PAT bus stories (fit in, move, public transportation)

[smallfox]

I can confirm that at least in my case, it's $900 worth of books.

[Impala26]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

I don't know the exact terms, but I believe the universities are in fact paying PAT for the "free rides". I suspect it works out to less per ride than full fare, but if they had to pay full fare fewer of them might ride, so it could still work out to PAT's net financial benefit.

And this fails to take into account the many Pitt and CMU students that rarely or never use PAT services, but help pay for them via this fee. People tend to overlook this fact.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Impala26

And this fails to take into account the many Pitt and CMU students that rarely or never use PAT services, but help pay for them via this fee. People tend to overlook this fact.

It definitely is a transfer between students, but the students riding a couple times a day or more are paying WAY less than full fare, even if you attribute the full amount of the transportation fee to transit fares. So what I meant is even when you average it out, I suspect PAT is getting less than full fare per actual ride.

[Impala26]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

It definitely is a transfer between students, but the students riding a couple times a day or more are paying WAY less than full fare, even if you attribute the full amount of the transportation fee to transit fares. So what I meant is even when you average it out, I suspect PAT is getting less than full fare per actual ride.

While this is likely true even when averaged out with complete non-riders, the point still stands that these students aren't really riding for "free" and that the Port Authority arguably has a better revenue influx under this system than having students "fend for themselves". One could even argue that it creates an incentive for students to leave the immediate campus area and partake in local restaurants and stores, contributing to the local economy. Sounds like a win-win to me!

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Impala26

While this is likely true even when averaged out with complete non-riders, the point still stands that these students aren't really riding for "free" and that the Port Authority arguably has a better revenue influx under this system than having students "fend for themselves". One could even argue that it creates an incentive for students to leave the immediate campus area and partake in local restaurants and stores, contributing to the local economy. Sounds like a win-win to me!

Agreed all around.

[PB&J O'Rourke]

Originally Posted by smallfox

I can confirm that at least in my case, it's $900 worth of books.

So which three books are you carrying around regularly?

(I am so dreading going back to school next semester or summer, depending on when I can afford it, I don't think I can afford books on top of whatever other out of pocket expenses I have toward going back...)

[greg42]

Shouldn't it be a county bus not a city bus?

[PB&J O'Rourke]

I don't know, should it?

[greg42]

I was playing off the fact that the Port Authority of Allegheny County which runs the bus and rail transit is a county-wide entity.

It's mainly a joke, it's not like we don't know what you mean.

[Hopes]

I'm not a fan of public transportation, but not because I think the dredges of society ride busses.

Overweight riders purposely chose to sit next to me, sometimes literally on me.

Even though I'm slender, I have a right to equal space!