Bus Fares on the Rise

Ridership is clearly way up (I ride the bus when not biking), so why do the fares have to rise? The public should be subsidizing the bus system, after all a bus represents considerably less wear and tear on the environment and infrastructure than the equivalent of a bus load of individuals driving cars. The assumption that a public transit system of any sort needs to "make money" is flawed, since there are so many externalities that are not captured by the cost of operating single occupancy vehicles. If anything, bus fares should be lower. I would argue that the bus should be free, but then I would be labeled a communist in our "free market (haha)" economy.

tegrat, it is called a budget.

Money in, money out.

If all those external benefits of a bus transit system are not realized in their budget, then feel free to advocate for how to get other modes of transportation to pay more and send those funds to the bus system.

The price of fuel has risen so fast during the past 6 months that in another 9 months the MTD budget will be overspent by about $1.5 million... and that is WITH the boost in revenue from record high number of paying passengers.

Fares paid by riders only cover about half the actual actual cost run the bus system.

The issue MTD must figure out during the next month is how to tighten up their expenditures, which they say already is a lean budget, and how to spread around an increase in fares fairly among the 8 or so different classes of bus fares paid in passes and mandatory discounts for some groups, such as old blind people.

Sure, bus fares should be free. And so should food and housing and health care. Until we live in a United Federation of Planets where money became obsolete, riding the bus will cost some actual money and a little bit more of it.

I'm not sure that only raising the cash on-bus fare would help. I've seen a lot of daily users pay cash. That includes people who are obviously off to a minimum wage job (either wearing a McDonald's uniform or dressed for field work).

Whatever the cost is, I'd like to see them offer passes at more locations. If your commute doesn't take you downtown, it can be hard to make the time for a special trip to buy a pass.