Judy Tigerman, 65, of the South Loop, wrote to "Going Public" with an idea of how the CTA could save money.
"I ride the bus every day to the Loop where I work. Yes, I am getting the benefit of 'free rides for seniors' and really do not agree with it -- it was fine when we were paying half-price fares.
What I wanted to address is that I ride every day with quite a few 'very large' people -- men and women who, during rush hour, because of their size must take up two seats on an already crowded bus.
Why not take the route that the airlines take and charge these people for the two seats that they are occupying?
If you are taking seating for two people, you should pay two fares -- it seems only fair to me. It certainly would make for some more revenue for the CTA. I'm sure not nearly enough but every little bit helps."
Sponsored by:
Our Bloggerati
Featured on RedEye
8 Comments
wooddroe said:
Look at how much revenue CTA is loosing to Free Rider making more than the driver or students that get out of school at 3pm but can ride the bus at reduce fare until 8pm or university pass can ride 24/7 no matter if they are partying and the people that let others use they passes. It make me mad when i have to pay while others out smart the system. There should 2 pieces of ID'S showed to the operator for these passes and the usage time on all of them
Hold Please said:
Right, let's add insult to injury by charging people who could have a legitimate medical disorder twice what others pay to ride.
This, my friend, is called discrimination. How the airlines get away with it, I'll never know, but they do.
How about we do as you indicated and drop the free rides program? Why should anyone get to ride free? Half priced for retirees sure, a discount for students, and anyone under 13 rides free, but that's it.
cubslvr74 said:
I agree..... you nailed it
chitownloon said:
Ok if we do what you said and charge "very large" people twice, then let's charge twice the parents with strollers, kids who when not putting their feet up on the seat next to them are putting their backpacks on said seat next to them, and let's not forget people who use shopping carts *cough* seniors *cough*.
roy519 said:
Leave a comment...
cubslvr74 said:
Ok, first off you ride free so what do you care? We the taxpayers are paying for you. Second, what do you consider "very large"? Odds are you are just to lazy to ask to sit down, or to even try sitting down. Yes people should try and control their weight, but who are you to judge. Like Hold Please said its discrimination. You older adults are always complaining about how you are victims of discrimination, and yet you feel the need to discriminate against others. To me you are just a sad, sad person for bringing this up. It may annoy you, but its possable that you annoy other people, and they won't charge you double.
CGT said:
Who exactly would be the person that decides if someone is fat enough that they have to pay double? Because as an operator myself, I sure as hell don't want that responsibility on my shoulders. I get enough hostility from passengers without having to judge people's size, and how much they have to pay due to it.
Matt B said:
"If you are taking seating for two people, you should pay two fares"
So, if I stand for the entire trip--thereby taking no seating--I should be able to ride for free!
Give me a break.
Leave a Comment?
What your comment will look like:
said: