Comments on: Senior/disabled/youth fare increase “off table” – but we still urge NO vote http://www.rescuemuni.org/2010/02/25/seniordisabledyouth-fare-increase-off-table-but-we-still-urge-no-vote/ A transit riders' association for San Francisco Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:02:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Don http://www.rescuemuni.org/2010/02/25/seniordisabledyouth-fare-increase-off-table-but-we-still-urge-no-vote/#comment-5665 Don Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:03:52 +0000 http://www.rescuemuni.org/2010/02/25/seniordisabledyouth-fare-increase-off-table-but-we-still-urge-no-vote/#comment-5665 I have been riding Muni (unsupervised) for 60 years, and driving in SF for more than 50, so I have a longer perspective than most on both forms of transportation. My student car ticket was $0.25 for ten rides on Muni; my first adult fast pass cost $11. I now pay $15. One can easily spend that much for lunch. In relative terms my senior pass is less than my youth fare. If you consider the printing and administrative costs, the senior pass may cost Muni money. No wonder we can’t Rescue Muni. Rescue Muni should not fight fare increases. Keeping fares low will not rescue Muni and may be counterproductive. It is true than ridership drops off after a fare increase just as a rise in the price of gasoline sees less driving. Fewer riders make Muni faster and more comfortable and fewer drivers make driving easier. Unfortunately, both are temporary and eventually things return to normal after people adjust. Cost is a factor in deciding whether to drive or take Muni but not the primary factor. Raising the fare will not put people back in their cars unless the fare gets very much higher than a $70 fast pass. And many SF employees get transit checks from their employer so the pass is free. Low fares will not get people out of their cars. Most drivers could save a bundle now if they took Muni. It is not low fares but a fast, reliable, safe Muni will get people out of their cars. If we want to rescue Muni we have to pay for it. I have been riding Muni (unsupervised) for 60 years, and driving in SF for more than 50, so I have a longer perspective than most on both forms of transportation. My student car ticket was $0.25 for ten rides on Muni; my first adult fast pass cost $11. I now pay $15. One can easily spend that much for lunch. In relative terms my senior pass is less than my youth fare. If you consider the printing and administrative costs, the senior pass may cost Muni money. No wonder we can’t Rescue Muni.

Rescue Muni should not fight fare increases. Keeping fares low will not rescue Muni and may be counterproductive. It is true than ridership drops off after a fare increase just as a rise in the price of gasoline sees less driving. Fewer riders make Muni faster and more comfortable and fewer drivers make driving easier. Unfortunately, both are temporary and eventually things return to normal after people adjust.

Cost is a factor in deciding whether to drive or take Muni but not the primary factor. Raising the fare will not put people back in their cars unless the fare gets very much higher than a $70 fast pass. And many SF employees get transit checks from their employer so the pass is free. Low fares will not get people out of their cars. Most drivers could save a bundle now if they took Muni. It is not low fares but a fast, reliable, safe Muni will get people out of their cars. If we want to rescue Muni we have to pay for it.

]]> By: lmtra http://www.rescuemuni.org/2010/02/25/seniordisabledyouth-fare-increase-off-table-but-we-still-urge-no-vote/#comment-5655 lmtra Fri, 26 Feb 2010 04:40:27 +0000 http://www.rescuemuni.org/2010/02/25/seniordisabledyouth-fare-increase-off-table-but-we-still-urge-no-vote/#comment-5655 In view of the already packed to capacity buses on some crosstown routes (like the 22 Fillmore and 24 Divisadero) it's insane to consider service reductions during peak hours. Some of the rides I've been on have already been skipping stops leaving people trying to get to work or school stranded and probably late. Yes, change the work rules, but at least for now get Muni management to reconsider some of the important details. In view of the already packed to capacity buses on some crosstown routes (like the 22 Fillmore and 24 Divisadero) it’s insane to consider service reductions during peak hours. Some of the rides I’ve been on have already been skipping stops leaving people trying to get to work or school stranded and probably late. Yes, change the work rules, but at least for now get Muni management to reconsider some of the important details.

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