Rescue Muni

Many people who use transit also own one or more cars. Factoring in the fixed costs such as insurance, registration and finance charges may distort the findings. If Reiskin can improve Muni through increased reliability and efficiency it should get more people to use Muni but there are limits.
In my neighborhood Muni Metro provides great service for those who work downtown. The majority of those in my neighborhood who do work downtown in fact use the Metro. However, the majority do not work downtown; over a third reverse-commute. The rest work in other parts of SF where Muni takes too long and they can find free or low cost parking.
The current Muni fares are a bargain. If Muni did provide fast and reliable service I suspect many would be willing to pay a lot more. The cost is only one factor in deciding whether to drive or take transit. People also value their time.
Most Senior Citizens like me are not low-income. For us the Muni fare is practically free. I can get to a dental appointment downtown and back within the 90 minutes. The cost is much less than a cup of coffee. However, if my appointment is not downtown but across town, Muni is not a reasonable alternative. Even as a retiree my time is worth something.