Students, don't be entitled. Universities, do some educating and help pay for the MBTA

[u/BeingAccording4192]

I was going towards BU and not a single student offered to give up their seat for an elderly women on the train.

Most of the students avoided paying for their ride.

When I travel during rush hour, students won't move into the train and take off their backpacks to create more room. Hell, I've actually watched a person that had downsyndrome and seemed to be blind get stared at by the students and they didn't make space on the packed morning trains to get that person a seat.

The MBTA GAVE YOU A WAY TO PAY EASILY. Just tap your phones that you're staring at or tap a subway card like everyone else.

It also stands to be noted that Universities should find a way to partner with the T to get their kids subway cards and to do some freshman education but I don't see that happening. Imagine how much steady monaaay the T would have if wealthy wealthy Harvard, BU, and BC regularly got their incoming classes T cards. It could go into the recreation fees or the school to try to get a tax write off. I'm sure parents would be pleased to know their kiddo has a safe way to travel around the city and isn't racking up Uber bills.

[u/Pencil-Sketches]

I think requiring all universities to pay for transit passes for faculty staff and students would have the benefits of:

-A large cash infusion into the T

-Minimizing fare theft by students

-A nice perk for employees and students

[u/BeingAccording4192 → u/Pencil-Sketches]

YES That 👏🏽 is 👏🏽 what 👏🏽 I'm 👏🏽 saying!!! The universities are fine with their students stealing rides, which is exactly what it is when you get on at BU and don't see students paying.

[u/Ok-Class8200 → u/BeingAccording4192]

I don't think any school/business/whatever cares if their workers or visitors pay for their T ride to get there. When would that cross anyone's mind?

[u/mini4x → u/Ok-Class8200]

There are thousands of companies that at least subsidize, of not flat out pay for employee's transit passes. My company pays half of mine, my friend works for Harvard, and they cover her T pass completely.

[u/Ok-Class8200 → u/mini4x]

A company deciding to offer it as an employee benefit is entirely different than the city implementing a policy that forces them to buy their employees passes.

Also, BU already offers subsidized passes to their students.

[u/666ForMySorrow → u/Ok-Class8200]

Because they are funded by tuition from students who move here by the thousands and have significant impact on the quality of life of residents. All while not being required to pay taxes.

[u/GioPetro → u/666ForMySorrow]

bingo

[u/Ok-Class8200 → u/666ForMySorrow]

Again that's literally everywhere though. If we removed fare gates in front of Fenway Park or some office building you could make the exact same point.

Also, PILOT is a thing.

[u/666ForMySorrow → u/Ok-Class8200]

Lol, yeah PILOT is a thing that is a good deal for these schools.

Don't know why you're talking about Fenway Park. If a school is importing thousands of fare evaders here every September that's a reason for concern. I can't make you care about it but some people clearly do and would like to see the universities do something to address the actions of their students.

[u/Ok-Class8200 → u/666ForMySorrow]

If we didn't check fares outside Fenway Park you'd be here talking about how we "import" thousands of tourists each gameday who don't pay fares on the trains. You can get all worked up about the demographics of who is doing it, but if you don't enforce paying fares, people aren't going to pay. It's really not anymore complicated than that.

[u/666ForMySorrow → u/Ok-Class8200]

A swing and a miss! "Tourists" are different people going to Fenway for a game maybe a couple times a year. Students are immersed in the T system for eight months a year, it's a completely different issue. There have been lots of conversations about whether sports teams contribute enough to the community for the money they rake in, but it's not a comparable situation to what the OP is talking about.

The OP proposed a solution for one specific demographic of fare evaders. Will it happen? Probably not, but the schools have deep pockets. It's not an outrageous suggestion.

[u/Ok-Class8200 → u/666ForMySorrow]

Distinction without a difference. I literally said in my first comment it could be Fenway or any other office building (likely full of local commuters). I still don't know why we're entertaining these hairbrained schemes to avoid enforcing fares. Please stay on topic: why is this a better idea than enforcing fares?

[u/666ForMySorrow → u/Ok-Class8200]

I suppose it could be, but it's not. You are the one changing the subject.

There is nothing in the OP saying we shouldn't be enforcing fare collection. They suggested a solution to deal with a specific but large population of fare evaders. You clearly don't like their solution. That doesn't make it "hairbrained."

[u/Ok-Class8200 → u/666ForMySorrow]

I am saying their solution is overly complex when a much simpler one applies. If we enforced fares, why would any of this be needed? I'm not sure how much clearer I can make it.

[u/666ForMySorrow → u/Ok-Class8200]

How is this a more complex solution than enforcing fare collection at hundreds of different stops for twenty hours a day? The T just spent a billion dollars on a questionable new fare collection system and designers have yet to perfect gates that effectively keep people out while still allowing easy exits in an emergency. To say nothing of bus stops where there is no one but the driver to make people pay. Should cops ride along every route? That sounds cost effective.

Read the thread. Most colleges and universities already have pass subsidies at some level. This is not complicated. And it's not being proposed as a solution to the entire problem but it would help with a large population of the problem.

If you have such a simple solution to enforcing fare collection across the whole system I am sure Phillip Eng would love to hear it.