No, I do not support this proposed change. Accessible public transportation should be as low barrier as possible, helping residents, decreasing car traffic, and moving towards a more sustainable community. Ideally, bus rides would be free for all riders to encourage greater use and limit economic burdens to the most vulnerable among us.

I disagree with the fare change, as the financial burden lands heaviest on those least able to bear it. I particularly think that encouraging a robust community college enrollment is a huge priority for the economic health and growth of Winchester, and that charging fares to students who may have difficulty affording a year's worth of fares or securing alternative transportation undermines the value and equal accessibility of what Laurel Ridge offers in terms of economic and educational opportunity.

Charging for public transit is a tax and people seem to have a disconnect: obsessively holding taxes down, while raising transit fares on those least able to pay. The point of operating transit is not the revenue it generates in fares. The dividends come from the investment of making our community great, and inclusive, and supporting the next generation and our elders. The system being at full capacity is an achievement and we should not be discouraging ridership!!

I support keeping at least the Loop Route free for anyone under 17 years old. If we want to increase awareness and use of public transportation, encouraging our younger residents to use it is a good start. That said, I understand that demand for our WinReady point-to-point service is high and Laurel Ridge is a greater distance, so it's difficult to justify providing these services for free from a budgeting standpoint. I think keeping the Loop Route free for people under 17 is a good compromise. The proposed fees for the point-to-point service and Laurel Ridge are reasonable and considerably lower than alternatives like Lyft or Uber, and recovering a greater percentage of costs from user fees helps to ensure the survival and continued expansion of public transportation options in Winchester.

The $1 fare is fair for this service.

No, anyone under 17 should not have to pay full fare. I think it would potentially be more accommodating for riders 12 & up with a cut off of 17 to be charged half fare rather than full fare if the fare changes are still to be considered in the future. I do worry that parents may not be willing and or able to pay for fares which could leave kids stuck without easy public transit. WinReady is the first public transit system I have used and the experience I have had so far has been wonderful, and I would hate to take away the accessibility of the bus from others, especially kids who may need it to get around town.

No, I do not support the change. I believe the minors should not have to pay to use the service.

I think they need to leave the pricing alone. Youth should ride for free till there 17.... it makes no since to change it. And if the parents are having there kids ride the bus they can't afford another way. An we should understand that.

Coming from someone who is actually affected by this because I am a minor, I do not agree, many tweens and teens use the bus as a way to and from school, a way to work if we have jobs, and to stores to get supplies we need, etc. Making us pay 1.50 would not only make it harder to get transportation because again we are children who sometimes don’t have jobs, but it would also affect some parents who are getting by easier without having to pay another 1.50 if their child is 12 and above. This includes me and my mother who have been struggling financially for awhile and the WinReady has been the biggest help especially with it being free for me. With all this being said please think about others before making this change.

I agree for them to pay the full charge. Since the 14-17 year olds are old enough to work. Then they are old enough to pay full charge.