Ride Free Area - Public Engagement Report

463. i feel that you should still have the free ride people that can not go up hills such as spring and also would be better for people only needing to go a few blocks if you take away the free ride area would not be fair for a lot of people such as the people who are homeless and need to go to the shelters that are within the free ride area and it would not be fair for the elderly who need to get home and live with in the ride free area. Metro implemented the increase in car tabs and now they want people to pay and get rid of the ride free area. I live in downtown and have osetoarthritis and can not go up hills such as spring street do it would not be fair to people to get rid of the ride free area makes not sense the bus drivers do not inforce the pay policy and getting rid of the ride free area would just make alot of people mad this is my opinion from someone who is disabled and lives with in the ride free area and i am also 53 years old so i feel you should just cut back with the hours of the ride free area and brodcast it better like announcements on the buses because some people may not know about this or have people at the bus stops and have people fill out a survey about cutting out the ride free area .

464. This is going to result in massive delays unless a cash surcharge is instituted and/or elimination of all paper transfers. Other than wheelchairs, multiple people paying with cash is the biggest slowdown and with payment required 24/7 in the city center this will help to mitigate the rush hour delays.

465. Ending the Free Ride zone is not going to save any money and will certainly not increase revenue. This is really a selfish and short-sighted move on the part of Metro who continues to disenfranchise lower income and disabled people, while further reducing Seattle's ranking as a livable city. I will be less inclined to support Metro than ever before if this change goes into effect.

466. Transit should not be a monopoly, especially a government run monopoly because this practice removes competitive options for people. I commute daily from Seattle the Redmond. Excessive taxes, road tolls and expensive and time consuming bus rides have drastically reduced our work and life quality in this area. Why not let a truly free market take over transportation?

467. Although I'm sorry that low income people will be affected, the silver lining is that it will eliminate people who ride the bus and are rowdy or unkempt. I know this sounds elitist, but I have had a few trips ruined by groups of people who take the pleasure of riding a bus for granted and don't behave themselves. Since I live in Snohomish County, I end up paying in the Ride Free Area anyway.

468. My only mode of transportation is the bus system, which I use quite often to go to Northgate, University District, South Seattle, etc. However, I live and work downtown and use the free ride area every day. I'm not quite sure how eliminating the ride free zone will help with anything, as the buses are already taking these routes, so offering the ride free zone is a great benefit to the people who live downtown. It is also a nice benefit for visitors to quickly get from one end of town to the other. Our visitors/tourists support our economy by shopping and eating at downtown establishments, but might not do so readily, if they have to pay for the bus to get to their designated restaurant. I have lived in downtown Seattle for over 8 years and just don't see the point of eliminating the ride free zone. I will definitely be re-evaluating my mode of transportation, because it will be ridiculous to pay $2.50 to go 13 blocks twice a day. I might end up purchasing a vehicle, which will only add to the congestion downtown, but at least I won't have to take the bus to Northgate, U District, etc.

469. .." increasing the number of discounted bus tickets available to human service agencies for distribution to their clients"... One great failure of Metro is in defining its mission. The city of Seattle, and Metro, would like more people to ride the bus in and out of town. Two problems: 1 - many