[3683748]

> The real measure of the affluence and quality of life in a city is how large a portion of the wealthy take transit. The higher the better. <

I don't think this will actually measure anything but gentrification and how few social services a city offers. Of the wealthy friends I have, the reasons they don't take public transit are always either time or the trash people. Of those categories, I know a few willing to deal with the wasted time to feel good but none willing to deal with the junkies, homeless, or hood crowd. If none of these groups are on your public transit it's either because you priced them out or the region is already hostile enough to keep them out.

[jonhohle]

Is free transportation going to increase or decrease the number of junkies and homeless, not just on public transportation, but in general? It’s a boon for that crowd that can be piled on top of all the other programs that are argued to help, but have only entrenched that population.

Provide transit cards to those with low income budgeted through programs that are tasked with dealing with social welfare, homelessness, and rehabilitation. Let transit programs stick with transit.

I took public transit most work days using various methods in the Seattle metro area for years. The only one I didn’t frequently use (but did occasionally) were busses in the free ride zone outside of the bus tunnel.

[AndrewDucker]

There's nowhere to park in the center of Edinburgh. It's faster and cheaper to take the bus than it is to drive in and then look for a very expensive place to leave the car. And because nearly everyone takes the bus they don't just have awful people on them.

[Swenrekcah]

Or the region has other paths in life available for people who enter into tough times than being thrown on the streets.