The bus service on the semi-rural island in Puget Sound where I live charges no fares, except for one route into a neighboring island.

The bus service is not free, of course. A tax voted in over 30 years ago by county residents funds the service. Students needing to get to jobs after school, seniors with local doctor appointments, and commuters traveling to the ferry for work on the mainland all use the buses.

A recent vote by the country transit board retained the fare-free rides. The majority of the 850 comments, gathered online and in meetings from citizens, were opposed to charging fares.

Reasons given by respondents for retaining the fare-free busses included “concerns over the loss of ridership, impacts to the environment, cost of collecting fares versus the revenue generated, impacts on vulnerable populations, and operational scheduling impacts.” (Jessie Stensland, South Whidbey Record, June 26, 2018)

Local governments are not immune to corruption and poisoned politics, of course. Nevertheless, within our partisan-blocked national government, citizens can consider other ways to work their will.

Note: Just as in national politics, freedom of the press is essential. Local newspapers provided notice of the proposed fare charges, as well a forum for discussion.