Re: 鈥淗organ passes on free transit,鈥� April 27.
It is amazing that no matter how much things change, the more they stay the same. Free transit is not a new concept. In the early 1970s, I was a student with a social-democratic bent. It would make some Victoria councillors cringe in fear.
I researched the concept of 鈥渇ree transit鈥� for an economics course to prove the viability of such a proposal.
There were innumerable studies throughout North America and Europe to evaluate different variables that increased ridership and the success of alternative transit systems.
If I remember, my paper was well received, but didn鈥檛 get the A-plus I expected. The paper鈥檚 conclusion was that it was the closeness of the bus stops to each other that increased ridership, not free fares. Perhaps Premier John Horgan accessed my writings, though to my consternation it was never published.
So to the councillors in Victoria, have at it. Show taxpayers the studies. Contact the no-doubt serious researchers at the transit authorities. Why are they not proposing 鈥渇ree transit鈥� to increase ridership?
So score one for the premier, but he should read my paper.
Max Miller
Saanich
