Kansas City 1st major US city with universal fare-free public transit

[Luc 4,776]

Whether this is good depends on how walkable the city is at the moment. They made public transit free in all of Estonia if I'm right, and they're going to do it in Luxembourg as well, but the evidence so far states that it mainly led people who would otherwise have walked into public transit. So if Kansas City is not a very walkable city (which I would expect from an American city), it would only be beneficial.

 

Where I live some municipalities have implemented free public transport for the elderly and people who earn close to minimum income, and on the national level public transport is free for all students. By limiting it to some groups it doesn't get too costly.

[PunkTheFunk 125,703]

6 hours ago, Gagaloo92 said:

This is awesome!

How is it being paid for though, if no one has to pay to use it? 

Taxes 

[skedaddleBItCh 2,821]

23 hours ago, ItsTommyBitch said:

Right after I moved away partly because of lack of transit, Son of a bitch  

 

[LateToCult 41,852]

It can’t be too much of a risk in a place like Kansas City, right? I can’t imagine they have an extensive bus or rail system that would swallow up loads of money for maintenance.

[Jsays 329]

1 hour ago, Economy said:

For how many checks per month? That's a 40% tax rate just curious on ur income and where u live

So I did do over time without over time though it’s still an average of $275 to $300 in taxes.    I work at a hospital for children In down town Kansas City for a 80 hour check, we have to pay for Medicare, and a lot of other stuff for everyone else,     I opted out for insurance and other benefits solely on the fact I don’t have to lose my whole check. Kansas City is cheap living don’t get me wrong but they take so much out for taxes it’s not worth it, the city investe like $23 million in tax money for the sewers to be fixed like 3 years ago and **** still isn’t happening and they are “trying to fix roads” but they look like war zones and will deadass kill your suspension if you drive too fast 

[Jsays 329]

22 minutes ago, LateToCult said:

It can’t be too much of a risk in a place like Kansas City, right? I can’t imagine they have an extensive bus or rail system that would swallow up loads of money for maintenance.

F A L S E.      Kansas City has about 400 square miles not including independence which is counted in a way Kansas City and the buses use routes throughout there.    There are hundreds of busses already being used and the roads are so small if your trying to drive somewhere odds are your going to get stuck behind a bus.   There’s bus stops litterally every block filled with thugs, graffiti,  no one with common sense would actually ride those busses. Period

[Jsays 329]

26 minutes ago, LateToCult said:

It can’t be too much of a risk in a place like Kansas City, right? I can’t imagine they have an extensive bus or rail system that would swallow up loads of money for maintenance.

Also we just added a rail system down town. Terrible during rush hour when you can only use one lane 

[LateToCult 41,852]

25 minutes ago, Jsays said:

F A L S E.      Kansas City has about 400 square miles not including independence which is counted in a way Kansas City and the buses use routes throughout there.    There are hundreds of busses already being used and the roads are so small if your trying to drive somewhere odds are your going to get stuck behind a bus.   There’s bus stops litterally every block filled with thugs, graffiti,  no one with common sense would actually ride those busses. Period

 

24 minutes ago, Jsays said:

Also we just added a rail system down town. Terrible during rush hour when you can only use one lane 

What I meant by saying it wouldn’t be risky is that there’s a very low public transit ridership in KC, a small number of bus lines, and few rail miles. If you compare KC metro area to King County Metro (Seattle area) you’ll find that they have a similar population (just above 2 million) but King County has a daily bus ridership of over 500k (not including light rail) while KC area has a daily ridership of 60k. It’s not like KC has this expensive infrastructure in place that’ll suck everyone dry. 

[Jsays 329]

2 hours ago, LateToCult said:

 

What I meant by saying it wouldn’t be risky is that there’s a very low public transit ridership in KC, a small number of bus lines, and few rail miles. If you compare KC metro area to King County Metro (Seattle area) you’ll find that they have a similar population (just above 2 million) but King County has a daily bus ridership of over 500k (not including light rail) while KC area has a daily ridership of 60k. It’s not like KC has this expensive infrastructure in place that’ll suck everyone dry. 

Maybe it’s not now but soon even more people will be riding the buses and they are going to have to invest in more buses and they are now building even more bus stops with touch screens and stuff,     The fact is I paye too much already and I don’t wanna pay more for something I won’t ever use .      When majority of bus riders are already on section 8 lets be real and I’m already laying for them to live for free.

[LateToCult 41,852]

28 minutes ago, Jsays said:

Maybe it’s not now but soon even more people will be riding the buses and they are going to have to invest in more buses and they are now building even more bus stops with touch screens and stuff,     The fact is I paye too much already and I don’t wanna pay more for something I won’t ever use .      When majority of bus riders are already on section 8 lets be real and I’m already laying for them to live for free.

I mean, idk what to tell you. If this thing KC is trying out is temporary (a few years) and an attempt to boost interest in public then it’s a good thing. I’ll just tell you that, historically speaking, that mentality of “**** the poor” usually ends up ****ing a city over. I’m pretty sure it’s that way of thinking that made KC a public transit desert. Have pride in where you live and try to better it. We’re in America. Like, the best example of what “**** the poor” gets you. Rotting infrastructure and stranded people.

I can’t make you change your mind, but those are my thoughts.

 

[Jsays 329]

7 hours ago, LateToCult said:

I mean, idk what to tell you. If this thing KC is trying out is temporary (a few years) and an attempt to boost interest in public then it’s a good thing. I’ll just tell you that, historically speaking, that mentality of “**** the poor” usually ends up ****ing a city over. I’m pretty sure it’s that way of thinking that made KC a public transit desert. Have pride in where you live and try to better it. We’re in America. Like, the best example of what “**** the poor” gets you. Rotting infrastructure and stranded people.

I can’t make you change your mind, but those are my thoughts.

 

A majority of the poor are into crime and drugs litterally I shootout happened last night down the street, people setting houses on fire, half of the housing in Kansas City is basically section 8, I don’t feel bad one bit. No one takes care of their businesses or homes nor makes this city a place where you want to take pride in besides sports and maybe downtown sometimes. 
 

[TheSlash 14,539]

That's great news. But as mentioned before the infrastructure has to be a well-oiled machine to handle to all the extra users of public transportation properly.

I also heard theoretical plans for making public transport free here in Germany as well. But first, it wouldn't actually be free as each and everyone would pay some sort of "tax" to finance it all. And second, our public transport infrastructure is as well-oiled and up-to-date as this machine: