Yesterday, on my way home after an exhausting day of presentations, lectures and volunteering, I experienced the free rider problem frst-handedly. No later than three minutes after boarding the Number 10 bus to Copley Sq, the drama began to unfold. An absolutely ordinary looking, elderly man got on, tapped his Charlie Card and took a step, continuing to examine the bus's interior in a desperate search for a free seat. I glanced out the window at the augmenting line of workers trying to make the rush-hour 5PM commute and felt somewhat relieved that I was already inside, getting comfortable on the warm, blue seat. I would have continued daydreaming if the bus driver hadn't done what he did. I woke up from my absent-mindedness as he got up from his driver seat, pulled back the old man in an instant and made him tap his bus pass again. The Charlie Card made the "it doesn't work" sound again, and again, and again... The bus driver forced the man to tap it at least a couple more times before the passengers started making disapproving, annoyed remarks. "But he does it all the time," the driver insisted, "he knows what he's doing!"
"So what? Let him! We've got places to be," the loudest woman in the back was heard shouting. The driver finally gave up, reluctantly, and drove off while the gray-haired man kept his vow of silence...
When you realize that someone's free-riding and does it on purpose, willingly and knowingly, where do you draw the line and say enough? If the driver lets one guy get on without paying who knows how many are going to follow? At the same time, the interests of the other passengers are conflicting. On the one hand, the public bus is technically not a public good since people continue to pay to use the MBTA services. On the other, their tax dollars still cover the gaps to fund all of public transportation's maintenance expenses, salaries, etc. Moreover, their willingness to let one slip through the cracks of honesty and good citizenry allows others to believe that it's OK to free ride.
We really don't think in a long term way when we've had an excruciatingly long day at work and all we want is to get off at Copley and take yet another means of transportation to our destination.
Disclaimer: Yes, I have free-ridden myself. Mostly in foreign countries when I don't know where to buy tickets. I also loved the old system of bus transfers and everyone being able to get on the Green Line for free along the BU-BC route. And, I admit that maybe, occasionally, I've forgotten my T-pass or wallet at home and I'm so grateful for the more lenient operators who let me get on without paying... Yes, I believe in universal, free, public transportation for all, but I don't believe in playing dumb. I don't appreciate people taking advantage of a system supported by all and doing it with a clear conscience on a daily basis.
I can't see how you can believe in a free public transportation system. Even if it's not paid directly, it will be paid through taxes.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, you are right - drawing the line between shit-happens situations and free riding is an unsolvable problem.
I love free riding once in a while. ;-) Yet this practice remains closely tied to notions like fairness, honesty and responsibility. It is a tricky question.
ReplyDeleteLoved your description in the beginning, very captivating!
Digz, taxes already pay for it. Unfortunately, a large percent of the amount currently collected by US taxpayers goes to fund other government expenses related to national security. See, http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=1258
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that there are other ways to redistribute the G - T equation.
Maggie, tricky as you say, because there are low incentives not to do so or because there is no appropriate way to police the problem?
As an economist you should point out that all the cars that went by during this incident were "freely" pouring pollution into the air. A bus works 18 hours a day, a car sits 18 hours. We should make all public transit fare-free.
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