Personally I really do like the arc system. I'm not taking the bus or train all the time. So it doesn't make sense for me to have a monthly bus pass. But whenever I do need to take transit. If I don't have a balance on my arc card, I can just go online and top up the balance. This is saved me from having to go by bus tickets when I've run out.
I do understand the issue of driving as opposed to taking the bus or train. But I have to laugh about the cost. Even a monthly bus pass is only around the hundred some dollars, but that is it. As we know in comparison to drive a car or truck. There is the cost of gas. Which I challenge anyone out there to say that they only spend a $130 on gas a month.
Plus there is the fact of parking in the downtown core. Either you have to park very large distance away for free parking or you have to pay to park. And then there's also the fact of traffic going in and out of the downtown for the University or really anywhere during rush hour. And yes, I know try telling that to the guy in the big pickup truck all by himself, sitting in traffic during rush hour and he'll still say that it's better to be in his own vehicle even though he's probably spent far far more money on gas, and parking and auto maintenance than buying one bus pass.