I am impressed there was no report of conservative backlash.

themafia 3 hours ago | parent | next [-]

I'm conservative. I think buses should be free. Then they'll actually get used and all the secondary benefits they were supposed to bring will be much more easily realized.

You need public transport in major cities. Not everyone can or should drive.

You need private transportation almost everywhere. Not everyone should be forced to ride public transport just because it exists.

As long as people have an actual choice that's not manipulated in some way then I think the system is fine. It has a public function and it provides immediate and secondary benefits.

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PopePompus 3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Iowa City is the bluest of Iowa cities. It's a university town.

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jerlam 3 hours ago | parent [-]

That tracks, it's a situation where most people are going to the same place so public transit has a huge advantage.

I am surprised that the bus wasn't already free; in my college town and the one near it (both had their own bus line), fares are free for all undergraduates.

	▲	SoftTalker an hour ago \| parent \| next [-]
		My experience with bus service in college towns is that the routes between campus and student residential areas get heavy use, while the buses serving the rest of the town drive around nearly empty.
	▲	E39M5S62 3 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		U of I's cambus is free, but it has a limited route in and around the campus. City buses cover a lot more area.

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3eb7988a1663 3 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

That is a particularly fine line to walk for the modern conservative. Government should not be picking winners, except for the very targeted tariffs that just happen to benefit company X or Y.

	▲	trollbridge an hour ago \| parent \| next [-]
		I would note that based on my experience in Africa, there were a lot of private buses being operated, ridership was high, and the buses were cheap. In America we have very few private intra-city buses, ridership is low, and the buses are very expensive when you consider how much goes to them in the way of subsidies.
	▲	blitzar 3 hours ago \| parent \| prev \| next [-]
		Government should not be picking winners ... the company with the biggest bribe wins.
	▲	exasperaited an hour ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		Shouldn't be picking winners -- unless you can bully them for a cut of the business, of course.