Faster cities: The Economist suggests public transportation might be better if it’s free.

Should Public Transportation be free?
Should Public Transportation be free?

Anyone who takes the bus or the subway will be intrigued by this article.  If the goal is more riders, why not make the damn things free?  Better efficiency is one of the unexpected benefits.  Can you see any other upsides?  Downsides?  I’ll throw one of the latter in to get the discussion going and please don’t hate me for suggesting this… rolling homeless shelters.  Click here to read the article.