Over the course of several beers yesterday evening, my friends and I somehow landed on the topic of "Metro fares." Virtually everyone knows that the typical fare is $1.35, and if you have a "Smartcard," then you probably don't notice the prices at all. Yet the question we pondered was, "At what point do the fares begin to increase? What's the metric there?"

One friend argued that fare increases were determined according to zones, similar to cab prices. Once you left the primary "DC zone," fares would increase accordingly. My other friend took another stance, contending that increased fares were determined solely by distance traveled. I sided with the latter.

Whenever friends find themselves in an alcohol-fueled (or otherwise) dispute such as this, the now-commonly accepted for of resolution is to consult the internet. It seems that, aside from the difference between regular and reduced fare hours, the number of stops determines the final price. Metro's website allows you to calculate the amount.

However the debate didn't end there but instead switched from the point-of-fact to the hypothetical, as in "What would constitute the fairest form of pricing for riding the subway?" Ridiculous waste of time you say? Yes, ridiculous indeed.

Yet earlier today, while browsing through the news headlines, last night's discussion caused me to zero in on a particularly appropriate article. Entitled "Fare-Free Public Transit Could Be Headed to a City Near You," it struck me with such logic and rationality that I thought to myself, "DC should have free public transportation, and if it did, Metro could perhaps even save money in the process."

Relating the example of Hesselt, Belgium, the article states:

By making public transport free of charge, it became possible to guarantee the right to mobility for all residents in Hasselt. Their position was that an improved public transport system simply means a better use of the public space that will not only improve the quality of traffic, but the quality of life in general.

Brilliant! Why spend more money subsidizing highway and parking-lot expansions when the city could spend less and subsidize public transportation. Environment improves, quality of life improves, and who really wants to drive through DC traffic anyway? There's no debate really.

And just for the hell of it... here's a clip by Bradley Glanzrock about Ben's Chilli Bowl: