This should be for everyone. If we really want to cut omissions, reduce traffic, spend less on infrastructure, and make more walkable cities, we should tax cars more and use the funds to pay for free transit for all.
Also a lot of people are using drugs, sleeping on the stairs path, and using chairs as bathrooms. Making it free would likely make it much easier to disrupt daily commuters.
Wow getting downvoted heavily. Looks like a lot of people either never took the subway in a big city or think that making it free would somehow not make access to the subway easier for disrupters?
Honestly the budget would be better used to subsidize transport for disabled people, increase budget for food banks, or build more shelters. I don't feel our taxes should subsidize Ms. 100k/yr living in downtown Toronto or Mr. 800k home living in kitsilano to give them free transportation, unless all of the above are being properly addressed.
They found the same with library fines. The amounts weren’t deterring people from not returning their books. People generally return books. The issue was that those who were hit with fines either paid them off or couldn’t. And those who couldn’t, usually needed the books more than anyone. The same can be said with public transit.
If we really want to be a functioning economy where people can afford to both live and work, giving people a reliable, affordable means of transportation is one of the first steps.
