Of course, if you had taken the bus home from work, a transfer might still be valid to go out and do something later. A lot can be done in that 2.5-hour transfer window if destinations are close and you time things right (or have high-frequency service). Doesn't help Metro Transit's bottom line, but whatever. But even though $1.75 or $2.25 isn't very much, people do see that as a significant amount compared to "free" cars. I still think it might not be a bad idea for Metro Transit to set their fare at $1 and just get rid of transfers, simply because of consumer psychology, but it would require people to hunt for change in their pockets more often.I wonder if there would be a simple way to reduce the cost, though. My wife and I are in a similar boat, although in a much less dense neighborhood than 18th/Nicollet. But we're still near two bus lines that go downtown and crosstown at least every half hour. A metropass does not work since we either work from home or have to drive to other meetings a few days a week, not to mention that we're both provided with "free" parking (I realize that's a whole different issue). But what about running errands, going to dinner, etc? There are a lot of trips where we could take the 46 or 14 but the reality is that we drive because $1.75x2x2, $7, is more expensive than our marginal cost to drive somewhere together and park on a street for free.You're not wrong, of course, but if you're living in an area as dense as where you live, you shouldn't be buying tickets at $2.25 a go anyway - a metropass is $60 a month and at that point it's a fixed cost that allows you to ride as much as you want.
Anyway, the most direct way to get people to change their behaviors regarding taking the bus vs. driving would be to implement paid parking. Then the bus fare seems cheaper (and easier if you have something in the Go-To card family).