(Public transit) Free Muni for S.F. kids could hit a few bumps

[alp227]

Source: SF Chronicle

San Francisco's Muni could be the first major transit system in the nation to offer free and unrestricted rides to youths.

The controversial pilot program will be voted on Tuesday by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency's Board of Directors.

Although approval is expected, the sticking point is whether the perk should be limited to low-income youths or be extended to everyone ages 5 to 17. Children under 5 already ride free.

A well-organized contingent of students, parents and community activists, backed by the progressive flank of the Board of Supervisors and by the Board of Education, argues that free transit for all youths is about equity and would do more to promote the city's transit-first policy while grooming a new generation of transit riders.

(...)

The decision comes as the agency has struggled to close a projected $19.6 million deficit to balance the $796.8 million city budget for the new fiscal year that starts July 1, and a $33.6 million deficit to balance the following year's $810.5 million budget. Limited resources should be spent on maintaining Muni's aging fleet and trying to meet the lagging service standards, opponents argue.


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/04/16/MNA11O25AT.DTL&ao=all

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See also the Apr. 16 letters section of the Chronicle for two differing views from readers.

I think there's a reason why no other city has ever been able to do this; see the paragraph about the budget. In fact, the college I go to south of SF includes with student fees a county transit bus pass for unlimited rides throughout the semester. But the extent to which people can get cheaper rides on my local transit is thru buying a prepaid pass for a certain number of boardings, whether thru this pass that I use or any other available options.

[KamaAina]

1. Busmageddon in the making

Certain Muni lines, like the 38-Geary, are already packed with wall-to-wall youths in the afternoon. Once it's free, I can pretty much guarantee you that's what it'll be like systemwide. Woe betide any grownups who are actually trying to, you know, go somewhere.

[CreekDog]

2. Sorry, but children are people too

as a kid who grew up on MUNI and was passed up at bus stops when there weren't adults waiting, children have places to go too. they have to use the bus for school, for doctor appointments, for getting across the city to family, etc.

[KamaAina]

3. Of course they do

just not thousands of them at once. You'll soon be reliving those memories of being passed up at bus stops, because the buses will be jam full.

[CreekDog]

6. sheesh, i felt unwelcome on MUNI as a child

no wonder San Francisco has a reputation for being unfriendly to children.

[msongs]

4. "free" rides are NOT free. youths should share the cost with everyone nt

[CreekDog]

7. maybe they should pay for their schooling too?

[unc70]

8. They can earn their keep pulling Lille wagons in the mines

Sorry, just kidding (Since some DUers seem to lack touch with reality).

[sakabatou]

9. You should've added the bloody sarcasm tag/smilie

[unc70]

5. Buses are fare-free here for everyone!

Try it, you might like it.

Here in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, the buses are "free" for everyone all the time. CH Transit is remarkable.

[Posteritatis]

10. I anticipate hilarious amounts of caneshakery. (nt)

[CreekDog]

11. !