Transit equity: age vs. need

As part of the state funding package for the Regional Transit Agency in Chicago, the transit systems were forced to provide free transit passes for senior citizens. See "Lines forming for free transit rides," from the Southtown Star (affiliated with the Chicago Sun-Times).

The other day had a story in the Washington Post about a DC family with many children, and the recent rise in transit fares including student passes means that in the beginning of the month, the family has to ration transit pass use because they don't have enough money to buy passes for all the children at the beginning of the month. That means some of the children don't go to school. (I can't seem to find the story right now. I'll add the link later.)

I'd rather see means-tested transit passes. This family shouldn't be put in this position.