Originally Posted by
yugyug
A simpler solution is to just make public transport completely free. Its typically subsided from general taxation anyway, making it free is one little step further which encourages people to use it and leave their cars at home. Loads of other social benefits too.
You may want to check the facts for the particular public transportation system you are thinking of. Here in Portland, our municipal bus system (Trimet) has an annual budget of $473MM, of which $102MM is funded by passenger fares, and $371MM is subsidized by the government (2012 numbers). If the bus were free, then the government would have to come up with another $102MM, and probably a bit more since increased ridership drives some increased operating costs.
Suppose we spent that $102MM on bike-related programs instead of making the bus free? Well, that would be like going to heaven as far as our bike budget is concerned. We have only about $1MM/year budget for all bike and pedestrian infrastructure projects. The actual spend ends up higher, because some specific projects get federal or state funding, and some bike improvements get done as part of roadway projects, but I think the total annual spending for all bike infrastructure is still less than $10MM/year.
So, we can make the bus free, or we can do a decade of bike infrastructure inprovements in one year. Choice? Lesson: there is no "free".