Does making public transportation free automatically cause a net benefit? Debate is split and seems highly contingent on cultural context. Image by flickr user Velobry.
A quick look at some of the things that make free public transportation work (or not):
Arguably, the most successful free public transportation initiatives in the world: Hasselt, Belgium
Year free public transportation was first implemented there: 1996
Cost per household to implement free transportation in Hasselt: 22.64 Euros ($32 USD)
Urban bus rides per year before free public transportation in Hasselt: 331,551
After free public transportation: 3,200,000
Percentage of bus users that are new bus users: 37%
Percentage that were former bus users: 63%
Percentage that were former car drivers: 16%
Typical farebox recovery rate in small US transit systems: <10%
Percentage increase in ridership with 100% decrease in fares: 30%
Cost of collecting fares from transit riders in New York City: $200 million
Percentage drop in transit ridership for every 10% increase in fares: 3.8%
Cost of collecting fares in Skagit Transit in Washington State: $133,385
Total fares collected on Skagit Transit: $121,300
Last large metropolitan city in North America to try free transit: Austin, Texas
Percentage ridership increase: 75%
Cost per rider in Austin, Texas prior to fare-free experiment: $2.51
Cost per rider during 15 months of fare-free: $1.51
Percentage increase in auto-users using free bus service: 0%
Number of physical assaults before fare-free: 44
Percent of Austin transit drivers who petitioned to discontinue free transit program: 75%
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