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Comment by dsnr | Hacker News Reader

> it is common to have public transport on the country side as well to some degree. Most villages have bus transport.

I don‘t think it‘s fair to compare running a bus line on pre-existing roads to maintaining and extending a subway network. People living in big cities already have the advantage of better jobs and much better pay, so I think it‘s fair to expect them to pay for their own transport. Those who choose to live or better said not leave the countryside do it by taking a risk of a harder life yet with maybe more satisfaction in some ways. In this context, I think it’s not justifiable to burden them with supporting the city people when it‘s clear they will get zero benefit out of it.

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> I don‘t think it‘s fair to compare running a bus line on pre-existing roads to maintaining and extending a subway network.

Yet, it is. Both have the same purpose on different scales and environments.

> People living in big cities already have the advantage of better jobs and much better pay

I would argue that this is the case only for some professions, not all. Outside of white-collar work there is little difference in wages, however that is exactly the demographic which would benefit most from this. May it be the bus or the subway, getting around should be possible to all.

> Outside of white-collar work there is little difference in wages

As someone who lives in Germany I can say this is extremely innacurate. ALL jobs pay better in large german cities, to account for the higher cost of living.

> May it be the bus or the subway, getting around should be possible to all.

You are spinning this in the wrong direction. I never argued that some people shouldn’t have access to public transport, just that people who stay away from large cities shouldn’t be forced to pay for the comfort and privileges of those living there. I’m sure small rural communities or even medium sized towns and cities can afford to pay for their own bus lines. Living in a large city has its disadvantages, and one of them is cashing out for the train ticket, out of those fat paychecks.

> ALL jobs pay better in large german cities, to account for the higher cost of living.

Born and raised here. Pretty sure people being paid minimum wage is a thing both in the city as well as the country side. I would even argue the amount of low-payed jobs is higher in big cities with lots of "disposable" people to do them.

> just that people who stay away from large cities shouldn’t be forced to pay for the comfort and privileges of those living there.

I can say the same for paying taxes for roadwork. I don't need them, still I am paying for them. Especially in Germany, where there is no road tolls and no private roads. The cost of environmental damage also accounts for that.

> Living in a large city has its disadvantages, and one of them is cashing out for the train ticket, out of those fat paychecks.

If you run the numbers you will realise that owning a care here, including repairs, insurance and gas is quite a bit more expensive than getting a subscription for public transport.

There are subsidies that flow in both directions. People in the countryside pay taxes that go to public transit in cities. People in cities pay taxes that go to large agricultural subsidies. Even in terms of infrastructure, I would bet that rural communities get a net subsidy. There are often government subsidies to ensure coverage in rural areas: postal service, telephone, internet, power, etc.

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