How Much $$ Does Free Transit Save You?

[GaigeGrosskreutzGunClub]

Transit fares make up such a small portion of revenue for an already heavily subsidized system - eliminating them makes so much more sense than forcing means testing on vunerable populations and another inconvenience on people used to travelling by car

[CrossfacePanda]

Man, I’d save the equivalent of almost $100 a month if we had this over here.

Or rather, I could take public transit year round instead of having to bike to save money. I love biking, but having the option to take the bus on cold and rainy days would be nice.

[sassynana]

Unbeknownst to many, New Mexico is very strong on social programs. Also offers free college for residents. Like blue states everywhere, NM regularly puts people’s well being over corporate greed.

[kippgoeden]

I spend almost $500 a month on my car payment, $200 on my insurance, $100 on gas, and we’ll round it to $10 in maintenance. Overall I am spending over $800 on something that I only use to get to work, the store, and to doctors appointments. Not to mention that my wife is disabled and can not drive, therefore she has to Uber home from work (I drop her off). My entire life would change for the better if we were able to ride public transit, especially if it were free. Unfortunately, like most places in the US, the closest “bus stop” is a sign three miles away from my house… with no sidewalks to get there 🤦‍♂️

[nathanandsugar]

User-based taxes (Bus fares, tolls, etc) are highly regressive. Min. anyone receiving a form of public programs should get free rides (Medicare, Medicaid, etc).

[WillowEtain]

Every city should do this. It's more money that go back into the local economy.

[dosadoodle]

If riding public transit was free, I'd spend some free days just walking the city and then hop random buses on my way back when I started getting tired. The difference of now with the fare is that I could hop on hop off without much care if the bus was going exactly where I need to go. Much more free flowing exploration with public transit would be nice.

[sometimetyler]

In Tallahassee the buses are free for students so when I was in college I didn't have a car and just rode the bus. It was wonderful.

[ThisPossumKnits]

What a blessing! 🙏 when my work gave me a bus pass it made my life exponensialy better!

[FUNKY_BUTTLOVIN]

Yeah they said it. Albuquerque itself is a damn trip my dad retired to there and there's a lot of crazy things about the area... but I live in a broke city in NY and I know when we had free buses during COVID, I actually USED the bus. Where now I just walk and don't go nearly as far. It was nice man and I tell you what I went to the mall and crap and spent money there too

[conwaytwittyer]

As someone in America who grew up with free public transportation, it is a godsend, and I was flabbergasted to find out other communities have to pay a fare to use the bus, totally defeats the entire purpose.

[EeeM-tsup]

Our taxes already paid for public transit

[Seawiz]

Fare is unfair. It’s just taking our lunch money to make us pay twice for something we’ve already paid for.

[jenn]

It’s more than the money. It’s something that can’t be measured. It’s there, and when that is in your mind, you have one less worry and that takes away a lot of stress.

[Frank-smyl]

How does the city make up the lost revenue? Higher taxes ? I appreciate the act to help some poor people. I used to ride the bus to work and back until it got crowded and dangerous. Fights, attacks, robbery, intimidation. With criminals a tightly packed group of unarmed people are easy prey.

[chernobyl]

Albuquerque's bus fleet is comprised entirely of natural gas powered busses, and every one has a bicycle rack on the front.

[wyomii]

End car dependency! That's a big tax on the planet🌍 and the wallet 💸
The average vehicle occupancy in the US is 1.5 out of 4-6. That's a lot of dead weight being hauled around!

[DebsFan]

I LOVE this!
Public transit has been free in my city since 2020, and it’s been a true lifesaver for so many people!

[Speed_of_Sloth]

I'm so proud of all the politicians who made this possible.

[lucmuller]

Nice to see how good busses can be, but come take a look at Seattle now. It’s quite the different image