Free transit pilots are popping up around the world as the pandemic rages on — and so are heated debates about whether they'll stymie agencies' efforts to delivery the high-quality service that U.S. riders need. But what if those arguments are missing something fundamental about why we commodify basic mobility in the first place, and the many ways marginalized people are impacted when they can't afford a fare?
Even with a difficult roll-out - and a program that falls well short of universal fare-free transit - Metro and its partners are providing much needed free trips to many students through L.A. County.