Low-cost, high-quality public transportation will serve the public better than free rides

Chicago’s Washington-Wabash station opened in 2017 – the first new stop on the city’s elevated rail system in 20 years. Youngrae Kim/The Washington Post via Getty Images
by Nicholas Dagen Bloom, Hunter College
Public transit systems face daunting challenges across the U.S., from pandemic ridership losses to traffic congestion, fare evasion and pressure to keep rides affordable. In some cities, including Boston, Kansas City and Washington, many elected officials and advocates se