"My only point is transparency. If the true, unsubsidized fare were charged would people still ride? Would it still seem like a good deal? Would it still seem like the best plan?"
Do you pay tolls for all the roads you use? Do you pay to park at the store? Do you pay for other's care for their emphezama? Will you buy their flooded house? Do you pay for the funerals of dead walkers and cyclists? Will you pay for new habitat for the wildlife displaced by roads?
Nope, Single Occupancy Assholes, who make up sub-30% of Seattle Commuters and create nearly all the traffic are very entitled. They expect the rest of us taxpayers to fully subsidize the roads, provide free parking at most public buildings, parks and on most streets, and then have the gall to complain about minor point of use fees!
Lets cut the bullshit and bill drivers directly for every mile of wear they put on the road, and for the massive hidden (and unbilled) cost of car storage on public streets and at public facilities. Given a fully transparent market, single occupancy commuting would die a quick death!
Hell, even a minor $1 entrance fee into/out of downtown would shave SOV traffic down 15% to 20%, despite not passing through much of the cost.
Do you pay tolls for all the roads you use? Do you pay to park at the store? Do you pay for other's care for their emphezama? Will you buy their flooded house? Do you pay for the funerals of dead walkers and cyclists? Will you pay for new habitat for the wildlife displaced by roads?