Final answer:
New York's public transportation is widely used due to its efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and environmental advantages. It benefits from economies of scale, particularly in the rail system, and is frequently subsidized to promote a sustainable and less congested urban environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Public transportation is an essential part of urban living, especially in a city like New York. The most utilized means of transport in New York, including its iconic subway system, buses, and the Staten Island Ferry, cater to a large population due to their efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and environmental benefits. Based on surveying people about their commuting habits, as one might do by interviewing individuals in Central Park, we can gain insights into the prevalence of public transport usage.
In urban centers, public transportation systems like New York's often benefit from economies of scale, which makes them more cost-effective as ridership increases.
This is particularly true for rail systems, which can move a large number of passengers quickly and with lower operational costs per rider as the system scales up. Table 11.4, which might list data on ridership, would show this trend clearly through the quantity in millions of riders.
If cities like New York offer subsidies for public transportation, especially in forms such as free rides for students, it can lead to increased ridership. Not only does this save money for the students and their families, but it also fosters a greater appreciation for public transport systems. Subsidies can also be seen as an investment in reducing congestion and pollution, thus benefiting the urban area as a whole.
Historically, as cities grew more populous and streets became congested, solutions like New York's transition from horse-drawn carriages to trolleys, and eventually, to underground subways as depicted in Figure 19.4 from Leslie's Weekly, were efforts to improve efficiency and avoid accidents. The public benefits from these advancements in transportation, as evidenced by the success of Boston's Tremont Street Subway, the oldest in the United States.
Subsidies for urban transit systems are commonly provided by urban areas to foster a robust, reliable public transportation network.
The rationale behind these subsidies includes the promotion of a more efficient, sustainable mode of transportation that benefits the public by reducing congestion, pollution, and the urban footprint of personal vehicle usage. This approach makes sense from an economic and environmental perspective.