Lake County Motorist

No, this isn’t news from Springfield and as far as I know we are still “doomed“.
I thought it would be interesting to read about transit hijinks in other parts of the world. You know, because everything that happens elsewhere can be translated and critiqued through the life and experiences of a Chicagoan [/end sarcasm].

From Singapore courtesy of SimplyJean – “PTC rejected new trial route because fare was too cheap“:

I was a little shocked that a trial bus service to serve the residents of the Yio Chu Kang estate was rejected because the fare that was proposed wasn’t high enough. . .So while the MP for the GRC lobbied for a premium service, PTC rejected the only respondent – SMRT, on the grounds that the fare of S$1.30 is too low. . .

When the proposal was submitted to the Public Transport Council (PTC) in June, it was rejected because the fare proposed ($1.30 per trip) was not appropriate for a premium bus service, usually priced between $2 to $3 per trip.

Wow. Sounds like things are done differently in Singapore. Different culture, different needs, different expectations.

Or are they?

I guess it depends on your definition of “premium service” in Chicagoland: The bus exists, the train is cleaned every now and then, and everybody is free to ride so long as Somebody Else pays for it, and they’ll pay a premium indeed!