Questão de Inglês — compreensão de texto e estratégias de leitura

Across many of the world's largest cities, public transport systems are struggling to win back passengers lost during the pandemic. Although ridership has recovered in some places, it remains well below pre-2020 levels in others, largely because remote work has reduced the number of daily commuters. As fare revenue falls, transit agencies face a difficult choice: raise ticket prices or cut services. Either option, however, tends to drive even more riders away.

Some city governments have chosen a different path. Instead of charging more, they have lowered fares or, in a few cases, eliminated them altogether. Supporters argue that free buses encourage people to leave their cars at home, which reduces congestion and air pollution. Critics, on the other hand, point out that cost is rarely the main reason people avoid public transport. According to several surveys, passengers care far more about frequency, reliability and safety than about the price of a ticket.

Experts suggest that the answer probably lies somewhere in between. "Cheaper fares may attract new users, but they will not stay if the bus never arrives on time," said a transport planner who has advised several municipal governments. She added that investment in dedicated bus lanes could make journeys faster at a relatively low cost.

Meanwhile, urban sprawl continues to make the problem worse. As families move to distant neighbourhoods in search of affordable housing, they often end up in areas poorly served by trains and buses. For them, owning a car is no longer a choice but a necessity. Unless housing and transport policies are planned together, cities may keep building roads that fill up as soon as they are opened.