this post was submitted on 16 Feb 2025
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Here’s why some people still evade public transport fares – even when they’re 50 cents (theconversation.com)
submitted 5 months ago by MHLoppy@fedia.io to c/australia@aussie.zone
45 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Neither lowering fares or simply increasing enforcement can solve fare evasion alone. Investing in better services and winning public trust are just as important.

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[–] ExtremeDullard@lemmy.sdf.org 57 points 5 months ago (29 children)

From TFA:

A crucial question in the Queensland debate is: if public transport is already nearly free, does fare evasion even matter?

A more crucial question is: if public transport is nearly free but still generates overhead to manage and enforce fares, why not make it completely free and eliminate the overhead entirely?

I mean if they chose to make it almost free, they might as well go all the way.

[–] NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io 20 points 5 months ago (6 children)

Because people don't value free things as much.

Why not make the fares free in Queensland? One reason can be found in the experience of the Miami Beach Transportation Association in the United States. The Association launched free shuttle buses along the coastline. However, the lack of fares led to a diminished sense of responsibility for the upkeep and care of the transit system, ultimately negatively affecting both driver satisfaction and passenger experience. Whilst passenger numbers initially surged, studies show problem riders resulted in raised personal security concerns as transit crime increased. Examples include increased assault, damage, and theft for users, becoming a deterrent for both new and existing riders. An attempt to resolve these issues was introducing a $0.25 flat fare, leading problem riders to avoid the service. Consequently, these negative factors began to rapidly decline, such as vandalism decreasing by 90% whilst passenger numbers remained steady.

https://ninesquared.com.au/insights/nearly-free-fares/

[–] DavidDoesLemmy@aussie.zone 18 points 5 months ago

I don't know if I buy this. In Melbourne we have the free tram zone in the city and people aren't vandalizing the trams. We have free access to public parks, art galleries, libraries, public toilets. I don't think people are more likely to vandalize those places because they're free.

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