Adequately rewarding selflessness

`It was instinct,' subway hero says - "After risking his life by jumping into the tracks at the Sheppard subway station to save a blind man who had fallen in, friends and neighbours gave Osman Hersi the nickname Hero. It's a moniker that's sure to follow him all the way to Rideau Hall, where he will be given the Medal of Bravery by Governor General Michaëlle Jean in a ceremony later this year." [Toronto Star]

The article also notes that the TTC boosted Hirsi's initial reward -- one free metropass -- to a full year of gratis rides after a torrent of public complaints.

I think it should have been a special lifetime metropass. If 19-year old Hirsi lives to be 100, such a reward might represent a value of around $100,000* in 2007 dollars, but would cost the TTC virtually nothing given the insignificant marginal cost of a single rider. Even administration costs would be miniscule: just add one name to the MDP mailing list in perpetuity.

* ~$100/month * 12 months * 81 years = ~$97,200