The 2 yuan set subway ticket price is one of the greatest benefits for people living in Beijing. As for the drifting "dream-seekers" who are not well paid and do not have this mega city's hukou, or household registration, low-price tickets have benefited them a lot. 

However, the super cheap public transportation system is not run in a financially sustainable way. The administration of the capital reportedly has to subsidize the system with more than 13 billion yuan ($2.14 million) every year.

The latest news shows that this bonus is probably coming to an end. Recently the Beijing municipal government has proposed to employ a "differentiated pricing system" for the city's subway, which implies that the fare will increase.

Although it is just a local government decision, the implication of a ticket price rise soon drew nationwide attention. According to a poll conducted by Sina, one of the major Chinese Internet portals, more than 60 percent of people have voted no to the new proposal at press time.

Although many scholars in public management and some media outlets try to tell the populace the plus side of this new pricing system, the majority still believe that their rights to enjoy the public service have been violated.

Public services are one of the most discussed topics for most Chinese urban citizens.

The official data displays that in 2012, 52.6 percent of the Chinese population live in cities, however, the proportion is lowered to 35 percent if it is measured by the acquisition of urban hukou. This means very large groups of people in Chinese cities, especially in mega cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, are leading a wandering life, and the range of benefits they can enjoy from these cities' public services are limited.

This might have caused a dilemma, in which citizens are becoming more inclined to believe that public services should be a benefit given to the masses.

They tend to believe that the more beneficial a public service is, the better life they can enjoy, and the ideal situation is that these services could be supplied free of charge.

However, Chinese cities are much more modernized than before, and they should be governed in a modern and scientific manner as well. Public services cannot play the role of philanthropy, although part of it should concentrate on it.

Public services are a tool that should be used to streamline the operation of the city, balance different social classes and make sure the city is a better place to live.

The focus should be put on how the price will be raised instead of whether it should be. It remains to be seen if this substantial move will reduce the over-crowdedness of Beijing's subway.