 
Wash_man
Member
Username: Wash_man
Post Number: 228
Registered: 05-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 13, 2006 - 8:15 pm: |    |
I'm a little late asking this question...For the first several weeks of the Red Wings season, I attended on average one game per week. I never park at JLA. Instead we have dinner then ride the People Mover to the Joe. The PM station at JLA is under construction. When it is time to leave, entering the station is through the exit turnstiles. The turnstiles have a sign "FREE" taped to them. There are hundreds, possibly thousands, of people getting on the PM for free at JLA. I don't mind getting something for free, but fifty cents is no big deal to most of us. But add up all those fares per night by the number of games so far this year and it is a considerable loss of revenue for the city. Wouldn't it have been feasible to move the entrance turnstiles temporarily to the exits? Or place a PM staffer there to collect the money or tokens? I haven't been to a game in 2-3 weeks, so I don't know if this is still happening. |
Spiritofdetroit
Member
Username: Spiritofdetroit
Post Number: 114
Registered: 11-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 13, 2006 - 9:42 pm: | |
hmm, on average 10,000 ppl ride the DPM on Wings game nights. Now, that includes the normal ridership of about 6,000. So, about 4 or 5 thousand are likely riding to and from the Joe. If they pay on the way there, but not after the game, then about 2000 free rides are being given, costing the city $1,000 each time... |
Yaktown
Member
Username: Yaktown
Post Number: 70
Registered: 02-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 13, 2006 - 11:10 pm: | |
Perhaps Olympia Entertainment is reimbursing the city for the lost revenue? Just a shot in the dark... |
Wash_man
Member
Username: Wash_man
Post Number: 230
Registered: 05-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, December 14, 2006 - 8:26 am: | |
It's a possibility Yaktown, but I doubt it. |
Ndavies
Member
Username: Ndavies
Post Number: 2374
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, December 14, 2006 - 9:44 am: | |
They were back to charging a fare at the Joe as of last weekend. |
Focusonthed
Member
Username: Focusonthed
Post Number: 695
Registered: 02-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, December 14, 2006 - 12:25 pm: | |
Also, since the trains are running regardless of whether anyone pays or not, while it is lost revenue, it is not additional cost. For this reason, waiving the $0.50 fare (for whatever reason it was done), isn't as big a deal as say, a cab driver waiving his fare. |
Bvos
Member
Username: Bvos
Post Number: 2100
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, December 14, 2006 - 12:44 pm: | |
Consider too the even bigger congestion at the turnstyles that would be created by forcing everyone to pay the $.50. (will they ever add the cent icon to the keyboard or will it be lost to "progress"? I digress...)
It's far more effective to just waive the $.50 than have a huge mob of tanked up, aggressive people crushing through the turnstyles. Think if it as a marketing expense (hoping that they'll take the PM when there isn't a Wing's game) rather than a give away. |
East_detroit
Member
Username: East_detroit
Post Number: 866
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, December 14, 2006 - 11:15 pm: | |
They were free while the ramp was under construction. Supposedly as a thanks for putting up with the inconvenience, but probably also to avoid backups.
Besides, you paid 50 cents to get there in the first place, so they didnt lose out totally. |