Rivals, not enemies. [the enemy is us, the common people]

Missed this picture.

Apparently Trump, Erdogan and Putin had a brief encounter during G-20 summit.

They all look very happy. pic.twitter.com/qxmbuGYCsh

— Ragıp Soylu (@ragipsoylu) June 30, 2019

#freetransit success in Dunkirk, France

Plenty of excitement about Auckland, NZ fare-free day

Discounted or fare-free public transport moves have gained momentum in Auckland this year to try to accelerate patronage, which is already rising at nearly 8 per cent.

https://farefreenz.blogspot.com/2019/06/auckland-public-transport-booms-in.html

Fare-free system's ridership, 12 consecutive months of double digit growth

Ridership on Breckenridge’s free public transportation system exploded in May with a 39.5% increase compared to May 2018, based on figures included in a memo produced by town staff.
Overall, that equates to almost 48,000 rides for the month compared with just over 34,000 in May 2018. It puts the town’s transportation system at more than 600,000 rides year-to-date, a 17.7% increase compared with the same time frame last year.
According to town staff, this marks the 12th consecutive month of double-digit growth for the Free Ride system.

https://www.summitdaily.com/news/local/breckenridges-free-public-transit-system-sees-nearly-40-jump-in-may-ridership/ 

Everybody would benefit, so everybody should pay

Public transport is a common good that should be paid for by all. Everybody will share the benefits of a big switch to quality public transport and an end to traffic congestion - so everyone should share the costs, instead of expecting the users of public transport to shoulder the burden and effectively subsidise car travel on ‘free’ roads. 

There is good reason for public transport to be partially paid for by subsidies from the public purse – why not cover the full cost collectively, as we do for other important public services such as libraries and police and civil infrastructure?

https://farefreenz.blogspot.com/2019/06/a-big-idea-thats-too-big-forauckland.html 

Public transport means better health

A new study by researchers at the University of British Columbia suggests taking public transit may help you keep fit.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090326134014.htm 

“People who use public transport are five times more physically active.”

Public Transport and Physical Activity

Using public transport increases physical activity and helps reduce the chance of obesity and other health problems related to sedentary lifestyles.

The Victorian Integrated Survey of Travel and Activity (VISTA) of 43,800 Melbournians found that people who used public transport on a given day also spent an average of 41 minutes walking or cycling as part of their travel.[1]

http://bic.asn.au/information-for-moving-people/health-and-public-transport 

More public transit means more walking

CONCLUSIONS:
Walking to and from public transportation can help physically inactive populations, especially low-income and minority groups, attain the recommended level of daily physical activity. Increased access to public transit may help promote and maintain active lifestyles. Results from this study may contribute to health impact assessment studies (HIA) that evaluate the impact of proposed public transit systems on physical activity levels, and thereby may influence choices made by transportation planners.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16242589 

Reasons given against fare-free #publictransit

1. Too Expensive
We can show how removing fares reduces car costs, so it actually saves money.

2. "Undesirables" will be more mobile.
Yes, racism is one of the biggest reasons for opposing. Freetransit fights racism.

3. People who usually walk or cycle will take bus instead.
There is plenty of evidence that places with more public transit have more walking.

4. Public transit should win riders through better service, or service should be improved first.
Polls show people want buses (even Trump voters 60%) but we still don't have them. Stronger measures are called for. When buses are free the political support for better service will be stronger.

5. Homeless will ride.
So, the solution to homelessness is user fees, then. OK put user fees everywhere and problem solved.

6. Buses will be too crowded.
Oh dear! Crowded with what? With people who want public transit! So get more buses. 

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Find more info here and with links to documentation.
https://farefreeeu.blogspot.com/p/anti.html?

Biosphere dissolving while we argue about bike lanes

http://arctic-news.blogspot.com/

Corporate media desperately attacking as idea of #freetransit spreads.

Making urban buses and trams fare-free has been called "obvious" by NYC Mayor Bloomberg, and "a no-brainer" by major pundits. It's intuitive.

Who is against it?

Surprise: the oil, auto, and sprawl profiteers.

Below is a link to a desperate attack on free transit. In response, we offer a network of over 30 blogs with statistics and direct evidence that cars and sprawl are heavily subsidized. These subsidies are supported because since there are no alternatives to cars, they are seen as necessary expenses.

When enough towns have fare-free buses and trams, the car subsidy will be seen for what it is: government money going to support for-profit, car, sprawl, and oil businesses. Stop and think, how much money does your town export every day for petrol?

Of course the biggest victim of cars, oil, and sprawl is the biosphere. To support this car system we are fouling our own nest.

Fare-free buses are the way to break the monopoly of cars and expose the subsidies.

https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/idea-of-free-public-transport-has-appeal-but-doesn-t-add-up-here-s-why-119060500189_1.html

Canada political party calls for free public transportation

NDP released their environment/climate plan "Power to Change" and it aims to modernise our infrastructure and transform Canada! Including putting a stop to fossil fuel subsidies, free public transportation, moving to electric vehicles! Yes! #cdnpoli https://t.co/2dpfgdt6tb

— Craig Hunter (@itsyourodyssey) June 1, 2019