What are your thoughts on “courtesy rides”?
I’m a very frequent Metro Transit customer (anywhere from 3-7 days a week), and regularly see people ask for courtesy/free rides. 90% of my rides are covered through school & work and I just pay the fare when needed.. so I’ve never had to ask for a free ride.
What are your thoughts on free rides? If you think they’re OK, are there any situations where they wouldn’t be—and vice versa? How do drivers feel about them? Who do they hurt, if anyone? One of the drivers today said that they hurt everyone who DOES pay their fare.
I’ve only ever seen drivers decline the ride a couple times, but (if I had to guess) that’s just because they’re tired of people? I overheard one lady today tell the driver who declined her a free ride that he was legally obligated to giving her a free (or, in her words, a “courtesy”) ride. Is that true in any sense? Seems like a weird law, but still sounds possible.
I’m a very frequent Metro Transit customer (anywhere from 3-7 days a week), and regularly see people ask for courtesy/free rides. 90% of my rides are covered through school & work and I just pay the fare when needed.. so I’ve never had to ask for a free ride.
What are your thoughts on free rides? If you think they’re OK, are there any situations where they wouldn’t be—and vice versa? How do drivers feel about them? Who do they hurt, if anyone? One of the drivers today said that they hurt everyone who DOES pay their fare.
I’ve only ever seen drivers decline the ride a couple times, but (if I had to guess) that’s just because they’re tired of people? I overheard one lady today tell the driver who declined her a free ride that he was legally obligated to giving her a free (or, in her words, a “courtesy”) ride. Is that true in any sense? Seems like a weird law, but still sounds possible.