UTTRI associated faculty Professor Amer Shalaby comments on the pros and cons of free public transit in an article about Victoria’s plans to eliminate fares for children and youth under 18.
“Victoria to offer free transit for those under 18” by Ian Bailey appeared in the Globe and Mail British Columbia on June 12, 2019. Below is a quote from the article:
Amer Shalaby, a professor specializing in public transit planning and operations at the University of Toronto’s Transportation Research Institute, said opinion has been divided on the issue of free youth transit among transit planners.
Some say it could encourage unnecessary trips, leading to overcrowding on transit without generating revenues. However, there is also the argument that it could create lifelong transit users.In an interview, Mr. Shalaby said he thinks free transit is a good idea for some individuals, notably youth and seniors, because it enables broad travel, engaging in productive activities such as after-school jobs, and accessing community centres.
Read the full article online here.