and lowest price. No more cal trans.

[@generictester]

so do you pay for street parking 100% of the time and do you pay for public road usage? You see subsidies for buses will take cars off the roads. 1 bus = ~50 cars staying home a day. 50 vehicles will require X sq ft of new road + Y sq ft of road maintenance. Do you see how FREE buses are profitable for tax payers?

[@TennantMary]

Red lights are ignore in worcester which they ignore buses with flashing red lights and ambulances

[@annaandthensomethingelse9435]

yo wdym by which do you think is more likely "the mayor of boston would be michelle wu"