Why should driving on roads be free? It costs the government money to build and maintain them, and it ain't cheap to bail out the auto industry whenever needed. And cleaning up the atmosphere isn't gonna be cheap. Why are the costs of driving mitigated at every level of society instead of just fully funding public transit?

[–] Honytawk@feddit.nl 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

It isn't free. You pay road tax on every vehicle.

[–] yakko@feddit.uk 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I should have acknowledged that in my highly rhetorical line of questioning, but are we going to pretend road tax covers the full cost of roads? It'd have to be much higher if it did, and it still wouldn't cover the environmental cost of runoff and emissions, nor all the squandered space from parking minimums, etc.

These costs always get externalised to a large extent and we pretend we're doing something normal because moneyed interests have made it the default option. But we're not.

[–] Nanzer@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

In my state at least millions in federal funding goes towards projects. Day to day operations are funded by state tax dollars and they still want people to pay ever increasing prices for public transport.

Honytawks argument further falls flat when you consider tax dollars do go to public transport.

Edit:clarified state tax vs federal

[–] bastion@feddit.nl 2 points 2 days ago

solid