Critics of free transit programs argue that free fares may not decrease driving or fight climate change. Dr. Destiny Thomas explains why that argument ‘misses the point.’
In an excerpt from a conversation for Streetsblog’s The Brake podcast, Kea Wilson and Dr. Destiny Thomas discuss why the arguments frequently made against free transit programs are “missing the point.”
Thomas addresses the claim that free transit may not reduce driving or emissions, calling the construction of free transit as a climate change solution “a construct of inequity in and of itself.” According to Thomas, “We need free transit because people can’t afford it, because of how our societies have become rooted in capitalism and the monetization of basic needs and commodities. And that’s a very different point of juncture.”
For Thomas, “putting the burden of resolving our climate change crisis on people who are already suffering and struggling — I think that is morally disastrous.” Free transit may not be a silver bullet, Thomas says, but “You have to be willing to take approaches that are reparative for a small number of people who are just suffering, and we have to be okay with those measures not benefiting everyone at the same time.”
Hear the full conversation on The Brake.
FULL STORY: Why Arguments Against ‘Free Transit’ Are Missing the Point
How Inadequate Transit Harms College Students
A lack of access to affordable and reliable transit is being cited as a major reason why many college students don't finish school.
Opinion: To Increase Equity, Make Buses Free
With buses as a dominant transport mode for low-income households and "essential workers," free fares would increase access to economic opportunities and free up limited income for cash-strapped commuters.
Book Excerpt: Inclusive Transportation: A Manifesto for Repairing Divided Communities
What is your transportation story?
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.
Adaptive Reuse Will Create Housing in a Suburban Texas Strip Mall
A developer is reimagining a strip mall property as a mixed-use complex with housing and retail.
Study: Anti-Homelessness Laws Don’t Work
Research shows that punitive measures that criminalized unhoused people don’t help reduce homelessness.
In U.S., Urban Gondolas Face Uphill Battle
Cities in Latin America and Europe have embraced aerial transitways — AKA gondolas — as sustainable, convenient urban transport, especially in tricky geographies. American cities have yet to catch up.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont