If So Many People Support Mass Transit, Why Do So Few Ride?

[exnewsman]

My issue with the 0.50 cents is the same issue I have with downtown parking meters. It's the 21st century. I don't carry quarters around in my pockets like I did as a kid in the late 80s and early 90s, and the hassle of trying to is worse than driving, IMO.

That alone, resulted in a change for me.  Instead of taking the Skyway to visit places on the other side of the river, I'd seek alternatives or just waited till I left downtown altogether to take care of errands, on my drive back home.  Similarly, when I didn't work downtown at a company that pays for my monthly parking, I avoided the hassle of keeping quarters on me and worrying about getting ticketed for exceeding time by avoiding downtown businesses, altogether. Instead, it was easier to drive the extra mile to places in Riverside, San Marco, and Springfield.

Lake - you've traveled quite a bit. What do other cities with trains/streetcars handle the money issue?

I like that the Skyway is free. Its certainly easier to just get on and ride than ensuring you have change. I haven't ridden similar vehicles elsewhere so I was wondering what your experience is with other cities and their trains - Charlotte, Vegas, Portland, Tucson, etc. as far as payment goes.

[exnewsman]

I agree that convenience plays a role. I use the Skyway often because it's convenient for me and free.

Just curious - would you still use if it weren't free? What if it was 50 cents but with the same convenience?

You can't really use that argument.  I believe the main issue with the fee was the collection method and not the fee itself.  And seriously, when the majority of the trips on the Skyway are from Rosa Park to Hemming and back... is it really worth $.50 for 4 blocks?

It wasn't an argument. It was a question to that point only. I'm aware of the collection issue in the past. I was strictly wondering if a fee would be a deterrent to future usage given his "convenient" usage.

With everything else at JTA running on the STAR card you can assume, I think, that it can no longer use the old collection system for the Skyway at this point. That's why I didn't include it in my question.

[thelakelander]

My issue with the 0.50 cents is the same issue I have with downtown parking meters. It's the 21st century. I don't carry quarters around in my pockets like I did as a kid in the late 80s and early 90s, and the hassle of trying to is worse than driving, IMO.

That alone, resulted in a change for me.  Instead of taking the Skyway to visit places on the other side of the river, I'd seek alternatives or just waited till I left downtown altogether to take care of errands, on my drive back home.  Similarly, when I didn't work downtown at a company that pays for my monthly parking, I avoided the hassle of keeping quarters on me and worrying about getting ticketed for exceeding time by avoiding downtown businesses, altogether. Instead, it was easier to drive the extra mile to places in Riverside, San Marco, and Springfield.

Lake - you've traveled quite a bit. What do other cities with trains/streetcars handle the money issue?

Fare collection is easier.....even in the case of BRT, like the Health Line in Cleveland.  I can pay by card and typically you can pay once, no matter how many transfers you need to take to your destination.  However, in the case of the T in Pittsburgh, I do like that downtown is a fare free zone for that LRT system.  The Metromover in Downtown Miami is another fare free example.