Increase in RTD Fares

I am one of the many lucky ones here in Los Angeles who has a car. I can drive to work, go shopping, and so on. How I empathize with those unfortunate ones I see waiting in the elements for buses that take forever to show up, or sometimes pass them by as they wave frantically to get them to stop. I know about the rude drivers, the dangerous passengers who play their radios blaringly loud and with one menacing look intimidate you back into your seat.

At 85 cents a ride, I think these unfortunate souls are paying far too much for service whose quality in every way is lacking. Now they want to raise the fares to the people who can least afford it.

I am not rich, but I can afford to pay 10 cents per gallon more for gas (about $1 more a week), in order to keep the fares down to 50 cents and the cost of passes down. How will I benefit? By knowing that those who are not so lucky as I will not be taken advantage of by the RTD for something so very basic as transportation to a job which they need, to go shopping or to visit friends--something most of us take for granted.

CRAIG SMITH

Los Angeles