As it turns out it doesn’t actually cost that much on regular transit, there’s an AIRPORT SURCHARGE because it’s an “airport train”.
No wonder Americans don’t use public transit, even when the system exists it’s ridiculously difficult and expensive to use.
Here in Kansas City our transit was free for the past four years.
The downer is that, since we subsidized the public transit here in the city, the various suburbs opted to stop funding the routes that went into their various towns and cities, so now fares are going to be re-introduced.
At least the streetcar is going to remain free here, for now, and likely through 2026 due to the World Cup.
Olathe and OP are two big reasons we can’t have anything nice here. The streetcar is staying on the Missouri side only (at least for now) so I’m hopeful it’ll stay free.
goddamn you know you live in a fucked up society when the missouri side of your city is the more progressive.
This is more of a “city vs suburb” issue than the difference between 2 adjacent states.
eh, I just despise missouri more for having to live there repeatedly. not that kansas is utopia, but living in missouri was uniquely depressing.
Yeah. To be fair, those 2 cities represent the worst in yuppie suburbanism and “i got mine” mentality, so the bar for comparison is really low
You’re not wrong. Those two cities love their cars and their shitty chain stores.
When you have free public transport it ceases to be strictly public transport, and becomes half homeless shelter. No one wants to ride around with people who are all too often drug riddled, mentally ill, and just all around awful to be in an enclosed space with. I have sympathy for and want to help that demographic, but turning public transport into extremely expensive homeless day rooms ain’t it.
Edit: down vote me all you like, free fares is an awful idea. If we want functional and useful public transport in this country we have to have it be safe and clean. I say this as someone who hasn’t owned a personal auto in 12 plus years. I love and use public transport every day. Drug addled assholes are a problem.
Any critique of homeless people gets insta-downvoted unfortunately. The KC transit system, which I like, is rife with homeless people and many of them are visibly maladjusted and the people downvoting you would be instantly afraid of them. I’ve had one try to physically intimidate me, so now I carry a pocket stun-gun everywhere.
In fact, our streetcar is getting armed security guards because of said maladjusted homeless people.
Oh, I know.
That’s partly why I carry a stun-gun everywhere now.
This conversation was just had in another thread but you’re far better off with pepper spray. Get a friend to zap you with the stun gun, then ask yourself a question. If I was intent on being violent, would this stop me or just piss me off? For me the answer is the latter, and I’ve been stun gunned, even cattle prodded, messing around being stupid when I was younger.