In most of the U.S. public transportation is virtually unusable. I've heard European exchange students compare the U.S. transit system to the worst of the former Soviet bloc.

One of my friends spent some time in California this year interning with Google and he said that while public transport around California was bearable, when he spent some time in New York he found it completely useless.

One of the qualms I have with English public transport is that over 55's get completely free transport, (I have no issue with them of course) whereas 15 - 21 year olds tend to pay extra in my area, so the people who are only just starting to work in their low paying jobs get charged so that people who have houses fully paid for and receive money every month on their pensions can have it for free.

In London at least, you pay half price for public transport if you're 16-18 (and free buses if you're in education) and a reduced price if you're 18+ and in education.

Being neither of those, I get to pay a hell of a lot more! I'm glad I've got a decent job since I still wince each month when I renew my Oyster.

I think it's over 65 in England:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Publictranspo...

Fair enough, but in the same way, these people are in a much better position than me and yet get this benefit which I don't, yet I'm also forced to pay taxes.

There are occasional grumbles from the right about means testing free bus passes, but it would probably lose a lot of votes and I suspect the increased bureaucracy would mean that hardly any money would be saved.

I agree, I believe it would be best if everyone paid the same cost, then no one could say it was unfair. Although I'm sure that someone else would be in the position I am complaining about it, so maybe I should just accept that for now at least, I will have to struggle.