Philly Transit Riders Union supports #freepublictransit

@phillyTRU

Philly Transit Riders Union - meeting - @phillyTRU

February General Meeting:
Next Sunday! 2/16 from 4pm-6pmhttps://t.co/ZaRMhTooWc

— Philly Transit Riders Union (@phillyTRU) February 9, 2020

Advice to Philadelphia from 2009 -- not taken

Let's spend $1 billion a year on Philadelphia's transportation system from 2010-2015. That's $6 billion. Let's make this investment in an effective regional system. Then let's see what happens. Make Philadelphia the nation's public-transit experiment.

Instead of spending billions to redo the South Street Bridge - scrap it. Build a walking and biking bridge. I don't know if anyone has noticed, but the Schuylkill Expressway runs a lot better without a South Street exit and entrance - they were death traps anyway.

https://www.inquirer.com/philly/opinion/20090421_The__Free_Transit__option.html 

Temple News calls for #freepublictransit for students

“It’s frustrating having to pay around $30 a semester for a class I am required to take for my major,” said Dyamond Jones, a freshman nursing major. “I just think each campus has different resources and it would definitely be beneficial to have free transportation across the city.”

Many other city-based colleges already provide free public transportation to their students. 

For example, students at the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University and Chatham University are granted fare-free rides on public transit throughout Allegheny County because of the schools’ collaboration with Port Authority Transit, a public transportation company in Pittsburgh, according to the Port Authority website.

https://temple-news.com/temple-septa-consider-free-public-transportation/ 

Candidate for US Congress PA-02 calls for #freepublictransit

@Salem4Congress

Even the Carter Administration was against public transit

SEPTA boss Louis Gambaccini was told by the Carter Administration that the money allocated to address the problem of oil-dependency should not be used for public transit. The reasoning was that public transit was a small percentage of overall transport costs!

Fare-free buses are affordable and solve many car problems

hmmm let's take a look at philadelphia's billion $ budget for FY19 and you tell me whether or not public transportation can be free, the homeless can be homed, the opoid crisis can be solved. if only two violent state apparatuses could spare some change... pic.twitter.com/ZhHMdV2tFB

— lia ❤️ TWICE (@kickassical94) March 28, 2019

911 - Government cell phone lies exposed

In the face of #climate disaster oil trolls still tryna gut #publictransit

philly.com: "The proposal unveiled Tuesday by a group of Pennsylvania House Republicans would force SEPTA to cut service by 40 percent and raise fares by 20 percent by January, said Rich Burnfield, SEPTA’s deputy general manager and treasurer.

“It would definitely impact all divisions, all routes across the five counties that we serve,” he said."

Scientists calling for drastic energy reduction so Philadelphia encourages more driving

US News : "PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia's public transportation agency is reminding riders that a fare increase is set to go into effect over the weekend.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority says the fare increase goes across all modes of transportation and starts on Saturday."

Car culture means people cannot get to work

dailykos: "Another survey, by Temple University’s Institute of Survey Research, found that lack of transportation was the biggest barrier to employment, with 39 percent of respondents below the poverty line saying that not being able to get to work was more of an obstacle than a criminal history, child care problems or language barriers."

Public enthusiasm bodes well for Lancaster's 'active transportation' planning

lancasteronline.com: "The consultants helping Lancaster County develop a comprehensive walking, biking and transit plan said they’re encouraged by the high level of public interest here.

To date, about 900 people have filled out an online survey, giving opinions on existing road and trail conditions and making recommendations. And more than 100 people attended an open house Thursday, March 2, to pore over maps, learn about the plan and find out what happens next."