Originally Posted by
NVanHiker
As a Vancouver taxpayer, I'm just waiting until next year for our turn to get hosed by this money-losing feel-good scheme. I see Montreal had to pony up over ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS to keep Bixi afloat. At least you have Citi bank as a sponsor.
I'm not aware of any mass transit option that doesn't lose money FWIW. If NYC charged full freight for subway rides it would be quite a bit more expensive than $2.50 per ride. Of course there would be also increased car traffic as a result and all that accompanies that in the city such as greater congestion, noise and air pollution, reduced parking, etc.
Edit to add - farebox revenue is @ 38% of the cost to operate the mass transit system in the NYC metro area.
http://www.tstc.org/101/mta.php