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Paris Will Make Public Transportation Free for Kids

citylab.com

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Re: Paris Will Make Public Transportation Free for Kids

#131

Post by so33 »

masonic wrote: post #85
MrTonyD wrote: post #27

Hong Kong makes 2 billion a year on public transportation. They did that by giving the land around the station to the transportation agency, so they lease it out long term, and that pays for all the trains and operations. They charge a token fee for using public transportation. I'd prefer to see real public support, rather than a business/profit justification for lower fares, but in the current greed-valued world I'l…

makes 2 billion a year on public transportation No, they make money on real estate to offset their losses on transit.

Actually, no. The MTR’s farebox recovery is over 100%. They make a profit on fares and make even more money on real estate.

Re: Paris Will Make Public Transportation Free for Kids

#132

Post by Foobar8568 »

zhoujianfu wrote: post #2

Why not make it just free for everybody? Public transportation typically has profit margins of -50% to -90% anyway... just take it to -100% and get a huge boost in ridership! (And probably save some expenses relating to collecting payment/enforcement.)

Public transportation in Paris is already somewhat overcrowded, especially during rush hours on several lines(cannot get it even by letting several subways pass). It's mandatory that employers reimbourse 50% of the price, and overall it's already really cheap. All in all, it's a bit pointless and more a stunt. (it's free as well for a couple of tiers if I remember well)

Re: Paris Will Make Public Transportation Free for Kids

#133

Post by adrianN »

bsaul wrote: post #23
zhoujianfu wrote: post #2

Why not make it just free for everybody? Public transportation typically has profit margins of -50% to -90% anyway... just take it to -100% and get a huge boost in ridership! (And probably save some expenses relating to collecting payment/enforcement.)

Except a boost in ridership is absolutely not what you’d want in an overpopulated city like Paris. Subway is so bad i’ve already witnessed people waiting for trains from outside the station itself. in the peak hours you often have to skip two or three trains because they’re packed.

The alternative to a boost in ridership is a boost in car commutes. You want that even less in a city like Paris.

Re: Paris Will Make Public Transportation Free for Kids

#134

Post by anticensor »

darkhorn wrote: post #53
efrafa wrote: post #19

In Slovakia trains are free for students and seniors. [0] Most people see this very negatively. [0] https://www.slovakrail.sk/en/zero-fare.html

In Istanbul public transportation is free for people older than 65, and also for disabled people. For students between 7 and 30 years it is cheaper; 41% of normal price.

In Turkey, 65+ and disabled thing is mandated by central government. Only student discount is decided by the municipal authorities.

Re: Paris Will Make Public Transportation Free for Kids

#135

Post by adrianN »

ihatemgs56 wrote: post #117
stevekemp wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Estonia did just that: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/06/estonia-is-making-pub...

must be nice to live in a country that's not even have half the size of Washington state and has a smaller population than one county (King, to be specific, has more than two million if I remember) in it.

What has that to do with the ability to make public transit free? Fewer people means less taxes too.

Re: Paris Will Make Public Transportation Free for Kids

#136

Post by ndnxhs »

ahmedalsudani wrote: post #75
bkmeneguello wrote: post #72

This is a bad idea: The ticket price will raise for everyone else or the taxes, remember "there is no free rides"

Yeah, God forbid anybody pays an extra Euro per ride to provide kids with some freedom of travel in their city.

"The kids should buy a car to get around like everyone else"

Re: Paris Will Make Public Transportation Free for Kids

#137

Post by pelasaco »

zhoujianfu wrote: post #2

Why not make it just free for everybody? Public transportation typically has profit margins of -50% to -90% anyway... just take it to -100% and get a huge boost in ridership! (And probably save some expenses relating to collecting payment/enforcement.)

Millennials :)

They do for free but raise the taxes to cover the -100%, there is no free lunch buddy.

Re: Paris Will Make Public Transportation Free for Kids

#138

Post by pelasaco »

hopler wrote: post #83
iodbh wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have spent a couple of nights in locked metro stations myself : before locking, they just warn that they're going to lock. Whoever's still inside is locked in until morning, but there's no kicking out.

Using subway stations as shelters during off peak hours is a masterstroke of efficient infrastructure. Every city should do that.

nope, the right would be everyone be able to have a place to live. There is no dignity in supporting the poverty.

Re: Paris Will Make Public Transportation Free for Kids

#139

Post by sgjohnson »

zhoujianfu wrote: post #2

Why not make it just free for everybody? Public transportation typically has profit margins of -50% to -90% anyway... just take it to -100% and get a huge boost in ridership! (And probably save some expenses relating to collecting payment/enforcement.)

Because nothing is ever “free”.

s/free/paid for by the taxpayer

Re: Paris Will Make Public Transportation Free for Kids

#140

Post by masonic »

so33 wrote: post #131
masonic wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

makes 2 billion a year on public transportation No, they make money on real estate to offset their losses on transit.

Actually, no. The MTR’s farebox recovery is over 100%. They make a profit on fares and make even more money on real estate.

Okay, that wasn't stated... and that's unheard-of among US transit systems AFAIK.
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