Climate change is bringing Britain to boil. So let’s make all public transport free like Luxembourg

Car pollution is a huge contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Which is why we desperately need to incentivise other forms of transport instead

https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/climate-change-heatwave-global-warming-free-public-transport-luxembourg-a9023181.html 

Fare-free urban #publictransport in Europe

There are many towns and cities in Europe that have fare-free #publictransport. The idea is becoming more popular... read more here
https://farefreeeu.blogspot.com/

I need my car

What is the first thing that comes to mind when one reads 'free public transport?'

The capitalist system forces one to be self-centered.

Being outgoing and generous can quickly plunge one into poverty and dependency.

If you depend on your car, don't give it up. But there are millions who would take the bus if it were frequent and free. Let them.

Humans lived for tens of thousands of years without capitalism or cars.

Rapid temperature rise threatens all life on earth

A catastrophe of unimaginable proportions is unfolding. Life is disappearing from Earth and runaway heating could destroy all life. At 5°C heating, most life on Earth will have disappeared. When looking only at near-term human extinction, 3°C will likely suffice. Study after study is showing the size of the threat, yet many people seem out to hide what we're facing.

http://arctic-news.blogspot.com/2019/07/most-important-message-ever.html 

Why isn't public transit free?

We have been conditioned to think of public transit as a project that needs fares for revenue, but always runs in the red and has to be subsidized.

• Public transit is not a company, it is a public investment
• Since it is not for profit, it can't be called subsidized
• It does not run in the red, it provides benefits that are not counted
• Fares are not for revenue, but for rationing

If fares are removed, ridership will go up. More buses will be needed. They will then be more frequent. That will lead to more ridership. That will increase the need for buses. The needs of cars will have to compete with buses for funding. The critical mass of the system of transport will shift.

Can you see the danger this poses to those who profit from oil, autos, and sprawl?

This then, is the reason that public transit is not fare-free.

Can we afford to keep charging fares?

Most of the costs of public transit are paid by taxes. Percent of revenue applied to costs is usually stated something like this:

• 40% stated percent of revenue from fares

but the actual numbers are more like this:

• 20% actual percent when capital costs are included
• 10% percent remaining after fare-collection costs are considered
• 00% percent remaining after fare-enforcement/fare-security

So fares are not needed for revenue. Then, can they be justified for rationing?
Fares, or user-fees, ration use to prevent misuse. But public transit is a part of your city that makes things better when used more, whereas cars are a consumer product that make your city worse when used more.

So, we cannot afford to ration public transit.