Due to a recent increase in traffic congestion, some people debate that the government should provide free access to public transportation, whereas others are in favor of bearing the cost of their transportation. I will discuss my views on both these statements and provide my opinion.
On one hand, proponents believe that public transportation should be free of cost to encourage a greater number of people to opt for public transport instead of traveling using their private vehicles. Choosing to travel using public transportation can provide environmental as well as health benefits. Firstly, it will help in reducing traffic congestion, which has drastically increased in recent years, thereby saving a lot of traveling time. Secondly, a decline in the number of private vehicles can be beneficial for the environment because it helps in reducing air and noise pollution, thereby improving the air quality index followed by improved health.
On the other hand, some people advocate that individuals should be responsible for the cost of their travel when using public transportation. Though providing free public transportation will help in traffic and pollution control, it will cause an increase in the crowd in public transport, leading to an inconvenient travel experience. Besides, transportation requires timely maintenance for ensuring its smooth functioning. Providing free transportation will require the government to allot some funds for maintenance. These maintenance costs can rather be collected from people using transportation by allowing them to bear their travel expenses.
In my opinion, though the government is responsible for ensuring a smooth travel experience for its citizens, it should not be at the expense of sacrificing other important development factors. I believe the government can come up with different strategies to encourage people to opt for public transportation instead of providing it for free. These strategies can include providing tax benefits for people opting for public transport, reducing ticket prices during weekends, providing concessions for young and elderly, and so on.