Comments on: Promoting Social Equity Through Transit Fares

By: smax

smax — Tue, 12 May 2009 20:14:35 +0000

It would help to look at the nature of the fare structure as well. Many people would argue that DC is more of a hybrid system than a true subway. a 100 mile network, the train extends deep into the suburbs and is excellent at shuttling people to and from the urban core on a daily basis, with as little as 2 minute lead times between trains in places. To that effect, fares are much higher ($4.50 one way) for those who live far out than they are for those who live closer (as low as $1.65 one way).

Therefore, there is a bit of a locational subsidy as well. Urban residents typically pay less unless they reverse commute. While, strictly speaking, this is because a suburban commuter causes more ‘wear’ on the system, I would argue that, like Paris, there is a bit of an underlying push to encourage smart growth and living habits. Unfortuantely, most of the other decisions made by the DC metro area encourage the opposite…oh well.

By: NV

NV — Tue, 12 May 2009 19:14:36 +0000

In London you also can (at least this was the case a couple of years ago) get discounted movie tickets if you’re on the dole. It’s just a totally different mentality over there.

By: Alon Levy

Alon Levy — Tue, 12 May 2009 19:08:55 +0000

Nathan: at least these suburbs pay less in RATP taxes. Only Paris and Hauts-de-Seine pay the highest tax rates to fund the Métro; the rest of the Petite Couronne pays a smaller amount, and the Grande Couronne even less.

By: Stefanie

Stefanie — Tue, 12 May 2009 17:02:08 +0000

A quick point: Those enrolled full-time in universities in Chicago receive unlimited ride passes for the L and buses run by the CTA for $75 per academic term (about 3.5 months).

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 12 May 2009 16:31:41 +0000

I think this is a really important issue. I love this statement:

“A society is only as strong as are its least fortunate.”

Unfortunately, this is one of the ideas I’m least hopeful of the U.S. understanding in the near future.

Living in Vilnius, Lithuania, they also had significant transit discounts for students, elderly, youth, disabled, invalids, veterans, as well as war volunteers from Soviet occupation times (1939-1990) and a few other things. You could get anywhere on public transit, even out in the middle of nowhere to farmland.

By: nathan_h

nathan_h — Tue, 12 May 2009 16:05:30 +0000

“Métro is 15-20% cheaper than New York City Transit”

To compare systems of equal breadth you have to include some of the RER, with its fare zones that raise the cost above ours for some journeys of equal length. Most of the poor live in the banlieue, yet Paris subjects those areas to the kind of zone-based pricing that is maligned in American cities as regressive.

But the French embrace a comprehensive progressive politics / social democracy that starts with progressive taxation, continues to healthy transit subsidy, and ends with discounts for those that fall through the cracks. We should emulate their transportation strategy in every respect. Focusing only on low base fares is not emulating them at all, it is crudely projecting our appetite for cheap junk onto a culture that has, on the whole, been willing to pay to improve its surroundings.

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 12 May 2009 09:00:55 +0000

Zaru, the rules in the UK changed recently so that the 60+ free pass now works 24/7 on buses everywhere in the country, not just the city. I think they still have to pay for the Tube.

It’s also worth pointing out that everyone under 18 travels free on buses in London.

By: zaru

zaru — Mon, 11 May 2009 23:52:09 +0000

I don’t know if London has changed its rules recently, but as of a few years ago the free fares for those aged 60+ were restricted to London residents, and only applied after 9:00 AM. Before 9:00 AM, the elderly paid full fare.

By: Alon Levy

Alon Levy — Mon, 11 May 2009 23:49:12 +0000

You should also discuss the base fare. London has a very high base fare, higher than this of any comparable transit system. At rush hour, half-price tickets in London are still far more expensive than full-price tickets in New York. Conversely, the Métro is 15-20% cheaper than New York City Transit; as far as I can tell the only large European subway system as expensive as New York’s is Berlin’s.

On another note: the Paris subsidy for large families is part of a general French policy to promote high birth rates. France gives generous tax breaks from the third child onward, lavishly funds day care facilities, and finds subsidies for large families, such as the Métro’s.