Fareless square ending? Should we be happy?

[cosmo]

The trib has an article in Friday's paper (4/21/06) suggesting Tri-Met's downtown fareless program might end.

http://portlandtribune.com/archview.cgi?id=34963

If this proposal goes anywhere, I think Portlanders should advocate that the money previously used to subsidize free fares be used to help pay for bike and pedestrian improvements in the same area. That will help people travel 'free', without using their cars, and avoid the problems cited with fareless bus travel: bus congestion, fare evasion, and bad behavior.

What could we do with the money? Maybe widen Yamhill and Morrison by two feet (just to the edge of the tree cut-outs) and put in a spacious bike lane (which should have been done when Max was built). Or at lease ditch or widen the occasional parking stalls which no one seems to be able to fit their car within. Or maybe add timed lights to the Park Blocks so that cyclists can proceed North / South without having to stop every block (every few blocks would have a 'right turn only' for cars to discourage through motorized traffic) and pedestrians get much-needed crossing lights.

The argument could be made that even if no extra money was spent for bikes, it would be good for cyclists to eliminate the fareless program because it would make biking or walking the only free alternatives thus creating more cyclists and more political pressure for bike facilities.

- Greg Haun

[Russell]

I use fareless to make short (8-16 block) trips around downtown pretty often. There is no way I'd pay $1.65 or more for that privilege. It would cost my girlfriend and I $3.30 to travel home 14 blocks from Whole Foods when we go food shopping.

We'll just take our bikes or walk it, but I do know people I work with or live near who'll drive 12 blocks over paying full fare. I’ll drive it also over getting rained on in the winter. I doubt there would be enough new drivers to clog the streets, but it will increase traffic by some small amount if they do this.

It'd be more fair if they make a new zone (zone 0?) for what is now fareless and sell a single zone fare of $.50 for all the short hoppers who use the bus system downtown. I wouldn't mind paying a fare share, but $3.30 just to cross downtown with some grocery bags is ridiculous.

Last I checked the city claimed it was big on providing incentives to get people to live in high density residential areas in order to lesson pressure on outward expansion. This isn’t going to be a policy that helps that goal

[donnambr]

Wow, this would be a huge change. After all these years of a Fareless Square, the entire downtown area is set up for it, and easy navigation and travel depends on it. Social service agencies and other places the poor receive services are set up downtown for efficient use of Fareless Square. As was mentioned in a previous post, downtown residents not necessarily poor rely on it for the purchase and transport of necessities. Tourist attractions and shopping venues are placed in ideal locations for using it. Downtown workers use it heavily. I know I do. I guess I would end up taking my bike out during the day for smaller errands that I could not accomplish in an hour on foot.

Since I work for a social services agency that provides services to the poor, I will get to experience the effects of its loss on the most vulnerable every day. I would never support this if it were only about getting rid of the "undesirables", but I believe the end of Fareless Square is inevitable. I think we all know the cost of diesel fuel is only going to increase. I won't scare anyone off by indulging in a "Peak Oil" rant, but petroleum subsidies are going to have to end. I think this is simply the first one we will encounter in the Portland area. This was bound to happen no matter how much it spent on light rail redesign or health care for Tri-Met employees. It is unfortunate but not surprising that the first one we will see eliminated will affect the members of society who can least afford it.