Free Public Transport - Disadvantages

Disadvantages

Several large North American municipalities have attempted zero-fare systems, but many of these implementations have been unsuccessful. A 2002 Department of Transport report suggests that, while transit ridership does tend to increase, there are also some serious disadvantages to converting to fare-free operation:

• A sharp increase in vandalism and hooliganism
• Transit vehicles turning into de facto homeless shelters
• In large transit systems, significant revenue shortfalls
• A significant increase in driver complaints and staff turnover, even though farebox-related arguments are all but eliminated
• Slower service overall (not collecting fares has the effect of speeding boarding, but increased crowding tends to swamp out this effect)
• Declines in schedule adherence
• Increased costs in security and vehicle-maintenance

This report also suggests that, while ridership does increase overall, the ultimate goal of reducing emissions by enticing drivers to take transit instead is rarely met: in fact, because fare-free systems tend to attract large numbers of hooligans, vagrants and other "problem riders", zero-fare systems often have the effect of frightening potential riders back into their cars—the exact opposite of the desired effect.