Comments on: Revisiting the economics and politics of student transit

By: Walder agrees to meet with students over free transit :: Second Ave. Sagas

Walder agrees to meet with students over free transit :: Second Ave. Sagas — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:26:02 +0000

[...] support from City Hall or Albany? When he meets with students, he must explain to them how the city and state should be funding the program and how those two governing bodies have abdicated their responsibilities to the MTA and, more [...]

By: The governmental economics of the Student MetroCard :: Second Ave. Sagas

The governmental economics of the Student MetroCard :: Second Ave. Sagas — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:16:51 +0000

[...] the MTA’s decision to cut student MetroCards. As I explained again on Monday, it should cost between $687-$800 a year for one student’s school year travel without the option of free [...]

By: Alon Levy

Alon Levy — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:48:36 +0000

I feel your pain. Walking 10 miles in the snow uphill both ways gives you perspective, doesn’t it?

By: Rhywun

Rhywun — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:33:39 +0000

I grew up in Rochester, a mid-size city with a large, diverse school district. I attended “magnet” schools that were always located on the other side of town. In 7th and part of 9th or 10th grade (when we had moved even further from my high school), I lived outside the reach of the yellow bus so they gave me a city bus pass – which worked fine. The other years I got the yellow bus. The point is, even in a city which made no special provision for school transit – it was *easy* to use the public bus to get there. Maybe somewhat less convenient, but almost certainly cheaper on the city budget. Then I spent 11th grade in Germany, where the yellow bus is unknown, all (high) schools are selected by “choice” rather than neighborhood, and all transportation is on public transit. So I have seen all sides of this issue. In NYC, I think it’s clear than the yellow bus is not needed for most students – public transit is sufficient for most. The fact remains that it should be funded by the city government – the same agency that is responsible for funding the schools.

By: Rhywun

Rhywun — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 05:54:48 +0000

How do you know “they weren’t paying”? Did they sneak in thru the back door? Because if they show a pass or whatever at the front, they ARE paying. Via the taxes we all pay. The large cities of New York State have school districts which are in effect a department of the city government. It is the city government’s responsibility to pay for student transit, not the state, nor the MTA. Heck, we even pay city income tax which ostensibly should pay for student transportation among many other things. Problem is, the city income tax also funds the skyrocketing cost of city employees’ health care and pensions. Unfortunately, the city’s kids didn’t collectively bargain for the transportation benefit that the city is nevertheless obligated to provide, so… it’s got to go.

By: Rhywun

Rhywun — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 05:42:41 +0000

Yep. Only 38% of New York (State)'ers itemize. The rate climbs to 64% for those families earning over $50K, and I suppose those with kids are more likely to itemize than those without, but the system still penalizes those of lesser income, by being so complex.

By: Rhywun

Rhywun — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 05:29:46 +0000

It’s wrong to focus on how “cheap” student rides are – the simple fact is that students should not be paying for it out-of-pocket at all. Especially with NYC’s high taxes, it’s a joke that we can’t afford to “bus” our kids to school like every other community in America.

By: Joe

Joe — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:52:49 +0000

And to tack onto Ben’s post above, the buses are provided for by the school taxes in suburbia, not by their taxes for transportation or roads. I don’t think anyone here is making the case that transporting students is free (though some politicians have made that claim), what is being discussed is whether a transportation agency should be funding what is typically paid for by school resources.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:47:50 +0000

It might be a deduction, but aren’t most working-class and even a lot of lower-middle class people going to take a standard deduction anyways and not ever realize the benefits of it?

By: SEAN

SEAN — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:00:37 +0000

There is one district here in Westchester that doesn’t transport students, Pleasantville. Afew others that are simmilarlly sized like Tuckahoe, Bronxville & Rye Neck could scale back transport of students or out right turminate it with the exception of special ed.