Paris mayor proposes free public transport to reduce pollution | KTIC Radio: "Valerie Pecresse, head of the Ile-de-France region around Paris and a member of the Conservative Party, criticized Hidalgo, pointing out that “ticket sales bring in 3 billion euros ($3.7 billion) a year.”
“We need that money,” Pecresse told French Radio Classique, adding that if travelers did not pay, taxpayers would have to do so."
What is the main objection to the implementation of fare-free public transport? It is the "loss" of revenue from fares. But what is not said is that the reduction in car costs will be far more than the loss of revenue. The list of the externalities, or hidden costs, of the private auto is very long, and represents a lot of money, many millions more that the little bit from payment of public transport fares.
