Well, I have here in front of me a little newsletter the Scottish Socialists are handing out around this area and one of their policies is free public transport for all. I'm not a lefty but it certainly has its advantages. What do you think of it as an idea?
Free public transport
- Thread starter trojan698
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If the country could afford it without detriment to other services (which lets face it, it would in reality) then I'd be definately up for it. It would certainly make me use the car a lot less for longer journeys or for poping into town etc.
Soldato
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trojan698 said:
So instead of people who use it paying for it, it would be paid for by everyone regardless of whether you use it?
I think a pay-per-use non-extortionate fair would be a better system
Man of Honour
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Edinburgh already has one of the best bus services in the UK if the adverts on the side of the buses are to be believed. I pity the poor sods who have to suffer worse. 
The flat rate fare that has been introduced is probably slightly better and is easier to understand for most especially since all but the shortest journeys cost the same as the flat rate fare to begin with. I wouldn't mind free public transport but it is unlikely to impact on my usage of it much, in Dundee I walk everywhere and in Edinburgh I use public transport because it is too far to walk most of the time so it affects me little. I'd probably agree with cleanbluesky that a fair fare system is the best option with improvements in both coverage in terms of times that buses run and frequency as well as area.
The flat rate fare that has been introduced is probably slightly better and is easier to understand for most especially since all but the shortest journeys cost the same as the flat rate fare to begin with. I wouldn't mind free public transport but it is unlikely to impact on my usage of it much, in Dundee I walk everywhere and in Edinburgh I use public transport because it is too far to walk most of the time so it affects me little. I'd probably agree with cleanbluesky that a fair fare system is the best option with improvements in both coverage in terms of times that buses run and frequency as well as area.
I think when you make something free - there's an abuse of it. Look at the NHS for example, full of drunks on a Friday and Saturday night giving people nothing but crap. People there with sore heads that can be sorted with an hour or so of sleep.
I think if you make something like public transport, free - then there'll be an abuse of the system too. And the people using it will carry a certain arrogance - giving disrespect to drivers and so on.
It's a nice 'dream' idea and I'm sure there have been plenty of times where we could have done with a free lift (rainy day, needing to get home early for a reason and so on) but the congestion it would cause on top of many other things, would be a reason another reason for 'fat Britain'.
I think if you make something like public transport, free - then there'll be an abuse of the system too. And the people using it will carry a certain arrogance - giving disrespect to drivers and so on.
It's a nice 'dream' idea and I'm sure there have been plenty of times where we could have done with a free lift (rainy day, needing to get home early for a reason and so on) but the congestion it would cause on top of many other things, would be a reason another reason for 'fat Britain'.
The main idea behind it is to reduce congestion, I'm not entirely convinced as you say, there are times when I walk because I don't want to pay the £1 (I'm cheap) even when it's raining, but if it was free I'd be much more likely to take the bus on those occasions. I usually enjoy the walk too.
No... and i travel by bus
Its already hard enough for them to get me to work on time as it is, even complaining to the regulator makes things better for maybe a week.
If it was free they'd just shrug their shoulders and it'll give them even more reasons for offering an unacceptable service.
Its bad enough come 9.30 when all the pensioners come out of the woodwork for their free travel and slow down the bus for their 2 stop bus ride
Its already hard enough for them to get me to work on time as it is, even complaining to the regulator makes things better for maybe a week.
If it was free they'd just shrug their shoulders and it'll give them even more reasons for offering an unacceptable service.
Its bad enough come 9.30 when all the pensioners come out of the woodwork for their free travel and slow down the bus for their 2 stop bus ride
trojan698 said:
I wasn't very clear, but when I said it, I meant 'congestion' on the bus as opposed to on the roads. Give something away for free and everyone will dive on it - meaning there would need to be a lot more buses or a lot more people missing out on getting one.
Soldato
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we already have free public transport around the city here in southampton. most people don't bother with it though. the buses are mainly full of chavs, screaming kids, moms with prams, old people, homeless etc.
i'd rather pay the couple of quid it would otherwise cost me tbh (even though the pay service isn't that much better). :/
i'd rather pay the couple of quid it would otherwise cost me tbh (even though the pay service isn't that much better). :/
Soldato
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I personally object to calling it free transport its not free like the NHS is not free. Its free at the point of use, but its paid for by all through taxation. I have to agree with others who have suggested that pay as you use but not the silly fares they charge is fairer.
FordPrefect said:
But being free at the point of use is as good as free to certain people. The people who will abuse the systems such as these (chavs and homeless as stated) won't pay taxes and therefore it is free to them up until a point.
The whole thing, whether paid for through tax or other means is just a bad idea. The post above stating that the 'paid for' service is bad enough should just put the whole idea to bed, regardless.
It would stop all the beggars who "just need 50p for the bus back to portobello" having a story though.
Personally I'm happy with the £1 a ride in Edinburgh - If it was free I would never walk anywhere.
It'd be even better if it was 50p a ride though.
Personally I'm happy with the £1 a ride in Edinburgh - If it was free I would never walk anywhere.
It'd be even better if it was 50p a ride though.
