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1. CelloMom On Cars (cellomomoncars@mastodon.social)'s status on Wednesday, 24-May-2023 00:04:00 UTC CelloMom On Cars

   in reply to

   • Jamey Sharp
   • Jay Peper 🏳️‍⚧️

   @jamey

   Thank you for digging through the numbers, this was an enlightening post.

   But as you point out, it's not only about the numbers: it's about people's perception of who rides the trains and - especially - the buses. It's about people's perception of who comes into their neighbourhoods. And about people's perception of who "deserves" the free ride.

   Pointing out, as you did, that business owners and employers are beneficiaries may more that needle. Something to keep in mind.

   @jay_peper

   • Jamey Sharp (jamey@toot.cat)'s status on Wednesday, 24-May-2023 00:04:01 UTC Jamey Sharp

     in reply to

     • Jay Peper 🏳️‍⚧️

     @jay_peper A few years ago I wrote up the surprising things I learned when I studied my local transit authority's budget for impact of making the system fareless: https://jamey.thesharps.us/2019/12/12/transit-fares-are-not-about-money/

   • Jay Peper 🏳️‍⚧️ (jay_peper@chaos.social)'s status on Wednesday, 24-May-2023 00:04:07 UTC Jay Peper 🏳️‍⚧️

     Public transport isn't supposed to make money. It's not even supposed to break even. It's supposed to lose money and to be financed and extended from general taxes because it gives back way more than mere money.

     And all the politicians know this because they keep building and maintaining streets for free