Investment guru Jim Rogers advocates Free Public Transit

Jim Rogers, well-known investment advisor, has moved to Singapore. In this article he advises the Singapore government to adopt fare-free public transportation. This link is a Google Translate link to the Chinese language Singapore newspaper zaobao.com

◆ Rogers proposed Singapore-wide free public transport

In order to effectively reduce carbon emissions, reducing air pollution, reducing the number of traffic accident injuries died to save open land, and so the benefits of the Government of Singapore can be considered to provide people with free public transport services.

Been an advocate of "anti-minority opposite direction," Rogers, to a reporter's question in this innovative proposal.

Rogers lived in the local two and a half, right here, many of the strict legal rules and regulations are agreed on the highway electronic toll gate system (ERP), also considered to be very intelligent traffic control measures.

He said: "ERP can be effective in reducing the road cars. To road users to pay more money, but also reasonable. This regard, the Government of Singapore can also be a higher level, to consider the use of any public transport to provide free services, This will further benefit the people. "

Singapore, although the area is small, but very high per capita carbon emissions, with some comparable European countries. According to the 2007/08 report, Singapore's carbon dioxide emissions account for 0.2% of the world, per capita annual emissions are 12.2 tonnes, is one of the highest emissions. The same reports that the United States, per capita carbon emissions are 20.6 tonnes, China 3.8 tonnes, 1.7 tonnes in Indonesia.

Rogers said: "If Singapore's bus, subway, light rail can free ride, it must attract a lot of the original drive their private cars out of people, abandoned the vehicle and switch to public transport. Road vehicles reduce carbon emissions immediately to solve the problem, also provide fresh air, to save and build roads, making highway land, the person died car accident injuries will be reduced, the many benefits is worthy of consideration by the Government.

Ireland - Government committee report urges Free Public Transport

...According to the report, from the Joint Committee on Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, rural public transport has major implications for employment, access to medical services and social isolation.
...Among the recommendations in the report are the redeployment of school buses outside their normal school-run period; providing special services on pension days for the elderly; and providing vouchers so the elderly could access taxi services in the absence of other forms of public transport.
He also wants to see the free transport scheme extended to all forms of public transport.... IrishTimes

America's Autos on Welfare - We can't afford it

In addition to the price paid by motorists at the pump, drivers and non-drivers alike spend additional money for each gallon of gas -- in the form of direct and indirect taxes and losses. Every year those subsidies cost America billions of dollars. The exact dollar amount is difficult to calculate, but every study done shows that it is at least twice the amount motorists pay at the pump.
...
1. Police, fire, ambulance; road construction & maintenance; other local government - paid for with taxes.
2. Property taxes lost from land cleared for freeways
3. Parking - free or cheaper parking is paid for with other taxes, or more expensive goods or services.
4. Air, water, land pollution - adds to medical expenses, loss of species and cleanup costs.
5. Noise, vibration damage to structures - adds to medical expenses and repair costs.
6. Global warming - adds to medical expenses, loss of species and other costs.
7. Petroleum supply line policing, security, petroleum production subsidies - increases taxes for defense.
8. Trade deficit, infrastructure deficit - increases costs of goods.
9. Sprawl, loss of transportation options - increases personal and corporate transportation costs.
10. Uncompensated auto accidents - increases personal costs.
11. Congestion- increases personal costs and losses.

Sierra Club

Free Public Transport - It works

Free public transport @ Yahoo!7 Video

Australia - Free Public Transport is a Must!

...It is VERY unfortunate, now that the public transport bandwagon is built, that none of the occupants of the bandwagon have even mentioned the notion of free public transport. Instead they speak of “an integrated fare and ticketing system” as if that will be the draw card for people. In Victoria, the government has spent over $1billion on a new “integrated” ticketing system that will cost millions to run each year. In NSW the government has spent well over $100million on a FAILED system and will need to start from scratch. My argument is and will always be, why spend so much money and resources on funding a system that can only ever retrieve way less than a third of the cost of running the system. This is made even more ridiculous when you consider that free public transport will save these amounts. At the same time it will improve the state’s productivity and boost economic activity via people spending more and attracting businesses to the state. There would be countless unforeseen benefits such as people catching a (free) train to regional areas and thereby increasing regional tourism.


I truly believe, with all the logic I can muster, that free public transport is a must. There will be naysayers who will bag such a notion but that is because they cannot see we live in a system of interaction where positive changes will flow through society. Surely this is worth all the money in the world. Adam Butler

Durham, NC Mayor shows courage and common sense

In his annual “State of the City” address, Bill Bell highlighted several of the same issues that were of top concern in last year’s update: transportation, jobs and crime reduction
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1 cent - a property tax rate increase that could provide free bus transportation to Durham residents (This is under discussion.) Triangulator

Let's hope the people of Durham can see the elegance of free buses. They will get their money back 100 times over.

Courageous Houston Mayor shows leadership

Houston Mayor Annise Parker is considering a big shake-up of the city's public transportation, including the option of transitioning to a fare-free system.

"Parker has signaled that she is not wedded to conventional wisdom about Metro, even suggesting eliminating fares to increase lagging ridership. While acknowledging that Metro would have to cope with the loss of fare revenues — $66 million in 2009, about 20 percent of its expenses — she said it is a discussion the agency needs to have....

Planetizen

Taipei big smile -- Philadelphia loses face

Taipei -- buses everywhere
Phila -- cars everywhere
Taipei -- people walking
Phila -- people fat
Taipei -- clean public toilets
Phila -- urine smell
Taipei -- streets and alleys no trash
Phila -- trash everywhere

[ed -- exact words of tourist from Philadelphia in Taipei]