Arguments against state-funded public transport[]
Free Market[]
Free enterprise is more efficient at running public transport the government.
Government funding and control of Public transportation is the problem not the solution. In many third world countries there is a type of transportation used by almost everyone.In the country I used it the most it was referred to as a publicar or public car. Called by different names but they all have something in common.
Private owned buses, vans, trucks or cars pay a small fee to get a licence then paint the van or have a sign put on top, stating they are a public car and what route they are going. The pubic car owner can start any time they wish and quit any time they wish. They normally keep to defined routes in order to make it easy to attract customers but if enough customer demand happens they can switch routes or modify their route at any time. If the customer wants to go somewhere off the defined route the driver will for a small additional fee go off his route to the customers destination.
All the customer needs to do is to walk to the nearest large street and watch the public cars go by with their signs with the routes on top. When they spot one that is going the direction they want they wave at them. If the driver has the room for a additional passenger they stop and the passenger tells the driver where they are going. pays the driver the customary fee and the driver goes down the road to the next customer or to the final destination.
The advantages of this is that people don't have to own or drive a car to get to those places that buses don't go. A fleet of buses does not need to be kept in service for those times of the day when the buses will be full, such as rush hour.
No tax money needs to be spent on wages to government employees,purchase of buses or upkeep of equipment. Since the drivers can enter or leave at will they will automatically adjust their hours and routes to make a profit. If the customers decide that they don't need the service the drivers wont drive that route.
Counter-arguments to Support[]
Equality of Mobility[]
Only a small number of travellers are incapable of driving. It is cheaper to provide them with free taxis or private buses than to invest in public transport infrastructure.
Scale of Investment[]
Public transport infrastructure was successfully built by private investors in countries such as Japan and Hong Kong. If the investors are allowed to exploit real estate price increases caused by building of new transport links, the investment can normally be recouped.