I take the bus (in Vancouver) quite frequently and I have no problem with the fare "evaders". Next time you see people getting free rides take a really good look at them. Yes, sometimes it's a snotty little high-school kid that clearly can afford 1.75, but the majority of the time it's someone that's way down on his/her luck. Sure, they may have made some bad choices to put themselves in that situation, but they may have also been beat up and pushed out of a terrible home when they were very young.

Most of the people asking for free rides are probably extremely embarrassed about it and they know they stand out from the "normal" fare-paying riders. People like you, Daphne M., have no idea what it's like for those people; you and I are well-nourished (I'm making a fair assumption here, I think). Think about what a lack of a healthy diet can do to you. A bus ride even four or five blocks is a huge help.

I'm sick of the idiot public having a problem with fare evasion. It's not as big a deal as people think. Do some homework on the subject of public transit and it's funding. Much less than 20% of the system's funding comes from collected fares. Also, fare evasion is not as big a loss of income as you think; it's just that's it right there in front of us every day and we see it. That's the only reason people really gripe about it.