Push For Public Transport To Be Free In Australia

[ChillyPhilly]

money not recouped through fares would be recouped in other ways: more disposable income etc.

Wouldn’t the taxpayer also save by no longer having to cover the cost of maintaining a ticketing system, cost of covering enforcement of tickets etc?

Correct. Compliance can be a false economy.

[1NEEDS2POST]

While it's a pretty blunt stick to use, charging for PT use is one of the few levers available to balance supply and demand, especially during peak periods where there's a limit to the number of buses, trams and trains that can realistically get people to where they want to go. Outside of peak there might be a stronger case, and in Adelaide we already have off peak fares. This fare structure means a seat on a bus in the peak is more likely used by someone that needs it - perhaps a hospital worker commuting, or a student, as opposed to an old lady just that just feels like an outing.

More buses are scheduled in the middle of the day than is necessary because drivers from the morning peak and afternoon peak are all driving. There's a lot of excess capacity when it's not needed and that would be the right time for free fares.

[SBD]

as I said before, you'll get homeless people riding around on it all day and night

just like public libraries where they're allowed to sleep in all day and throw their food & trash all over the floor... no matter about hygiene...that's all gone out the window for 'social justice'

You have a false equivalence of homeless and antisocial.

Besides that, what stops homeless people (or railfans) getting on the first train in the morning (paying one fare if applicable) and staying there all day? Is there more than just a lack of onboard toilets and food services?

the paying part

there's no false equivalence, it happens

Sure, it happens, but not all antisocial people are homeless, and not all homeless people are antisocial. They are not equivalent.

One train fare per day is pretty cheap rent to have somewhere warm and dry in winter/cool and shady in summer for people who might otherwise be living in a car or under a bridge.

[abc]

You have a false equivalence of homeless and antisocial.

Besides that, what stops homeless people (or railfans) getting on the first train in the morning (paying one fare if applicable) and staying there all day? Is there more than just a lack of onboard toilets and food services?

the paying part

there's no false equivalence, it happens

Sure, it happens, but not all antisocial people are homeless, and not all homeless people are antisocial. They are not equivalent.

One train fare per day is pretty cheap rent to have somewhere warm and dry in winter/cool and shady in summer for people who might otherwise be living in a car or under a bridge.

a false equivalence you made not me... probably so you could project your politics and make you feel good about yourself

there are a enough that will be a problem

[SBD]

the paying part

there's no false equivalence, it happens

Sure, it happens, but not all antisocial people are homeless, and not all homeless people are antisocial. They are not equivalent.

One train fare per day is pretty cheap rent to have somewhere warm and dry in winter/cool and shady in summer for people who might otherwise be living in a car or under a bridge.

a false equivalence you made not me... probably so you could project your politics and make you feel good about yourself

there are a enough that will be a problem

You said

as I said before, you'll get homeless people riding around on it all day and night

just like public libraries where they're allowed to sleep in all day and throw their food & trash all over the floor... no matter about hygiene...that's all gone out the window for 'social justice'

Antisocial people are antisocial whether they paid for their ticket or not, and regardless of their living conditions.

I expect any involuntarily homeless passengers would sit quietly in the corner and hope not to be noticed.

[MT269]

Off topic. But if this is the case, then where do the drivers who are given the pre Scania era (2004-present) dinosaurs come from? The extra peak services are largely enabled through the existence of broken shifts. IE often but not always commuting to and from the depot twice in a day.

And there is the odd service which ends near a depot or depot site to provide extra capacity for part of the route, IE the 167C, and 559S.

I'll admit that post 2020, there is far more capacity in peak than provided, except with the O'bahn. Hence a lot of services being axed by the LNP. I think the services which go via South Road are the worst for being underutilised.