Your professor is teaching a class on urban policy. Write a post responding to the professor's question. Express and support your opinion and contribute to the discussion in your own words. An effective response has at least 100 words.
Dr. Ferreira
A number of cities have made their public transport free at the point of use, paying for it from general taxation instead of fares. Supporters say this cuts car use, removes the cost of collecting fares, and helps people on low incomes most. Critics say that free services attract passengers who would otherwise have walked or cycled, and that the money would do more good if it were spent on running more buses. Should public transport be free? Why or why not?
Mei
I am in favour. Fares are a tax on the people least able to pay, and collecting them is expensive in itself. Once travel is free, people use the network for short trips they would not otherwise make, and a city where people move around freely is a better city.
Jonas
I disagree, though not for the obvious reason. My worry is that a free service has no signal telling the operator which routes people actually value. Fares are information as well as revenue, and removing them makes the network harder to plan.