trochee

i completely agree. fare costs don't offset much of the transit system expenses anyway -- something like 10%. I think that the real motive behind fare-collection is that the county and city are afraid that free access would turn the buses into rolling homeless camps.

But really, I strongly doubt that would happen. Drivers would still be able to kick people off the bus -- i've seen them do it now, even after the drunk aggro dude paid his fare.