Post by spokker on Oct 20, 2009 18:47:18 GMT -8
www.mndaily.com/2009/10/20/no-free-rides-light-rail-mostly
As a rider on a barrier free system, how can you know whether others are paying or not? You simply can't. When there are no fare inspectors present, I walk right past the fare machines and onto the train because I have a Metrolink 10-trip. Metro monthlies do the same thing.
There's also an interesting bit near the end of the article.
Haha.
Even if the statistic is wrong (some people see officers and walk away), fare evasion cannot be that high. 3, 4, 5%? It's negligible, especially when fares only cover a fraction of the costs to run these damn systems. The bluster over fare gates and fare evasion is much ado about nothing.
Last year, Metro Transit Police rode the trains for 23,000 hours checking tickets of riders. Out of 888,500 riders Transit Police checked, 1,897 citations and 2,738 warnings were issued, bringing fare compliance to 99.5 percent.
“Our target is to try to inspect 10 percent of the riders,” Deputy Chief of Transit Police A.J. Olson said.
But riders tell a different story.
Siddharth Dani , a recently graduated neuroscience student at the University of Minnesota, takes the light rail at least twice every day. On average, Dani estimates authorities check his ticket once or twice a week.
“It’s really simple to get on the light rail without paying,” Dani said. Despite police numbers, he estimated that around 30 percent of riders don’t pay their fare.
“Our target is to try to inspect 10 percent of the riders,” Deputy Chief of Transit Police A.J. Olson said.
But riders tell a different story.
Siddharth Dani , a recently graduated neuroscience student at the University of Minnesota, takes the light rail at least twice every day. On average, Dani estimates authorities check his ticket once or twice a week.
“It’s really simple to get on the light rail without paying,” Dani said. Despite police numbers, he estimated that around 30 percent of riders don’t pay their fare.
As a rider on a barrier free system, how can you know whether others are paying or not? You simply can't. When there are no fare inspectors present, I walk right past the fare machines and onto the train because I have a Metrolink 10-trip. Metro monthlies do the same thing.
There's also an interesting bit near the end of the article.
Bob Gibbons, director of customer services at Metro Transit , said new light rail platforms, like the one opening outside Target Field in November, will be barrier free.
Gibbons said the extra infrastructure costs associated with setting up fences and gates are one of the main reasons no barriers were constructed for the Hiawatha Light Rail line.
Olson believes that the beefed up security for special events, combined with a full-time police presence and a $180 fine if caught, is enough to deter most from riding without a ticket.
Gibbons said the extra infrastructure costs associated with setting up fences and gates are one of the main reasons no barriers were constructed for the Hiawatha Light Rail line.
Olson believes that the beefed up security for special events, combined with a full-time police presence and a $180 fine if caught, is enough to deter most from riding without a ticket.
Haha.
Even if the statistic is wrong (some people see officers and walk away), fare evasion cannot be that high. 3, 4, 5%? It's negligible, especially when fares only cover a fraction of the costs to run these damn systems. The bluster over fare gates and fare evasion is much ado about nothing.