Australia

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/

I think the main reason to not make it completely free was so they could track information via the tap on. That way they have data to plan route adjustments in the future.

Fare collection typically generates a subtantial amount of revenue and so you assumption that it doesn't fails.

for most people a fare such that busy routes are profitable is perfectly reasonable and they will pay.That makes your subsidy for less but routes that are still worth having (in part because they feed to the busy route which wouldn't be profitable without those riders).

as this study has found most people value service higher than the cost of a fare. Free fare advocates are killing the system by taking away a source of revenue that could instead be usedeto make the system better.

i'm all for helping the poor. Target just the poor with free fares. That lets you help the poor by giving them good service instead of service for the poor but 'normal' people drive*

The problem with free public transport is that’s, once there’s no cost to it, usage goes up qualitatively. People will pack onto a rammed bus rather than walk a few blocks because it’s easier, and those already on the bus will find their journeys becoming more unpleasant. Those who have cars will decide to start driving again, and the buses will become slower as they’re stuck in a traffic jam consisting of people who aren’t getting anywhere either but at least don’t have a stranger’s armpit next to their nose.

So, anything short of having a communist revolution, confiscating all the private cars and using the seized wealth of the capitalist class to greatly increase capacity to where there’s a conveyor belt of buses with one every 30 seconds, free public transport will result in a soup kitchen system that nobody uses if they have an alternative.

Exactly. It's a public service, not a business.

Better service benefits. Free transit benefits the car companies as it forces everyone to drive if they at all can.

I’m no expert on this topic, but I’ve previously read that when a thing is made free people stop valuing it.

I read that as well and had trouble finding it but this sounds about right:

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/

I'm no expert on this topic, but I've previously read that when a thing is made free people stop valuing it.

This sounds like a misunderstanding of economics. If someone gives away something for free, they're only saying the thing has no value to them, etc, or — in the context of gov services — the act of giving it away has more value. It's never that the thing itself has no intrinsic value, "period".

You could definitely argue that the 50c fee prevents homeless people from squatting, or completely unnecessary travel, but I would argue that everyone should be provided with shelter, and 50c probably isn't going to prevent unnecessary travel anyway.

I think valuing the hospital comes the novelty maybe?

But only if cost of en execution is low.

The first should be solved by a subscription so you don't feel like you need cash all the time. The second is incompetience - never allow more than one broken machine, if machines are not reliable find a better vender - in court you can end the contract early if they are not filling their end: making machines that work. (If this isn't in your contract sue your own lawyers for incompetence)

i agree teens shouldn't have to pay. Though I would put it in terms of they ride free on their parents subscription which helps get parents riding since they are paying for it.

there are also poor who need some sort of program as sell.