Metro Transit

[Wetpaperbag]

This burns me up. Word on the street is less then half of the riders actually pay to ride, and yet Metro Transit is going broke and they want tax payers (who most don't ride Metro) to foot the bill. Perhaps Metro could enforce pay to ride, and not let people on if they don't pay...what a concept right? Actually pay for services? Or since Seattle just raised the minimum wage to $15 an hour they can raise the bus fare. Swcuntd wants to make businesses pay, but after paying for minimum wage (and soon dbagcare) businesses will be so tapped out there won't be any jobs left if businesses have to close up shop or charge huge prices for their goods. I think riders should pay, since they are the ones using the system. You ride you pay. Real simple. Not enough riders then services get cut. Wouldn't be an issue if Metro was a private system.

[Captain90s]

I dunno about half. I've seen metro drivers let people on for free, but few and far between. I don't use metro as much as I used to, so maybe it's changed in the last year?

[Sissyboy]

Not sure where you got your info but 50% isn't even remotely close to factual. There has been huge crackdown over the last couple years not only on riders but also operators. Fare enforcement can be seen regularly issuing citations. Operators are well aware of under cover fare enforcement stings being conducted on them. They are disciplined severely if caught letting people ride for free. There are cameras on a high percentage of the coaches that can be used to monitor this as well.

[os2firefox]

Last time I rode, no one got a free ride... except for the free Seattle zone

[olydemon]

Not sure where you got your info but 50% isn't even remotely close to factual. There has been huge crackdown over the last couple years not only on riders but also operators. Fare enforcement can be seen regularly issuing citations. Operators are well aware of under cover fare enforcement stings being conducted on them. They are disciplined severely if caught letting people ride for free. There are cameras on a high percentage of the coaches that can be used to monitor this as well.

Pffft.... what do you know.... you act like you work there or something... hahah.


I ride the hobo train daily, and the only free rides I ever see are the guys who get on uptown, and fish for a transfer for a few blocks, then get booted down the line when they cant find it. That's OK to them because by that time they are at the Mission....

[WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot]

Lol what's your source for this "word on the street"?

nobody ever gets a free ride. At most, they're short 50 cents and the driver just waves them through with the two dollars they already collected.

I've seen plenty of instances where drivers say "this is not enough" and kicks them off or some good neighbor chips in the difference.

[Ops]

I call BULLSHIT

[STED9R]

I worked in bus industry a while back, still know some wrenches and drivers that work either at Pierce or Metro.
Some do get free rides, no high percentage though. But, I quess if you are seeing even one per route and per day over an entire operation spread out over a month, that's probably a driver's wage right there.
The drivers are not allowed to create a conflict, not by policy or union. They are required to contact dispatch for metro police but, 9 times outta 10 the problem is gone at next stop. The drivers also, some I should say, see the same people every day and make judgement on short fares.
Really, the fares isn't the issue. Without throwing people I know under the bus, makes the military look like a girl scout troop with the waste in monies and other resources that happens. Wish I had accepted the offer 9 years ago but, not wanting to work graveyard to start, even though it was close to 30 an hour to do maybe 4-5 hours of actual hands on while waiting and taking a 2 hour paid nap waiting for a job to come in.