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@jenniferplusplus that would be a killer incentive

@jenniferplusplus I would like to subscribe to your newsletter, ma'am.

@jenniferplusplus honestly, that is a very good point

@jenniferplusplus they did that in Houston when they built the light rail initially, sort of. They gave the hospitals in the medical center free passes to give their staff so they could car pool to the southern most point of the rail and ride it in to town. Unsure how effective it was or if it's still in practice. Personally yeah would rather have it open for all but you know, puritanical anti-homeless rhetoric.

@jenniferplusplus The feds subsidize metro transit passes for employees in DC, which is a good start.

@jenniferplusplus If we paid people to encourage healthier behaviors, we'd probably solve a lot of social problems.

@jenniferplusplus

People are so blind to the incredulous destruction to our cities that are caused by autos, taking away all our safety and freedom of movement. Our society is so brainwashed by the automotive industry that when they see what they've lost right in front of their face, they always have to blame the victim or something else (but usually the victim). A child can't walk without supervision because of cars, a person cannot commute by bicycle because of cars, living is too dangerous.

@jenniferplusplus even people that drive should get behind this, as it would mean fewer cars on the road, so less traffic.

@jenniferplusplus all those old cable cars and electric buses with overhead wires also show that it can be done since centuries with electricity only. Now get the energy from renewable sources and bingo, An easier more environmental friendly works for everyone but the fossil industry which directly destroys our liveable environment.

@jenniferplusplus I don't have one right now (I used to, the outlay is pricey though), but in Ireland you can buy public transport tickets that give you tax credits: https://www.taxsaver.ie/

@jenniferplusplus didn't Copenhagen go all in on bikes post-war because they were simply too broke to put up car infrastructure

@jenniferplusplus and it should be funded with property taxes, in the same way that other public services are.

@jenniferplusplus Not very long ago Albuquerque New Mexico became the largest American city to make public transit free for all of its users.

And they saved a ton of money by doing it

@jenniferplusplus Yep. Similarly, whenever some big-brained car fanatic says that cyclists should pay tolls to cross a bridge, I point out that the toll should be negative on the basis of avoided cost.

@jenniferplusplus this used to be a thing in Canada. Bus pass costs were a tax credit. They killed it in 2017 though :(

@jenniferplusplus I found out recently that this is kind of how it works in Belgium: https://www.eurodev.com/blog/calculation-of-commuter-benefits-from-distance-to-reimbursement

(I was just a visitor, and haven't looked at it too closely - but happened to hear about it from a local)