Free bus service in DC proposed

[Anonymous]

Don't some high numbers of people just not pay anyways? Same with metro I see people just climb over the gates every day.

[Anonymous]

Downtown is dying. Vacancy rates are throw the roof, which are driving down property values which will mean radically lower property tax revenues, which will blow a giant hole in the city's budget. But, sure, let's focus on...[checks notes]...making buses free?

This is what it's like to be ruled by children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't some high numbers of people just not pay anyways? Same with metro I see people just climb over the gates every day.

Let's pay for metro from taxes too. I'm not sure why we're wasting money on faregates and enforcement when we can just pay for the service itself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Downtown is dying. Vacancy rates are throw the roof, which are driving down property values which will mean radically lower property tax revenues, which will blow a giant hole in the city's budget. But, sure, let's focus on...[checks notes]...making buses free?

This is what it's like to be ruled by children.

Oh no! Did your favorite steakhouse close and now you have to pick from one of the remaining 7? It must be really hard to be you now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't some high numbers of people just not pay anyways? Same with metro I see people just climb over the gates every day.

Let's pay for metro from taxes too. I'm not sure why we're wasting money on faregates and enforcement when we can just pay for the service itself.

You are paying for Metro through your DC taxes. DC already has some of the highest tax rates in the nation. Is your solution simply to raise tax rates further -- on someone else.presumably?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just to be clear. It is not free. You are or will be paying via your tax bill. If it helps with fare jumpers, probably a good thing.

Do these fare jumpers pay taxes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would be better if our government focused on real problems.

Such as?

This will reduce crime. No more fare evasion on the bus!

Seriously. Thats the crime currently a pressing matter?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:You're going to love it when the buses are full of homeless people.

I've been on buses with homeless people and I'm ok with it.

not buses with homeless people. buses FULL of homeless people. they would become de facto homeless shelters.

Then maybe we need to do better with our homeless shelters if they're choosing a bus over the shelter.

But I also don't believe your hyperbole.

Have you visited DC public libraries lately?

Yes? With my kids. They're great.

And homeless people have a right to use them and buses. If you don't like homeless people using public services then maybe we could get them homes?

Build a shipping container camp with small rooms on the vacant land at RFK. Provide services on site, including skills building and security. But then no more living on the streets and no more camping in the parks!

Stupid idea to accumulate all trouble makers in one place.

[Anonymous]

Help people settle in low cost areas near hubs for their skill level jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't some high numbers of people just not pay anyways? Same with metro I see people just climb over the gates every day.

Let's pay for metro from taxes too. I'm not sure why we're wasting money on faregates and enforcement when we can just pay for the service itself.

You are paying for Metro through your DC taxes. DC already has some of the highest tax rates in the nation. Is your solution simply to raise tax rates further -- on someone else.presumably?

I'll pay a little more in taxes, then I won't have to pay at the gate. What's the big deal? Are you a fan of making all roads toll roads? We just pay for those from taxes too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:You're going to love it when the buses are full of homeless people.

I've been on buses with homeless people and I'm ok with it.

not buses with homeless people. buses FULL of homeless people. they would become de facto homeless shelters.

Then maybe we need to do better with our homeless shelters if they're choosing a bus over the shelter.

But I also don't believe your hyperbole.

Have you visited DC public libraries lately?

Yes? With my kids. They're great.

And homeless people have a right to use them and buses. If you don't like homeless people using public services then maybe we could get them homes?

Build a shipping container camp with small rooms on the vacant land at RFK. Provide services on site, including skills building and security. But then no more living on the streets and no more camping in the parks!

Stupid idea to accumulate all trouble makers in one place.

We have plenty spread across K St and Congress does that help?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Downtown is dying. Vacancy rates are throw the roof, which are driving down property values which will mean radically lower property tax revenues, which will blow a giant hole in the city's budget. But, sure, let's focus on...[checks notes]...making buses free?

This is what it's like to be ruled by children.

Oh no! Did your favorite steakhouse close and now you have to pick from one of the remaining 7? It must be really hard to be you now.

This is just weird. So you're cool with an entire section of the city becoming a ghost town? And what happens to the city's budget when one of its main revenue sources dries up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Downtown is dying. Vacancy rates are throw the roof, which are driving down property values which will mean radically lower property tax revenues, which will blow a giant hole in the city's budget. But, sure, let's focus on...[checks notes]...making buses free?

This is what it's like to be ruled by children.

Oh no! Did your favorite steakhouse close and now you have to pick from one of the remaining 7? It must be really hard to be you now.

This is just weird. So you're cool with an entire section of the city becoming a ghost town? And what happens to the city's budget when one of its main revenue sources dries up?

You can hypothesize that all you want, but we've had surpluses for as long as I can remember. Downtown isn't a ghost town except to fox news viewers, but that's your problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Free is great, but they really need to work on expanding bus routes (particularly east-west routes) and improving reliability for ALL parts of the city. We're in Ward 4 and like to take the bus to school and weekend activities. During the weekday buses are often late (which can make you late to school) and just flat out don't show on weekends. I can bail and drive, but what about the old folks and shift workers that have to sit at the stop for 45 minutes hoping a bus comes eventually? As those old folks like to say, it's a problem for us, not for the folks riding the 16th street buses.

No reason we can't have better bus service AND no boarding fee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Free is great, but they really need to work on expanding bus routes (particularly east-west routes) and improving reliability for ALL parts of the city. We're in Ward 4 and like to take the bus to school and weekend activities. During the weekday buses are often late (which can make you late to school) and just flat out don't show on weekends. I can bail and drive, but what about the old folks and shift workers that have to sit at the stop for 45 minutes hoping a bus comes eventually? As those old folks like to say, it's a problem for us, not for the folks riding the 16th street buses.

No reason we can't have better bus service AND no boarding fee.

And lavender sparkle ponies for everyone! And money that grows on trees.