obviously this is not the point and framing free buses like this in a news story is just a vehicle for classism and racism but I will say that in Chicago, kids under 7 ride free with a fare-paying adult and my kid's daycare class takes the CTA bus everywhere. Free bus opened the world to him!
Meredith ShinerThe New York Times "newsroom" (non-opinion) reporting, folks: "Could free buses turn the M4 into a daytime shelter for homeless people? The mayor’s office declined to comment on the Manhattan Institute."