Comments on: All’s fare in love and subways http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/10/01/alls-fare-in-love-and-subways/ A New York City Subway Blog Wed, 23 May 2012 15:23:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Yuri Fyochelvskry http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/10/01/alls-fare-in-love-and-subways/#comment-2337 Yuri Fyochelvskry Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:51:25 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/10/01/alls-fare-in-love-and-subways/#comment-2337 Victoria, the MBTA never had a $1.40 fare. You're making it up. Before January 1, 2007, the T's subway fare was $1.25. On that date, they raised it to the current $2.00, with a reduced fare of $1.70 for fares paid with a CharlieCard. Victoria, the MBTA never had a $1.40 fare. You’re making it up.

Before January 1, 2007, the T’s subway fare was $1.25. On that date, they raised it to the current $2.00, with a reduced fare of $1.70 for fares paid with a CharlieCard.

]]> By: Mike’s Notes » Blog Archive » MBTA Can, MTA Can Not http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/10/01/alls-fare-in-love-and-subways/#comment-1482 Mike’s Notes » Blog Archive » MBTA Can, MTA Can Not Tue, 02 Oct 2007 11:06:54 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/10/01/alls-fare-in-love-and-subways/#comment-1482 [...] reading the article All’s fare in love and subways that compares the upcoming MTA fare hike with other transit systems. I started browsing some of the [...] [...] reading the article All’s fare in love and subways that compares the upcoming MTA fare hike with other transit systems. I started browsing some of the [...]

]]> By: Victoria http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/10/01/alls-fare-in-love-and-subways/#comment-1483 Victoria Tue, 02 Oct 2007 06:19:16 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/10/01/alls-fare-in-love-and-subways/#comment-1483 The T is $1.70 if you use a plastic card, not $1.85, though when I got to Boston two years ago, it was $1.25 for all, and when the differentiated fares started about a year ago, the lower one was $1.40 and the higher one was $1.70. Those are some pretty big percentage increases. The T is $1.70 if you use a plastic card, not $1.85, though when I got to Boston two years ago, it was $1.25 for all, and when the differentiated fares started about a year ago, the lower one was $1.40 and the higher one was $1.70. Those are some pretty big percentage increases.

]]> By: wayne's world http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/10/01/alls-fare-in-love-and-subways/#comment-1484 wayne's world Mon, 01 Oct 2007 19:17:30 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/10/01/alls-fare-in-love-and-subways/#comment-1484 The London Transport fares would be extraordinarily high even if the pound were trading at $1.50. Instead of $8.00 for a single ride, it would be $6.00. The London Transport fares would be extraordinarily high even if the pound were trading at $1.50. Instead of $8.00 for a single ride, it would be $6.00.

]]> By: Marc Shepherd http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/10/01/alls-fare-in-love-and-subways/#comment-1487 Marc Shepherd Mon, 01 Oct 2007 12:18:26 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/10/01/alls-fare-in-love-and-subways/#comment-1487 I think you'd have trouble finding <I>any</I> major subway system with an average as low as $1.31 per ride. Ours is cheap, and still will be even after the fare increase. I'm glad that Ben has pointed this out. But Ben places the blame for under-investment in the wrong place. The current capital program is funded <I>below</I> levels that the MTA had requested from the legislature. It's the legislature, not the MTA, that is responsible for the under-investment. It may be that more persuasive lobbying would get better results in Albany. With a new team in charge, we'll see how well they do as the next capital program comes up for review. I think you’d have trouble finding any major subway system with an average as low as $1.31 per ride. Ours is cheap, and still will be even after the fare increase. I’m glad that Ben has pointed this out.

But Ben places the blame for under-investment in the wrong place. The current capital program is funded below levels that the MTA had requested from the legislature. It’s the legislature, not the MTA, that is responsible for the under-investment.

It may be that more persuasive lobbying would get better results in Albany. With a new team in charge, we’ll see how well they do as the next capital program comes up for review.

]]> By: Eric http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/10/01/alls-fare-in-love-and-subways/#comment-1486 Eric Mon, 01 Oct 2007 09:30:44 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/10/01/alls-fare-in-love-and-subways/#comment-1486 Chaim mentioned BART, so just to chime in with further details about Bay Area transit fares, which you didn't mention your post: A trip on BART from San Francisco to an East Bay suburb about 20 miles away would cost about $4.00 in each direction. What's worse is that BART has nothing analogous to the MetroCard. You have to pay for each individual trip. Purchasing a high-value ticket gets you a very small discount, e.g. you pay $60 for a $64 ticket, but that's about it. If you're commuting to SF for work from a suburb 20 miles away, a $64 ticket won't even last you two weeks. And even with these expensive fares, BART still cannot offer 24-hour service due to track limitations. The situation is much better if you're traveling only within the San Francisco city limit, because then you can buy a $45 monthly pass (for adults) that gives full access to all vehicles run by Muni, a separate agency from BART. An individual trip on Muni is only $1.50, with a free transfer that lasts a couple hours. However, SF is a compact city (7 miles by 7 miles), so Muni's geographic scope is also much smaller than that of the NY subway. Chaim mentioned BART, so just to chime in with further details about Bay Area transit fares, which you didn’t mention your post:

A trip on BART from San Francisco to an East Bay suburb about 20 miles away would cost about $4.00 in each direction. What’s worse is that BART has nothing analogous to the MetroCard. You have to pay for each individual trip. Purchasing a high-value ticket gets you a very small discount, e.g. you pay $60 for a $64 ticket, but that’s about it. If you’re commuting to SF for work from a suburb 20 miles away, a $64 ticket won’t even last you two weeks. And even with these expensive fares, BART still cannot offer 24-hour service due to track limitations.

The situation is much better if you’re traveling only within the San Francisco city limit, because then you can buy a $45 monthly pass (for adults) that gives full access to all vehicles run by Muni, a separate agency from BART. An individual trip on Muni is only $1.50, with a free transfer that lasts a couple hours. However, SF is a compact city (7 miles by 7 miles), so Muni’s geographic scope is also much smaller than that of the NY subway.

]]> By: Chaim http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/10/01/alls-fare-in-love-and-subways/#comment-1485 Chaim Mon, 01 Oct 2007 05:05:43 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/10/01/alls-fare-in-love-and-subways/#comment-1485 I am a lover of public transportation, and have had the benefit of riding many systems in this country. New Yorkers have a tendency to get a little over-zealous when it comes to criticizing the MTA. I've even had to fight it out with people who, usually after admitting they haven't ridden many other systems, insist that the one here in NYC is one of the nation's worst. The MTA has its problems, but the subways are great. $2 is a fantastic deal. Even if they raised the monthly to $100, it would be a steal. You didn't mention the San Francisco BART, but if you look at the system, much of it coveers simliar distances as the NYC subway, and for a HECK of a lot more dough. Yes, yes, we do have rats, urine smell, and obnoxious, constant delays, but we also get 24 hour service and amazingly thorough geographical coverage. I think that people in the US become less-enamored with their cars, they will become more willing to spend money on Public Transit. As far as New York goes, I like to think of it this way: Just sitting down in a cab during off-peak hours is more expensive than a subway ride as far as you need to go. It's hard to even find a piece of pizza for less than it takes to ride the subway... I am a lover of public transportation, and have had the benefit of riding many systems in this country. New Yorkers have a tendency to get a little over-zealous when it comes to criticizing the MTA. I’ve even had to fight it out with people who, usually after admitting they haven’t ridden many other systems, insist that the one here in NYC is one of the nation’s worst.

The MTA has its problems, but the subways are great. $2 is a fantastic deal. Even if they raised the monthly to $100, it would be a steal. You didn’t mention the San Francisco BART, but if you look at the system, much of it coveers simliar distances as the NYC subway, and for a HECK of a lot more dough.

Yes, yes, we do have rats, urine smell, and obnoxious, constant delays, but we also get 24 hour service and amazingly thorough geographical coverage.

I think that people in the US become less-enamored with their cars, they will become more willing to spend money on Public Transit. As far as New York goes, I like to think of it this way: Just sitting down in a cab during off-peak hours is more expensive than a subway ride as far as you need to go. It’s hard to even find a piece of pizza for less than it takes to ride the subway…

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