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Should public transit be free? Experts weigh in on policy options

With outdated funding models and questions about whether riders care more about fares or service, opinions are divided on the future of public transportation.

With companies addressing how their employees will return to the office as the pandemic recedes, public transportation is a key part of the policy dialogue. Would free ridership keep autos off the road, a huge benefit for climate change? For the many essential workers who continued to commute during the pandemic, public transportation failed in many ways with interrupted and unreliable service.  How will free fares address this inequity? Is it even what commuters want?

As part of the Greater Boston Debate Series, sponsored by the Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston based at Harvard Kennedy School, panelists debated the merits of free ridership, a movement gaining momentum in American cities from Los Angeles to Kansas City to Worcester. In the upcoming mayoral race in Boston, nearly every candidate has expressed support of some form of fare elimination. But is the idea fiscally sustainable? Does it weaken transportation options, especially for low-wage earners who depend on it the most? The debate, featuring proponents and opponents of free ridership making their cases, was moderated by Monica Tibbits-Nutt, executive director of 128 Business Council, an organization that runs shuttle services in Massachusetts, and an advisory board member of the Rappaport Institute. 

David Bragdon, executive director of TransitCenter, a foundation in New York that focuses on improving public transportation in U.S. cities, began by reframing the issue. “I’m going to pose a bigger question,” he said. “What can and should society do to help low-income people for whom the price of a transit ticket is an obstacle?” He suggested that local governments should provide targeted discounts to help alleviate poverty. “It’s similar to what we do with other public utilities in our society, whether it’s electric bills, water bills, or for that matter food—a human right where we have a SNAP program—or housing, where we have vouchers.”

He also pointed to rider surveys his foundation has conducted showing that transit patrons at every income level rank service, quality, and quantity over the fare price. And fare revenue provides the income to improve those services. In New York, 50 percent of fare revenue goes to infrastructure. In Chicago, it is 40 percent and in San Francisco, 62 percent. “If you tell a transit agency you’re going to take that revenue away, I can guarantee there is one thing that they can do: cut service,” Bragdon said. “That is just the math of it. But if riders are being helped by getting a free ticket to a really substandard product, I’d want to know that.”

“If riders are being helped by getting a free ticket to a really substandard product, I’d want to know that.”

David bragdon.

Stacy Thompson, executive director of LivableStreets Alliance, an organization that advocates for equitable and safe public transportation in the Boston area, agreed with the need to expand and improve service, but questioned whether it will bring more people to public transportation. “Kansas City and Worcester, communities offering free ridership throughout the pandemic, demonstrated much more resilient ridership than their peer transit systems of similar size and demographics,” she noted.

Thompson pointed out fare collection can actually cost transit operations money and increase public safety incidents on transit vehicles. “We know that fare disputes are the leading cause of safety incidents for our operators and systems across the country,” she said. “A 12-month study statewide of free buses, such as a pilot in Massachusetts, can provide the data points needed to move this decision,” she added. “And we’re in a moment where we have federal funds for this kind of thing. We need to ask what kind of riders ride? I actually don’t think that free transit is going to move car drivers necessarily, but if it brings on more people who had an actual cost burden, that’s important. We need to ask how much money was saved in the agency by not collecting fares? We need to ask about the transit driver experience. Was it easier to do their job?”

Tibbits-Nutt summed up this important discussion by noting that while there is disagreement on the idea of free transit, the speakers agree that communities need to begin thinking about more progressive ways to fund our transit systems: “I think transit is always going to be vital to the health of our communities.”

You can listen to the complete debate here .  The Greater Boston Debate Series will resume in the fall.

— Banner image: Riders board a "T" trolley car in Boston on the day when the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority let people ride for free as a goodwill gesture following a winter of disastrous breakdowns. Photo by Bill Sikes

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Five actions state and local leaders can take to prepare for autonomous vehicles, the high cost of free roads: q&a with linda bilmes and stevie olsen, a unique opportunity puts hks students front and center in boston government.

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Essay on Public Transportation

Students are often asked to write an essay on Public Transportation in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Public Transportation

Introduction.

Public transportation refers to vehicles like buses and trains, used by the public to travel. It is a shared system, meaning it carries multiple passengers at once.

Public transportation is important because it helps decrease traffic congestion. It also reduces air pollution by lessening the number of cars on the road.

Using public transportation can save money as it’s cheaper than maintaining a car. It also promotes social interaction and provides mobility to those who can’t drive.

In conclusion, public transportation is beneficial for the environment, economy, and society. Therefore, we should consider using it more frequently.

250 Words Essay on Public Transportation

Role in urban mobility.

Public transportation plays a pivotal role in facilitating urban mobility. It reduces congestion by transporting a larger number of people in a single vehicle, compared to private cars. This efficiency aids in reducing travel time, enhancing productivity, and improving the overall quality of life for citizens.

Economic Impact

Public transportation is a significant economic driver. It creates job opportunities, both directly and indirectly, and stimulates local economies by enhancing accessibility to businesses. It also plays a crucial role in reducing the economic burden of transportation for individuals, particularly those from lower-income groups.

Environmental Implications

Public transportation contributes to environmental sustainability by reducing the carbon footprint. It minimizes the number of vehicles on the road, leading to lower emissions and reduced energy consumption. It also aids in mitigating climate change by fostering a transition towards a low-carbon urban transport system.

Social Equity

Public transportation promotes social equity by providing affordable and accessible transportation options to all, irrespective of socio-economic status. It ensures that everyone can access essential services, job opportunities, and social activities, thereby reducing social exclusion.

In conclusion, public transportation is a cornerstone of sustainable urban development. It is instrumental in promoting economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social equity. Therefore, investing in public transportation is not just a matter of urban policy, but a key to achieving sustainable and inclusive cities.

500 Words Essay on Public Transportation

The role of public transportation.

Public transportation serves as the backbone of urban mobility, providing a sustainable alternative to private vehicle use. It mitigates the environmental impact of transport by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. Public transit systems like buses, trams, and metros are designed to accommodate large passenger volumes, thereby decreasing the number of vehicles on the road and reducing traffic congestion.

Moreover, public transportation fosters social inclusion. It provides access to employment, education, healthcare, and recreational activities for all segments of the population, including low-income groups, the elderly, and people with disabilities. By offering a reliable and affordable means of travel, public transportation can bridge socio-economic disparities and facilitate social cohesion.

Challenges in Public Transportation

Funding issues are another significant hurdle. Public transportation is often heavily subsidized, relying on government funding to maintain operations. However, budget constraints can limit the capacity for system improvements and expansions.

Lastly, a lack of integrated planning can lead to inefficient transit systems. To maximize efficiency and user convenience, public transportation should be coordinated with other urban services such as housing, land use, and pedestrian infrastructure.

The Future of Public Transportation

Furthermore, the integration of public transportation with other modes of travel, such as bike-sharing and ride-hailing services, can create a seamless and flexible mobility network. This concept, known as Mobility as a Service (MaaS), represents a paradigm shift in urban transport, moving from vehicle ownership to shared mobility.

Sustainability is another key aspect of the future of public transportation. As cities strive to achieve carbon neutrality, electric buses, hydrogen-powered trains, and other forms of green public transit will play a crucial role in reducing transport-related emissions.

Public transportation is more than just a means of getting from one place to another. It is a tool for urban development, social equity, and environmental sustainability. Despite the challenges it faces, with proper planning, sufficient funding, and the integration of advanced technologies, public transportation can continue to serve as a vital component of urban life, shaping our cities for the better.

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Pros & cons: Making public transportation free

Experts present their pros and cons lists for making public transit free for communities.

Public transit is an important part of many people’s daily lives. Image: epSos.de / CC BY

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0

December 13, 2019. Now that Kansas City has become the first major U.S. city to make all public transportation free , the debate over whether or not this is a viable option for most cities is back in the spotlight. The viewpoints of the following experts are still very much relevant to today’s discussion.

The following question was recently posted on Quora : “What are the arguments against and for making public transportation free?”

Read the diverse opinions from experts below.

Don Johnson, Urban Planner and Economist

There are a couple of economic arguments for making public transportation free (or at least cheaper than it costs to provide:)

• Cars impose a lot of costs on society that drivers don’t pay for
• Everyone benefits when people can travel around freely.

The technical term for the first one is “negative externality,” and there are two big ones associated with cars: pollution and congestion. Every time you start your car and get on the road, you put mono-nitrogen oxides, VOCs, ozone, and carbon dioxide in the air, and you make the road more crowded and thus slower. These are real costs, measurable in environmental damage, health care costs, and wasted time, that other people have to pay for .

Economists like efficiency, and efficient economic systems are ones in which people pay for costs directly, because then they can make choices rationally. (I’ll wait for everyone to stop laughing before I continue.) That’s why economists and planners have been fantasizing about congestion pricing for so long - in a well-designed congestion pricing scheme, drivers actually pay more when they choose a congested road. And if there were an additional tax on gas dedicated to relieving air pollution and improving respiratory health (the existing gas tax in the US only pays for roads) that would make drivers pay the cost of pollution and also be economically efficient. But in the absence of those, subsidizing public transit (which gets people to drive less than they otherwise would) is kind of a second best solution.

The technical term for the second argument is “public good.” It’s good for everyone if transportation costs are reduced - workers can get to more jobs, companies can choose from more workers and more suppliers, people can take more spur-of-the moment road trips to outlet malls, etc. Robert J. Kolker will say that making the price zero don’t make it free -- somebody somewhere is paying -- and he’s right, but under some conditions you can probably show that making everyone pay to make transit free for some people actually makes everyone collectively better off. Again Robert will say that’s not fair, but this is not a fairness argument but a collective benefit argument. But in any case our society is not run by economist philosopher kings.

Because economists famously don’t agree on anything I have to point out that there are also economic arguments against making transit free:

• Free transit is a poor substitute for making drivers pay actual costs of driving
• Free anything makes people use it too much - in theory, anyway, transit that’s too cheap is just as bad as driving that’s too cheap. Somebody will end up paying for lots of trips that didn’t really need to be made.
• As noted above, people may feel that it’s not fair that they have to pay for other people’s bus tickets, even if it does make everyone better off. I’m personally not very sympathetic - pretty much every decision society makes is unfair to somebody. Is it fair to me that we spent $62 billion to develop the F-22 fighter plane, when I don’t feel any safer because of it? But I digress.

In summary there is a lot of reasonable thought behind subsidizing public transit (even if not making it absolutely free) and indeed that’s what most cities end up doing.

Andrew Levy

• We would need more public transport. Buses, planes, trains etc. all harm the environment, just as cars do. If everyone used public transport, more buses would pollute cities. It should also be mentioned that the manufacturing and creation of a public transport system is very energy intensive, drawing largely on coal and fossil fuels for energy. This releases significant carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
• With the financial crisis, we can’t afford to spend more money on something like this. It would cost too much for the government to pay for running public transport services. With the economic crisis, it needs to spend the money on other more important things.
• Car sales would drop significantly. If it were free for everyone to get to work, families wouldn’t need two or three cars; just one or even none, depending on their availability to public transport of course. Most families have several cars, and one is used just for someone to get to work each day. This wouldn’t be necessary. It would hurt the car industry and car makers would most likely lose their jobs, and car companies may collapse, which is very bad news.
• There are many people who would also lose their jobs. People like conductors, parking cops and plenty of other people wouldn’t have their jobs any more, because their services would be no longer required.
• Some public transport cities are already terrible; this would just increase the strain. Some public transport networks are already crowded and/or unreliable. With increased customers and pressure, these networks wouldn’t manage.
• If it was free, companies would not be expected to provide top service, because they are not paying customers. Generally when you pay a little bit more, you are paying for a good service. But if you aren’t paying anything, and heaps of people are using the service, you can’t expect top-notch customer service. Generally people look after paying customers more. If it was free, companies could lower their service under the excuse that its customers aren’t paying anything so they should just “get what their given”.
• Many people dislike public transport and still would not use it. Many people will stick to their cars, and some would even stop using public transport, because with it being free, so many people will use it, it would become a mess and be way too crowded.
• “Why Free Public Transport is a bad idea?!?”, World Streets Blog
• Baum, Herbert J. (1973), “Free Public Transport”, Journal of Transport Economics and Policy, January 1973
• “Myth: Making public transport free will encourage use”, Public Transport Users Association, Australia
• “Free public transport is not our ticket to ride”, Australia
• Free public transport would reduce the number of cars on the road. Global warming is a serious issue and if public transport was free, more people would use it, taking cars off the road. 1 train could take 2000 cars off the road. A public transport system with 20 trains could take 40,000 cars off the road. Some people would simply choose to not own cars, further reducing the number of cars on the road. Across dozens of cities in a nation and thousands world-wide, the result of free public transport would be dramatic in cutting vehicle emissions and combating global warming.
• The government’s job is to provide services. This would be a great service that could be used by everyone. Taxes already pay for health care, schools and roads etc. so why not let taxpayers see the benefits for themselves, in a useful service everyone can use.
• The environment would greatly benefit. As well as providing services, the government should look out for the environment. No amount of money is too much to protect the environment.
• We would need more public transport workers. With increased and better public transport, we would need more bus and train drivers, creating jobs. This is great with the global financial crisis. And it work make it easier for people to get to their job - they could just get on a bus.
• The government would be forced to improve public transport. With more users, bad public transport networks would be improved by the government, to make it worthwhile using. Bad networks would be greatly improved, and the benefits can be used by everyone. Its definitely a worthwhile incentive.
• A lot of public transport companies are reliable and need more customers. Most public transport organisations offer friendly and reliable service and could do with some more “customers”. They would be happy to take them and it would get cars off the road.
• Single or zero fare maximizes the efficiency, convenience and attractiveness of public transport systems for both users and operators in inner cities. “The option of a single and potentially free public transport fare zone in the Sydney CBD should be examined as a way of immediately simplifying fare structures, eliminating CBD interchange fare penalties, eliminating other CBD fare anomalies and maximising the efficiency, convenience and attractiveness of CBD public transport systems for both users and operators.” Independent Public Inquiry - Sydney’s Long Term Public Transport Plan, May 2010
• Heaps of people would be tempted by free transport. If free public transport was offered to everyone, of course they would use it. Yes, some people may stick to their cars, but the majority would think it was a great idea. If you had the choice of paying thousands each year to run a car, or to get on a train every morning for free, what would you choose?
• A lot of people would already be using it if it didn’t cost so much. For a lot of people, the only reason they don’t catch public transport is because it costs too much. If it was free, they’d definitely start using it.
• Free Public Transit Blog
• Møller, Berit and Thoegersen, John (2008), “Breaking Car Use Habits: The Effectiveness of a Free One-Month Travelcard”, Transportation, Vol. 35, No. 3, pp. 329-345, 2008
• Thoegersen, John (2009), “Promoting Public Transport as a Subscription Service: Effects of a Free Month Travel Card”, Transport Policy, Vol. 16, 2009
• “Perspectives on implementation of free public transport - assessments and recommendations from a working group under the Danish Board of Technology”, Summary, English version, November 2006
• Scottish Socialist Party’s campaign for free public transport, UK
• Campaign for Free Public Transport, UK
• Free Public Transport, Finland
• Transport Vsem, Russia
• Saltada Popular, Spain
• Planka.nu, Sweden
• “At Any Cost? The hidden costs of charging for public transport”, Alex Berthelsen, Planka.nu, Sweden
• freepublictransports.com, USA
• Zero-Fare, Canada
• “Free ride: the future of public transport”, The Age, March 5, 2006, Australia
• “The case for free public transport”, Green Left, Australia
• Fare Free, New Zealand
• “A Case for Free Comfortable Public Transport?”, Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities Center

Prashant Prasad

In my opinion, encouraging public transport is a very good way to reduce pollution and other traffic related problems in any city. But in most of the cases, creating a free public transportation system is not a feasible solution.

The following are what I see as the pros and cons of making public transportation systems free of cost:

• More users will get attracted to the public transportation system as their mode choice which will reduce number of small and private vehicles on street resulting lesser congestion and lesser emission (good for the environment).
• Time taken to purchase the travel ticket will be saved.
• It will be accessible to the economically weaker section of the society also.
• Will reduce the societal gap between poor and rich in the society as people from all economic status will be able to travel together.
• This will provide job opportunities to more people as more public transportation vehicles will be required to ply in the Country.
• Initially managing the crowd in the public transport will be a major challenge in populated countries like India.
• It will become a burden on the government to maintain the quality and finally to sustain the public transportation system.
• Many people will not use the public transport as it will be too crowded.
• Human psychology is that free things are not valued much, so the system may get abused by the public.

However there are countries like Germany where public transportation is free for students and the money for the same is collected as a semester fee. In countries like India the challenge is quite unique. In India we have a huge range of users ranging from a homeless person to a millionaire.

There are two types of users, according to the literature: Choice riders and Captive riders.

• Choice riders : users who can afford to travel by other private modes of transport
• Captive riders: users who cannot afford anything other than public transport.

We need to find a balance between their requirements and affordability, keeping in mind that anything we do will need money and money cannot be grown on trees. In order to attract both types of riders towards public transport, we need to keep the fare within an affordable range of the user groups and need to uplift the quality of the service to match the choice riders’ needs.

This can be done by creating segments in the public transportation system:

• A higher service quality for which the fare will also be a little lighter as the choice riders’ affordability range is higher and
• A comparatively lower service quality which will sustain itself with a lower fare and also will fit within captive riders’ pocket.

Ways to get funds to improve the service-quality of entire transportation system:

• The revenue of the higher service quality can support the lower quality to improve and come to the same level.
• The revenue from the goods transportation system can also contribute in improving the public transportation service-quality.
• In order to maintain the interest of the choice riders we will need to think of providing some advantages against the higher fare they will pay. Like less crowed in the higher class and little more pleasant condition.

The entire process to improve the quality of public transport and reducing various problems due to vehicles needs to be worked out in detail. This will take a longer time but this should work better than making it completely free for all.

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The Case for Making Public Transit Free Everywhere

Used to spending hundreds of dollars on public transit every month? Soon, depending on where you live, all those bus, train, and tram journeys could be totally free. Sure, transit operators would earn less revenue. But some are willing to risk the cash to find out whether free fare policies can help reduce car journeys and make cities run more smoothly.

Does it work? So far, the evidence is mixed—but ditching tickets has other benefits, from ensuring equitable access to transport to keeping buses running on time, with costs offset by savings on ticketing systems or fare enforcement.

If it feels strange not to pay, experts draw parallels with public health, libraries, and schools—services that some use more than others, but everyone pays into. “When you remove fares that says to people that you’ve got a right to get around regardless of your means, it’s a public good,” says Jenny Mcarthur, urban infrastructure researcher at University College London. The need for new thinking is acute: Road transport makes up a tenth of global carbon dioxide emissions, with soaring fuel prices also putting a squeeze on already stretched household budgets.

This is why cities and countries around the world have been edging toward free fares. Spain is the latest to join the list, offering free train travel on a selection of routes for a few months to relieve pressure on commuters as the cost-of-living crisis bites. Officials in Germany introduced a 9-euro-a-month travel pass, Ireland slashed fares for the first time in 75 years, and Italy doled out a 60-euro, one-off public transport voucher for lower-income workers. Luxembourg and Estonia ditched fares to get commuters out of cars years ago, which is the same motivation for Austria’s 3-euro-a-day Klimaticket for countrywide transport, launched last year.

Free fares boost ridership, but not necessarily from drivers. In Estonia , free transport was more likely to be used by those who were walking or cycling, a trend repeated elsewhere . That’s a problem, as pedestrians and cyclists create fewer emissions than public transport.

Short trials make it difficult to discern impact. Car use in Copenhagen initially dropped after a one-month trial of a free transport ticket, but people eventually returned to their old habits. But that’s not always true: Initial analysis of German traffic in June, just a few weeks into the 9-euro-a-month tickets, showed fewer cars on the road and faster driving times in most of the cities studied.

In 2020, Luxembourg became the first country to offer free public transport, but its tickets were already cheap, and it’s a small country—with a population of about 630,000, plenty of cities are larger—that’s famously wealthy . Two years later, traffic remains about the same or worse than before the free fare policy, at least partially because a large number of people who can’t afford to live in Luxembourg commute from across the border.

So while free fares can and do boost public transport use, such policies don’t necessarily get cars off the road. But free transport has benefits beyond the environment. In Spain, free tickets have been introduced to ease the burden of inflation and rising fuel prices rather than to directly target emissions.

Free train tickets might entice drivers to ditch the car when fuel prices are high, traffic is snarled, or when traveling for a holiday. But for low-income people who are unable to afford a car, free transport keeps cash in their pockets—and means some who can’t afford a ticket can catch a ride rather than walk. “It’s common for people to rationalize their trips when public transport is very expensive,” says Mcarthur. “They make one trip to the shops each week and can’t go whenever they please because it adds up too much.”

Local context matters. In Australia, the Tasmanian government made buses free for five weeks to offset cost of living increases. While that project was deemed a success, researchers argue that expanding the policy elsewhere in the country would benefit richer residents, as public transport in Australia is more heavily used by residents of inner cities or central suburbs traveling to central business districts—in other words, people living in expensive neighborhoods commuting to well-paying jobs. The farther away people live from central areas, the more likely they are to rely on cars to travel to dispersed workplaces, the researchers say, and that means free fares benefit wealthier people rather than those on low incomes.

In Spain, the free tickets will overwhelmingly benefit people living in urban areas that can access regional trains, known as Media Distancia, and suburban railways called Cercanías. “85 percent of Cercanías trips are done daily in Madrid and Barcelona,” says Pablo Muñoz Nieto, a campaigner at environmental activist group Confederación de Ecologistas en Acción, adding that regional trains have suffered from lack of investment and many areas don’t have services. “What do you want a free train ticket for if you don’t have a train?”

In the US, the divide between the haves and have-nots often falls along racial lines, meaning free fares could support racial equity. But while that’s true on financial grounds, there’s more to the story. As community organizer Destiny Thomas notes , US transit systems “rely on the criminalization of poverty as a primary source of revenue,” with operators issuing significant fines to those who lack the funds to buy a ticket. In 2019, the city council in Washington, DC, voted to slash fines and remove the risk of jail for fare evaders following evidence that nine in ten court summons for failing to have a ticket were given to African Americans . By removing fares entirely , transit operators avoid the risk of discriminatory enforcement.

Free fares also remove the financial cost of creating ticketing systems and enforcing them. In Boston, an extension of a free fare trial was in part inspired by a $1 billion new ticketing system , Mcarthur says—a serious investment when bus fares bring in only $60 million annually. A single-route bus trial in the city revealed an unexpected benefit: faster boarding time. “That means faster and more reliable journey times, and improved overall service,” Mcarthur says. “If you’re a public transport agency, a lot of money is spent trying to get dwell time down.”

But the rush for free or heavily-discounted tickets can have the opposite effect. In Germany, the first long weekend of the 9-euro-a-month tickets led to overcrowding, service disruptions, and thousands of hours of overtime for staff. In Spain, Muñoz Nieto warns that if train frequencies aren’t increased, services will become overcrowded; plus, making one mode free and not others could pull passengers away from buses or metro services.

Boosting services when cutting fares costs money—which has to come from somewhere. In Spain, the free tickets will be paid for out of a windfall tax on energy companies and banks that the government believes will be worth 7 billion euros over two years. “Subsidizing trains is phenomenally expensive, but it needs to be done if you want to get lots of people in and out of cities for work,” says Paul Chatterton, professor of urban futures at the University of Leeds.

And mass transit systems across the world are already subsidized to some extent by public funds. In France, fares make up as little as 10 percent of public transport budgets. Luxembourg could easily make trains free because a two-hour ticket costs only 2 euros, with fares pulling in just 30 million euros in revenue out of a 1 billion euro budget. But two-thirds of Transport for London’s budget is from fares, meaning the central government would have a bigger gap to make up if it wanted to make all public transit in the capital free.

Transit systems that rely heavily on fares for funding were put under enormous strain during the pandemic, with many networks still struggling as commuters switch to hybrid working. An empty office on a Monday, for example, also means a lot of empty commuter trains. “All the funding models have been predicated on this huge demand for commuter travel, which has been stable for 50 years,” Mcarthur says. “But then the pandemic came along and that model fell apart.”

One alternative to free fares for all is targeted discounts, offering free or cheap passes to students, young people, seniors, and those on benefits, already a common practice. Rather than subsidize transport costs for those who can afford it, free passes could be given to those on lower incomes or in regions where public transport is available but unpopular. Another intermediate step is charging a cheap flat rate, as Germany has done this summer. “People would still value the service, but you also generate some revenue,” Chatterton says.

Free fares might not get everyone out of cars, but will convert some journeys, which benefits everyone in terms of carbon reduction and improving local air quality—and even helps drivers by calming traffic. Free fares won’t pull low-income people out of poverty, but will keep money in their pockets and ensure everyone can travel when they need to. Ditching fares comes at a cost, but there are savings to be had by not investing in expensive ticketing systems and wider logistical and societal benefits.

But setting aside figures about costs and statistics about ridership, there’s another way to look at it: Public transport should be considered a human right , alongside access to health and education. It’s necessary to life in a city, says Mcarthur. “Public transport is an extremely efficient way to get people around,” she says. “Buses and trains are not only efficient for people who use them, but also people who don’t.”

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Home — Essay Samples — Government & Politics — Public Services — Public Transport

Essays on Public Transport

In today's world, the choice of public transport as an essay topic is an important and relevant subject for discussion. Public transport plays a crucial role in the daily lives of millions of people around the world, and it is a topic that can be explored from a variety of angles. Whether one is interested in the environmental impact of public transportation, the economic implications of investing in public transit, or the social and cultural aspects of public transport, there are many different essay topics to choose from.

One of the most compelling reasons to choose public transport as an essay topic is the environmental impact of transportation. With the growing concern over climate change and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, public transportation has become an increasingly important issue. Essays on this topic could explore the ways in which public transport can help to reduce air pollution and congestion, as well as the potential for public transportation to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Another important aspect of public transport that is worth exploring in an essay is the economic implications of investing in public transit. Many cities and countries around the world are making significant investments in public transportation infrastructure, and essays on this topic could examine the potential economic benefits of these investments. For example, public transportation can help to stimulate economic growth by making it easier for people to access jobs and businesses, and it can also help to reduce the costs of transportation for individuals and families.

In addition to the environmental and economic aspects of public transport, there are also important social and cultural dimensions to consider. Essays on this topic could explore the ways in which public transportation can help to promote social inclusion and equity, as well as the ways in which public transportation can shape the cultural identity of a city or region. For example, public transportation can provide access to cultural and recreational activities for people who might not otherwise be able to afford or access them, and it can also help to bring people from different backgrounds together in shared public spaces.

When writing an essay on public transportation, it is important to consider the different perspectives and experiences of the people who use public transportation. For example, essays could explore the experiences of people who rely on public transportation as their primary mode of getting around, as well as the experiences of people who might use public transportation less frequently or who have access to other transportation options. By considering the diverse experiences and perspectives of public transportation users, essays on this topic can help to shed light on the ways in which public transportation can impact people's lives in different ways.

In order to write a successful essay on the topic of public transportation, it is important to consider the ways in which public transportation intersects with other important social, economic, and environmental issues. For example, essays could explore the ways in which public transportation can help to address issues of social equity and access to opportunity, as well as the ways in which public transportation can contribute to efforts to reduce air pollution and combat climate change. By considering the ways in which public transportation is connected to these broader issues, essays on this topic can help to highlight the importance of public transportation in addressing some of the most pressing challenges of our time.

The choice of public transportation as an essay topic is an important and relevant subject for discussion. Public transportation plays a crucial role in the daily lives of millions of people around the world, and it is a topic that can be explored from a variety of angles. Whether one is interested in the environmental impact of public transportation, the economic implications of investing in public transit, or the social and cultural aspects of public transport, there are many different essay topics to choose from. By considering the diverse experiences and perspectives of public transportation users, essays on this topic can help to shed light on the ways in which public transportation can impact people's lives in different ways.

The Key Elements to a Successful Public Transport System

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Reasons Why Governments Should Spend Money on Public Transportation

Discussion on the issue: should public transportation replace private transportation, deficiencies of existing public transport system and improvements for the sunshine coast, the development of new york city subway communication system, let us write you an essay from scratch.

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Facilities Offered in Indian Bullet Train

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Planes, Trains and Automobiles: The History of Transportation in Pakistan

Rickshaw pullers: bihar, socio-economic condition and evaluation, the impacts of transportation on the health and wellbeing of the human population, competition analysis in the transport sector of saudi arabia, comparison of old and new public transport systems, private versus public transport in melbourne, australia, alang, the story of world’s largest ship-breaking industry in gujarat, strangers on a dublin train: a journey of connection, relevant topics.

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Public Transport - Essay Examples And Topic Ideas For Free

Public transport systems are vital for the connectivity and mobility of urban populations. Essays could discuss the benefits and challenges of public transport, compare transport systems around the world, or delve into the impact of public transport on economic and social structures. A vast selection of complimentary essay illustrations pertaining to Public Transport you can find at PapersOwl Website. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

Public Transportation is the Way to Go

Cities can promote public transportation in many ways. However, many cities fail to do so. They make the postulation that people will utilize public transportation only if they optate to, and it does not require to be promoted. This is far from the truth. Many people may not ken about transportation options in their city, and they may not realize how benign these options can be (Barletta, et al, 2008). There is a postulation by many people that public transportation […]

Importance of Public Transport

Transport (from Lat. Transporto - I move) is a national economic complex that transports people and goods. According to the object of transportation, there are passenger and freight transport. Passenger transport is part of a unified transport system. Modern passenger transport provides transportation of people, their hand luggage and baggage in various types of communication. When solving the problems of further development of the economy, the effective work of a socially significant sector, which is the urban passenger transport. Passenger […]

Why does Western Europe Experience more Terrorism than America?

Introduction The act of terrorism is defined as "intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion, or to affect the conduct of a government" (Cornell, 2001). Acts of terror have always existed but have been gaining popularity within extremist groups in recent history. While every country may experience some type of terrorism, America and Western Europe have historically coincided with major terrorism activity. A high number of these terror […]

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Taking a Car and Taking Public Transportation

Every time one wants to travel, the first question is always the mode of transportation to use. An underlying reasoning backs either choice. For instance, one opting to use public transit may cite environmental concerns while one using private means may consider convenience. The essay shall compare the two modes of transportation, which share many differences surprisingly on underlying decisions to opt either way of traffic. The first difference fronted by those opting a public transportation means is the ability […]

Managing Air Pollution with Urban Transportation

Abstract: The recent economic expansion along with the population growth experienced in developing countries has had a big impact on the development of large cities like Delhi, India. Accompanied by Delhi's rapid spatial growth over the last 25 years, urban sprawl has been contributing to increased travel. The vehicle fleet projected at current growth rates will result in more than 13 million vehicles in Delhi in 2020. Planning and managing such a rapidly growing transport sector will be a big […]

Revolutionizing Urban Mobility: the Future of Public Transport

In the pulsating heart of urban landscapes worldwide lies a conundrum as old as cities themselves: mobility. With populations swelling and city boundaries expanding, the strain on transportation systems grows palpable by the day. Traffic snarls, pollution clouds, and the sheer inefficiency of traditional modes of transport underscore an urgent call for a paradigm shift. Enter the dawn of a new era in urban mobility - one propelled by the radical transformation of public transport - promising to reshape the […]

Accessibility and Equity: Advancing Public Transport Systems

In the pulsating veins of urbanity, the heartbeat of public transportation resonates as a vital conduit, facilitating the daily movements of countless souls. Yet, beneath the surface of convenience lies a complex tapestry of challenges woven around the notions of accessibility and equity. As cities burgeon and transform, ensuring that public transport systems resonate with the needs of all citizens becomes an imperative. This essay delves into the intricate layers of accessibility and equity within public transport, charting a course […]

The Diverse Landscape of Public Transportation Options

Within the dynamic fabric of urban and rural advancement, communal transit emerges as a linchpin of sustainable progression, inclusivity, and ecological stewardship. This inquiry delves into the diverse array of public transportation modes that interlace societies, furnishing a conduit to realms beyond one's immediate vicinity. From the unassuming bus networks traversing metropolitan thoroughfares to the intricate frameworks of subterranean railways and tramway systems, each transit mode presents a unique ensemble of attributes, benefits, and contextual applicability. Buses, often heralded as […]

The Green Lifeline: Public Transport’s Role in a Sustainable Future

Amidst the complexities of urbanization and environmental shifts, communal transit emerges as a beacon of optimism, proffering an array of advantages that transcend mere travel convenience. This discourse elucidates the invaluable contributions of public transit systems, from assuaging traffic congestion to fostering societal inclusivity, thereby accentuating their pivotal role in shaping a sustainable and just tomorrow. One immediate boon of public transport lies in its capacity to markedly alleviate traffic congestion. By furnishing a dependable and efficient alternative to personal […]

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Transportation Essay Examples and Topics

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Public transport should be free. To what extent do you agree?

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Television advertising is aimed at children nowadays. Should television advertising for children be controlled?

Some people believe that it is good to share as much information as possible in scientific research, business and the academic world. others believe that some information is too important or too valuable to be shared freely., some university students feel literature boring and unnecessary. why is this case is there any benefit from this , your english-speaking friend who lives in your town has asked for your advice about learning a new sport write an email to your friend. in your email • recommend a new sport that would be suitable for your friend to learn • explain how your friend could learn this sport • suggest that you both learn this sport together you do not need to write any addresses.begin your letter as follows: dear..., your english-speaking friend who lives in your town has asked for your advice about learning a new sport write an email to your friend. in your email • recommend a new sport that would be suitable for your friend to learn • explain how your friend could learn this sport • suggest that you both learn this sport together you do not need to write any addresses.begin your letter as follows: dear...,, some people believe that unpaid community service should be a compulsory part of high school programmes (for example working for a charity, improving the neighbourhood or teaching sports to younger children). to what extent do you agree or disagree.

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Public Transport - Free Essay Examples and Topic Ideas

Public transport refers to transportation facilities that are publicly owned and operated by the government or private companies to cater to the needs of commuters. It includes modes of transportation such as buses, trains, trams, and metros that provide an affordable and efficient way to travel through cities and towns. Public transport is a popular mode of transportation for commuters who want to avoid traffic and save money on transportation costs. It is also an eco-friendly option that reduces traffic congestion and air pollution. Many countries offer subsidies or free fares to encourage people to use public transport, making it an accessible and convenient option for people of all backgrounds.

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• Using the public transport
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Essays on Public Transport

Public Transportation Essays

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Building a transport system that works: Five insights from our 25-city report

Elements of success: Urban transportation systems of 25 global cities

A city’s transportation network is its cardiovascular system—a multifaceted structure that enables the continuous flow of people and goods through its arteries. Municipal authorities, city councils, urban planners, and transport-infrastructure owners and operators around the world are well aware that its quality and efficiency are crucial for the economy and for the well-being of citizens.

The research methodology

Our analysis of the performance and efficiency of transport systems uses a methodology similar to the one we used for our 2018 report , but we should not draw direct comparisons between the two. We tweaked our metrics and drew from different sources of information to derive this year’s results.

Instead of providing one general ranking for all the cities, we found it more useful to rank the cities according to specific indicators, such as public-transport efficiency and affordability (exhibit). We ranked the cities and grouped them into three categories: leading (first to tenth place), contending (11th through 18th), and emerging (19th through 25th). We assessed the transportation network of each city for availability, affordability, efficiency, convenience, and safety and sustainable development, with separate ratings for public and personal transport use.

Cities at the bottom of the ratings table need to improve the availability of their transport infrastructure and expand electronic services, which have already become part and parcel of living in most of the examined cities (highlighted chart areas marked “a”). These aspects should be a top-priority task for any city that is improving its transport system.

To rise from the middle to the top of the ratings table, cities need to improve their efficiency and safety and sustainable-development performance. These aspects differentiate the leading cities from all others (highlighted chart areas marked “b”).

The ratings table used 50 different metrics for comparison, including road and rail networks, ticketing, airport flight routes, bicycle lanes, public transport, electronic-service availability, and environmental safety. The geospatial data collected are supplemented by opinions gathered from interviews with more than 30 transport-system-development experts, plus survey responses from 10,000 residents across 25 cities to gauge current satisfaction with existing transport systems and any changes that have been implemented. We have presented the findings in a series of easy-to-digest graphics alongside summaries of the individual transportation projects and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in all 25 cities. The report covers Buenos Aires, Chicago, Los Angeles, Mexico City, New York, São Paulo, and Toronto in the Americas; Berlin, Istanbul, London, Madrid, Milan, Moscow, Paris, and Saint Petersburg in Europe; Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong, Seoul, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Singapore, and Sydney in the Asia –Pacific (APAC) region, and Johannesburg in Africa.

To help stakeholders make informed decisions, we benchmarked the transport systems in 25 cities around the world in our latest report, Key elements of success in urban transportation systems (see sidebar “The research methodology”). We ranked the cities and grouped them into three categories: leading (first through tenth place), contending (11th through 18th), and emerging (19th through 25th).

All 25 cities have expanded projects to enhance their transport systems since 2018 (Exhibit 1). Leading cities invested more in improving the availability of their public-transport infrastructure, while emerging cities invested relatively less in safety and sustainability than in the other categories. As this article explains, such factors could have implications on residents’ willingness to use public transport.

While decision makers should delve into the full report for the complete rankings and details (see sidebar “Rankings at a glance: Top five cities by category”), this article distills the report’s findings into five key insights that stakeholders should pay attention to and highlights best-in-class practices in cities around the world.

Rankings at a glance: Top five cities by category

Here are the top-performing cities in each of the five categories:.

Availability—the variety of travel-mode options for residents

Affordability—the relative weight of costs associated with various transport modes

Efficiency—the speed and predictability of getting around the city

• Johannesburg

Convenience—the ease of transferring from one mode of transport to another

Safe and sustainable development—the level of safety of city travel and the environmental impact of the transport system

1. Keeping service and safety standards high assuages pandemic-related fears of using public transport

COVID-19 lockdown restrictions clearly had an impact on lifestyles and commuting patterns in 2020. Many people stopped traveling to work completely. People who relied on private cars, as well as those who used public transport, actually increased their use of private cars, even as the overall number of trips dipped (Exhibit 2). And in some cities, staff shortages and declining revenue from lower passenger usage led to reductions in service frequencies to avoid fare increases.

If these trends persist postpandemic, they are likely to exacerbate traffic congestion, pollution, and the number of traffic accidents. As such, public-transport operators and authorities will need to find ways to restore confidence in shared modes of getting around and reduce reliance on private cars. Our research found that the safer people feel about using public transport, the more they’ll use it (Exhibit 3), which suggests that the visibility of pandemic-related safety measures has a significant influence on perceived risks.

In Chinese cities, there is a lower perceived risk of infection on public-transport systems, thanks to a mandatory mask mandate, physical-distancing mandate, regular disinfection, and other epidemiological safety measures that citizens visibly adhere to. These measures are stepped up as needed (for instance, when sporadic outbreaks occur), and commuters may have to present a green health code and have their temperatures taken before entering public-transport areas. As a result, Chinese cities also experienced higher-than-average levels of public-transport mobility during the pandemic.

2. Expanding transport networks and infrastructure, as well as smart policies, keep travel options available and affordable

The top-scoring cities in transport availability—London, Madrid, and Paris—share some common characteristics: they are major railway hubs and offer good road networks, bike lanes, and pedestrian infrastructure. Beijing, Madrid, and Moscow jumped up in the transport-availability rankings by expanding their metro and rail lines. These cities also improved their road infrastructure, increased the number of bicycle lanes and pedestrian streets, and invested heavily in shared-transport schemes such as rental-bike and ride-sharing services (Exhibit 4).

Madrid’s bike-share system consists of 3,000 bicycles and 250 rental stations, with 50 rental stations added in 2020 alone. Since our last urban-transport report, in 2018, Moscow added 3,000 two-wheelers to its bike-share program. It also opened new underground lines, resulting in 700,000 more people gaining access to the Moscow Metro, while Beijing opened three new underground lines over the past several years.

Public policies play a critical role in keeping transport affordable, whether it’s by regulating low bus and subway fares or by encouraging competition between legacy transport operators and ride-sharing companies. High rates of private-car ownership tend to constrict revenue flows for the public-transport system because fewer people use public transport. Thus, policies that discourage private-car ownership tend to prevent public-transport operators from either raising fares or reducing service standards.

The Asian cities of Seoul, Shenzhen, and Singapore, for example, top the rankings for public-transport affordability, and to offset the environmental and societal costs of personal car use, these cities actively make car ownership a more expensive choice.

Public-transport systems in Buenos Aires, Mexico City, and Shanghai are also becoming much more affordable because of government policies stimulating economic competition and technology. Cars registered outside Shanghai are barred from certain districts, and technologies for self-driving taxis are being piloted, which may lead to lower costs in the future. Commuters enjoy the benefit of lower fares, the result of competition among multiple ride-share providers. The widespread implementation of paid parking systems in Buenos Aires and Mexico City is making private-car ownership more expensive. With more people turning to public transport or ride-sharing over private cars to avoid incurring parking costs, there are fewer vehicles on the road, which eases traffic congestion.

3. Dedicated public-transport lanes and digitalization can make the commuter experience more efficient and convenient

Efficiency refers to how quickly and predictably one can move around the city, while convenience measures how easily commuters can switch from one mode of transport to another. Increasing the number of dedicated public-transport lanes, optimizing bus routes, completing road construction or modernization projects, and implementing digital upgrades all help improve the commuter experience.

Moscow, Shenzhen, and Singapore all scored high on transport efficiency. The Russian capital’s transport system has low underground waiting times, high speeds during rush hour, and a significantly above-average proportion of dedicated bus lanes. Shenzhen, too, has a high share of dedicated bus lanes, which helps with rush-hour predictability. Singapore’s electronic road-pricing system is powered by a digital device that automatically charges the driver the road toll when the car passes through a gantry, enabling frictionless road travel for both private and public vehicles, even during peak times.

Our convenience index assesses the ease of switching from one transport mode to another. High performers have invested in upgrading their ticketing systems, increasing internet access, and increasing the number of wheelchair-accessible buses and underground stations. Some offer convenient mobility-as-a-service applications (MaaS) to plan routes and to verify and pay fines and penalties.

Toronto delivers high levels of travel comfort, courtesy of a $934 million upgrade of its bus fleet, which is now 100 percent wheelchair friendly and located closer to subway stations. Hong Kong has also revamped its public-transport system. Ninety out of 93 metro stations have been outfitted with elevators and wheelchair ramps, making it easier and quicker for wheelchair-bound passengers to board and disembark. Meanwhile, Istanbul has risen in the convenience rankings with a significantly improved ticketing system using QR-code payments. The city has also introduced the Ulasim Asistani app, which helps travelers plan journeys across multiple forms of transport, leading to a considerable improvement in satisfaction ratings among its citizens.

4. Sustainability matters—in both investment and policy

Both commuter safety and the environment cannot be neglected in a city’s efforts to improve its transport system. In both our 2018 and 2021 surveys, respondents cited safety as their number-one priority, so it’s imperative that city planners and authorities constantly look to minimize accidents and fatalities while reducing the city’s carbon footprint. As mentioned earlier, leading cities tend to invest more in sustainable mobility options than contending and emerging cities do, which has resulted in greater use of their public-transport systems (Exhibit 5).

Initiatives to ensure compliance with safety requirements matter, as do the implementation of more stringent restrictions on the use of petrol and diesel engines, measures to reduce pollution, and incentives to switch to electric vehicles.

Tokyo boasts one of the world’s lowest road-fatality levels—9.6 deaths per 1 million people. Over the past several years, the government has deployed the data-driven smart-transport system to monitor and analyze information on people’s commuting patterns and traffic violations to inform decision making. As a result, road fatalities have decreased and more people are complying with traffic rules. The government is also using new toll-management technology to decrease vehicle traffic and improve road safety.

In China, Beijing and Shanghai are aggressively curbing the negative environmental impact of their transport systems. Both cities mandated in 2021 that only vehicles that adhere to the China 6 emissions standards (roughly equivalent to the Euro 6 standard in the European Union) can be sold.

5. In some cases, better communication is needed to bridge gaps between perception and reality

We tracked how satisfied residents were with how their transport system is doing according to specific metrics and based on changes implemented since 2018. Residents appear to appreciate the hard work urban authorities have put into transport projects, but in a few cases, their perceptions may not be aligned with reality. For instance, most citizens feel that public transport is too expensive in their cities (Exhibit 6). So even though Seoul, for example, stands out as a leader in public-transport affordability based on objective metrics, its citizens remain dissatisfied.

This suggests that authorities need to keep the residents informed of all positive changes and continue their efforts to improve public perceptions. It is highly likely that additional restrictions on personal motor vehicles will be introduced in the coming years and that environmental regulations will become more stringent. To improve the public perception of such efforts, city authorities must not only score tangible successes but also clearly articulate them.

Our full progress report  benchmarking the transport systems in 25 cities around the world investigates the five themes outlined in this article in greater depth, and includes other findings that are relevant to key stakeholders. Overall, while there’s reason to celebrate the many improvements in the majority of our metrics in cities around the world, there’s still much work to be done. Making informed decisions about the further development of city transport systems will help.

Dmitry Chechulin is an associate partner in McKinsey’s Moscow office, where Vadim Pokotilo is a partner. Detlev Mohr is a senior partner in the Tokyo office, and Lola Woetzel is a senior partner in the Shanghai office.

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JSmol Viewer

Impact of car-sharing and ridesourcing on public transport use: attitudes, preferences, and future intentions regarding sustainable urban mobility in the post-soviet city.

1. Introduction

1.1. impact of transportation network companies, 1.2. impact of car-sharing, 1.3. modal split in moscow, 1.3.1. tnc in moscow, 1.3.2. car-sharing in moscow, 2. materials and methods, 2.1. survey objectives and sample design.

• socio-demographic variables;
• travel preference;
• mode shift questions in the context of on-demand mobility service (for example: “What mode(s) of transportation would you have taken if car-sharing was not available for your last trip of car-sharing?”);
• future intentions (stated preference) about on-demand mobility service and ideas towards more sustainable mobility;
• attitudes and preference effect on mode choice.

2.2. Ordinal Logistic Regression

3.1. explanatory variables, 3.1.1. demographic and spatial variables, 3.1.2. travel preference variables, 3.1.3. mode-shift variables, 3.1.4. future intention variables, 3.1.5. attitude and preference variables, 3.2. olr model.

• time from home to city center by car,
• frequency of driving,
• frequency of bus/tram/trolleybus,
• frequency of walking,
• importance of walking and moving during trips.
• frequency of bus/tram/trolley use,
• intention to manage CO 2 emission while traveling.

3.2.1. Effects of Demographic and Socioeconomic Variables

3.2.2. effects of travel preference variables, 3.2.3. effects of attitude and preference variables, 4. discussion, 5. conclusions, author contributions, institutional review board statement, informed consent statement, data availability statement, acknowledgments, conflicts of interest.

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Tarnovetckaia, R.; Mostofi, H. Impact of Car-Sharing and Ridesourcing on Public Transport Use: Attitudes, Preferences, and Future Intentions Regarding Sustainable Urban Mobility in the Post-Soviet City. Urban Sci. 2022 , 6 , 33. https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci6020033

Tarnovetckaia R, Mostofi H. Impact of Car-Sharing and Ridesourcing on Public Transport Use: Attitudes, Preferences, and Future Intentions Regarding Sustainable Urban Mobility in the Post-Soviet City. Urban Science . 2022; 6(2):33. https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci6020033

Tarnovetckaia, Rozaliia, and Hamid Mostofi. 2022. "Impact of Car-Sharing and Ridesourcing on Public Transport Use: Attitudes, Preferences, and Future Intentions Regarding Sustainable Urban Mobility in the Post-Soviet City" Urban Science 6, no. 2: 33. https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci6020033

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Tired of wasting time hunting for a parking spot? Uneasy driving in ice and snow?  Take SMART Transit! 

Help the environment

SMART Transit is an environmentally friendly way to get around town. Every vehicle on the road produces on average one pound of CO2 per mile. Taking public transportation can reduce CO2 emissions by 45%, decreasing pollutants in atmosphere and improving air quality.

Schedule & Maps

SMART Transit routes take you locations all around town.

Dial-A-Ride

Dial-A-Ride is an affordable transit option for passengers with special needs. It provides pre-scheduled rides with curb-to-curb service. 

For eligible riders, the cost may be covered by Medicaid.

Covid-19 policy

In accordance with City of Moscow guidelines, SMART Transit does not currently require face coverings aboard buses.

Photo curtesy of Design West

Become a SMART Transit supporter

Thanks to our donors. Your generous support of SMART Transit strengthens the community: 

• Enables Moscow citizens—especially seniors and those with special needs—to live independently.
• Transports middle school, high school, and college students to school.
• Reduces use of fossil fuels to help the environment. 
• Provides an alternative to driving a car in ice and snow.

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Britain’s Violent Riots: What We Know

Officials had braced for more unrest on Wednesday, but the night’s anti-immigration protests were smaller, with counterprotesters dominating the streets instead.

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By Lynsey Chutel

After days of violent rioting set off by disinformation around a deadly stabbing rampage, the authorities in Britain had been bracing for more unrest on Wednesday. But by nightfall, large-scale anti-immigration demonstrations had not materialized, and only a few arrests had been made nationwide.

Instead, streets in cities across the country were filled with thousands of antiracism protesters, including in Liverpool, where by late evening, the counterdemonstration had taken on an almost celebratory tone.

Over the weekend, the anti-immigration protests, organized by far-right groups, had devolved into violence in more than a dozen towns and cities. And with messages on social media calling for wider protests and counterprotests on Wednesday, the British authorities were on high alert.

With tensions running high, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s cabinet held emergency meetings to discuss what has become the first crisis of his recently elected government. Some 6,000 specialist public-order police officers were mobilized nationwide to respond to any disorder, and the authorities in several cities and towns stepped up patrols.

Wednesday was not trouble-free, however.

In Bristol, the police said there was one arrest after a brick was thrown at a police vehicle and a bottle was thrown. In the southern city of Portsmouth, police officers dispersed a small group of anti-immigration protesters who had blocked a roadway. And in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where there have been at least four nights of unrest, disorder continued, and the police service said it would bring in additional officers.

But overall, many expressed relief that the fears of wide-scale violence had not been realized.

Here’s what we know about the turmoil in Britain.

Where arrests have been reported

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Is High-Speed Rail Hitting The Fast Track In The Near Future?

Empty railroad tracks stand at the CSX Oak Point Yard, a freight railroad yard in the Bronx borough of New York City. Spencer Platt/Getty Images hide caption

Empty railroad tracks stand at the CSX Oak Point Yard, a freight railroad yard in the Bronx borough of New York City.

Airline customers are dealing with delays, cancellations, and sky-high ticket prices. Airfares have gone up 25 percent in the last year. That's according to the Consumer Price Index. And highways across the country remain congested, even as many expand.

The average U.S. driver spent 42 hours, or a full work week, in traffic congestion last year. That's according to a report by INRIX, a transportation analytics firm.

Enter trains.

A record number of people are hitting the tracks. While passenger trains have been a common mode of transportation for centuries, the country has never had a dedicated high-speed rail line.

That's expected to change in the next few years with two high-speed rail lines currently under construction in the Southwest and several more in planning phases across the country.

How could high-speed rail change the landscape of transportation in our country?

Like what you hear? Find more of our programs online . Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a .