[g_sch]

Nonetheless, public transit is an immensely popular way of getting around in cities all over the world, and it comes with the advantage of providing greater access at lower cost than privately owned transportation. There are many people willing to make this trade-off.

[marcosdumay]

Public transit does not need to be owned by the government.

But governments can work too, so I don't think there's a universal best way to do it. (Here at Brazil we'll certainly be better with no government interference at all, but other places have other trade-offs.)