You have to think about the elasticity of demand for transit rides. If you raise fares by say 10% by what percentage does ridership decrease? If you decrease your ridership, you also decrease your best argument for more public transit funding.

It’s especially problematic to raise transit fares in LA, which has strong political support for low fares to reduce traffic and air pollution. Fare increases also probably function like a regressive tax here, because the average income of a transit rider in LA is probably lower than the average income in LA county.

I say build a movement to increase transit funding through taxation, and only raise fares when you’re backed into a corner.

Great for those of us who aren’t necessarily against fare hikes. You can’t fund an expanding transit system with $1.25 fares. Something has to give, especially when the economy goes to shit and tax revenues are down. The only part of Measure R I did not support was freezing fares for a year. LA should have a $1.50 fare at the very least. I’d bump it up to $1.75 or even $2.00 if the stigma wasn’t there.

Public transit should stand on its own merits, not because it’s less expensive than driving. It’s less expensive than driving but it sucks. Let’s pay our fair share and really foster good mass transit networks across the country.

If Marcia Roberts thinks she might as well get a car, in New York mind you, it’s going to cost a hell of a lot more than the thousand bucks per year it currently costs her to get around on her 30 passes. These people are bluffing or insane.

It would be nice if there were more of a willingness to sacrifice, more of a recognition that transit is worth supporting because of its environmental benefits and such.

I guess we should just remember that riding transit is probably about self interest for most people. When you treat your customers badly, they go elsewhere.