Please visit my web page "Urban Tenets" at https://urbantenets.nl/
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On the one hand fixed ticket pricing may assure good quality transit service but struggle to lure enough commuters, on the other hand free public transport may defy its purpose due to deteriorating quality of service.
Thinking of barriers to modal shift i.e. shift from private vehicle to public
transport, the factors may include, fare, quality, frequency, coverage, commute
time, waiting time among others. Price may be overarching and most important
criteria (barrier or enabler), and might dictate modal shift. Thinking of
price, especially fixed price, it may act as a barrier for entry to public
transport and shape the behaviour of citizen. The moment a person or millions
of youth over the time, start a working life in a city, they decide the best
possible and economic option to commute to work. Calculating monthly public
transport expense is easy, i.e. multiply fixed return fair price to number of
commute days (even if subsidised its still fixed). If their calculation shows
private transport (personal or shared) as cheaper option, they are most likely
to choose bike/ car/ shared car as their preferred mode of daily commute. Then
they are more likely to eventually buy their own car as well. Then there is no
looking back, if discouraged to take public transport to work in first few
instances, for any reason, its most likely that they may get accustomed to
comfort, convenience and routine of travelling by car for life and never to
give consideration to using public transport again for their routine commute.
They may possibly even become brand ambassador of car, or shared car, or
electric car; still a car.
One way a public transport can make practical sense for such millions of people
making wrong choices, is if people are given a deal, a surety, that there is a
chance that their effective monthly travel expenses may still come down, that
their daily fair will get reduced as a function of occupancy of public
transport; and never go higher than the fixed price. That is, ticket prices are
likely to reduce in real time if buses or metro or tram are running
under-capacity. Real time reduced price will encourage more people to opt for
public transport and public transport will benefit from increased ridership.
This is a win-win situation for citizens and public transport agency, agencies
who are seen running their fleet without sufficient passengers many a times,
everyday, over and over again, over years; loosing thousands and millions of
potential latent commuter footfalls every month.
It cant be stressed enough that dynamic real time ticket pricing with a max
price cap equivalent to current fixed price, is something that public transport
authorities must consider for implementation, at least for pilot test of 3 to 6
months.
Author: Anoop Jha
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[Recent update
Starting 2024, launching urban management, interior design, home decor and commissioned artwork services in the Netherlands, serving local as well as international remote clients.
Please Note, that I am also conducting a FREE 45-minute online individual consultation on your interior design and home decor needs and aspirations if you are in the Netherlands or even internationally. Drop me an email at anoop.jha@gmail.com
Please visit my web page "Urban Tenets" at https://urbantenets.nl/
Instagram interior design page @urbantenets
Instagram fine art and illustration page @urbanoregional
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#publictransport #fare #ticket #travel #urbanplanning #transportplanning #Rotterdam #Hauge #Hague #Utrecht #Netherlands
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