Other countries are not as spread out as we are, not to mention the govt subsidies of mass transit systems. Plus 'we' do have mass transit systems where they make sense, e.g., cities and the surrounding suburbs. Even in these situations, they lose money.
Pittsburgh, PA is a good example of a failed mass transit system. They have bus, trolley and subway systems, but they are still losing money right and left and, yes, they want more money or they are threatening to cut more routes. The tax payers across PA are being asked to subsidize the Pgh mass transit system with their tax dollars.
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being an employee of a masstransit system , most of them are losers.
only a few cities in the USA have viable mass transit.
most of the current systems were at one time private. those private systems were money losers that corporations used for write offs.
US stARTED PROVIDING THE FUNDS TO make them public entities in the 60's.
but most of the systems are just a form of welfare. they enable poor people to get to their jobs. basic purpose of public transit is that. its also a jobs program from which I have benefitted. I wont complain but the USA will probably never have a good public transportation system just based on size.