Hate high gas prices? Getting fed up with that gas-guzzling SUV? Take public transportation, advise officials.
Boston's MBTA has decided to encourage use of public transportation by raising fares and instituting a surcharge for occasional users or tourists.
Subway increase: $1.25 to $1.70 if you're a card user (regular user) or to $2.25 if you're paying in cash (infrequent users or tourists).
Bus increase $.90 to $1.25, or $1.65 if you're an infrequent user.
Article explaining proposed fare increases
If I were to sit down and design a system that would discourage anyone from switching to public transportation, I couldn't imagine a better scenario.
I can see that for regular users, it may actually be an improvement and they may see some savings. But for users who are not sure how often they'll use the T, the fare changes are an active deterrent.
So, Bostonians, keep driving! I'll stick to my bike, thanks.