Transit Is Great – But It’s Not a Public Good

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-03-30/no-transit-is-not-a-public-good-here-s-why

by paulpauper • 3 years ago

2 2 3 years ago

dtagames• 3 years ago

This is the most circular argument I've ever read. Everything is "nonexcludable" and "nonrival" but everything is also excludable and rival. Ok, that's a huge help.

Public transit is good for the public in some circumstances and is a crony boondoggle in others. The Paris Metro comes to mind as an example of the former. And the new rail project in California is an example of the latter.

ttimebomb• 3 years ago

Seems like we're arguing semantics. I think its good for the public for dozens of reasons, regardless of whether its a 'public good'.

When going to school I would work retail in the summers and would usually walk 2 hours per day to get to work and back because I couldn't bare to spend $100 (7% of my paycheck) a month on transit.

During those months, when I did need to take the bus across town I'd often be digging around for change or asking stores to split bills for me.

The annoying thing is that I'd see bus drivers let people on free all the time anyway - one basically just needs to give any excuse for why they can't pay the fare and the drivers let them on. And I don't blame drivers! It shouldn't really be their job to shake down people.

Transit Is Great – But It’s Not a Public Good

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