Seniors' free and cut-rate bus rides causes grumbling
Author: the A.M. Costa Rica staff
Date Published: Dec. 7, 2012, Vol. 12, No. 244
Click HERE to read this article.
Date Published: Dec. 7, 2012, Vol. 12, No. 244
Click HERE to read this article.
This article is in response to recent reductions to the price of transportation in general for seniors age 65 and older in the country of Costa Rica. A new law is giving seniors a free bus ride for a maximum of 25 kilometers, between 26 and 50 kilometers the ride would be 25% off, and any trip longer than that would be 50% off. This reduction in price for seniors is causing a large discrepancy between the buses and their travelers. In reaction to the free senior rides, the buses are forced to charge more for the regular paying individuals in order to make up for the loss in payment from the free and reduced fairs. Bus drivers have began receiving warnings and disciplinary measures due to them giving the seniors a hard time about the free bus rides.
I believe that this situation is good for the seniors, but ridiculous based on how the government is handling it. I believe that the government has no right to force bus companies to give free rides to the senior citizens. The idea for a transit program is really cool, but penalizing the companies by not compensating them is crazy! The bus companies are in-directly being forced to punish the regular bus patrons. If the government wants to create a program for the elderly, then they at least need to assist in the transformation and make up the gray areas between costs for the companies. Otherwise, the seniors may be getting a free ride, but pretty soon not only will the bus drivers pester them but also the over-paying travelers that are making up for the seniors will join in.
This article is significant to the culture of Costa Rica because family is a major part of their small country. The situation with the transportation program was created in an attempt to assist the members of their country, even in their old age. This article demonstrates that the government is trying to gain favor with the people by setting up favorable programs, but might be going about it in the wrong manner. Public transportation in general is a significant icon for this country as wide-spread individual motor vehicles are not available, so where it would affect very few Americans that use the buses as a necessity, this change in Costa Rica will be known by all and affect their daily lives.
I believe that this situation is good for the seniors, but ridiculous based on how the government is handling it. I believe that the government has no right to force bus companies to give free rides to the senior citizens. The idea for a transit program is really cool, but penalizing the companies by not compensating them is crazy! The bus companies are in-directly being forced to punish the regular bus patrons. If the government wants to create a program for the elderly, then they at least need to assist in the transformation and make up the gray areas between costs for the companies. Otherwise, the seniors may be getting a free ride, but pretty soon not only will the bus drivers pester them but also the over-paying travelers that are making up for the seniors will join in.
This article is significant to the culture of Costa Rica because family is a major part of their small country. The situation with the transportation program was created in an attempt to assist the members of their country, even in their old age. This article demonstrates that the government is trying to gain favor with the people by setting up favorable programs, but might be going about it in the wrong manner. Public transportation in general is a significant icon for this country as wide-spread individual motor vehicles are not available, so where it would affect very few Americans that use the buses as a necessity, this change in Costa Rica will be known by all and affect their daily lives.