My understanding is that there are many costs associated with collecting fares, beyond the wages of the enforcement cops. In most (all?) places, the majority of fare revenue just go back to paying for fare collection. Only 20-40% is actual profit.
If transit was free, so many more people would use it, so you can collectivize the loss of profit from taxes and everyone is bettter off. Except for all the people who were employed in the fare collection complex. They will need new jobs.
Fare collection on public transit is an ideological, not financial, necessity.
My understanding is that there are many costs associated with collecting fares, beyond the wages of the enforcement cops. In most (all?) places, the majority of fare revenue just go back to paying for fare collection. Only 20-40% is actual profit.
If transit was free, so many more people would use it, so you can collectivize the loss of profit from taxes and everyone is bettter off. Except for all the people who were employed in the fare collection complex. They will need new jobs.
Fare collection on public transit is an ideological, not financial, necessity.