I've really been enjoying all of reactions I'm hearing to the news that the MTA will cut weekend subway service, that a 23% fare hike is on the horizon, and that Albany wants to toll my jaunts across the East River. Just as the Iraq war inspires cries of "I'm moving to Canada!" in Americans–especially the ones who neither vote nor own a passport–any talk of problems with public transportation leads to the inevitable "boycott!!!"
It's not that I think any of these proposed money-saving solutions would be beneficial to the city's inhabitants, but I can't believe anyone's complaining about paying what we do for trains and buses. While I agree with Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz's editorial in the El Diario newspaper about taking a stand for the already underserved, and while I appreciate the new subway ads by Keep New York Moving, I recognize that I still pay much less for transportation than anyone in, say, California does. Not only do I not owe a cent on a car payment, but I don't have to care what the cost of a barrel of oil is, I never have to use the word dipstick, and the only tread I have to worry about is the one on the bottom of my super-practical walking shoes.
I understand that it's sort of a catch-22: people with cars can't utilize the MTA when the trains and buses don't service them, but the MTA can't continue their service when not enough people are riding the trains and buses. And while an extra 23% may seem like a lot to plunk down for a short ride from one subway stop to the next, we'll more than make up for it with all of those trips from Union Square to Coney Island this summer. My solution? Everyone in the outer boroughs, come park your cars at my house in Williamsburg, and we'll all ride the L train in together to avoid the impending toll and save on gas to compensate for the fare hike. We'll treat each other respectfully and sit on each other's laps to make room if we have to. As long as the robot driving it doesn't malfunction and run us all into the river, problem solved.
– Katie Ett, unapologeticallymundane.com
Comments
$2 per ride may not sound like much to you. And it isn't for young, single people who are gainfully employed. But there is a whole big New York City world out there that you may not be aware of. People who are earning $20,000 a year and trying to support 4 kids. Folks who are unemployed. Old people living on Social Security. For these folks, $4 a day (roundtrip) is a big chunk of money.
I agree with you, Mona, but I still think that we were getting a deal in the first place and can't complain when the MTA needs to raise fares with the changing times. Anywhere else, that mother of four would be making less money and paying far more for transportation. $4 per day is peanuts for what we're getting.
Check out the Kheel-Komanoff Plan on Streetsblog dot org.
The cost is staggered for congestion and the buses are free. The majority of the burden is placed on drivers, who are in the minority and are less efficient than transit vehicles. And even those prices are tiered for the time of day. I love the public transit system here, but they can't get away with charging more for less, and especially to over eight million people. Since their current strategy stinks, it's time for something different.
Thanks for the link to Streetsblog, Meredith. I'll definitely be watching it.
And the Kheel-Komanoff Plan? Makes my heart flutter.
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