ATU report on improving Toronto #publictransit

Are pro-transit candidates telling the truth? Or are they just pandering? #topoli #cdnpoli

Post by TTCriders.ca.

Campaign for #freetransit in Toronto

The fight for fare-free #public #transit in Toronto, Canada: http://t.co/pj3sNlttjy #video @FreePublicTrans @ElectLaxer

— Greg Fowler (@fowgre) October 13, 2014

Hamilton - free public transit for seniors could reduce carbon emission by 1M tonnes

the spec: "Seniors using free transit for one in 10 of their journeys might reduce car use in Ontario by a whopping 2.25 billion miles per year, reducing carbon emissions by almost one million tonnes. Every senior couple that free transit allows to take one car off the road reduces annual CO2 emissions by around 3.5 tonnes. Congestion on local roads and highways might be reduced by 1.5 per cent, further reducing emissions and enabling working people, business transport and goods to move more efficiently, improving productivity, and supporting the vibrant business environment our province strives to encourage.

Studies indicate that as we age our cognitive abilities and response times deteriorate resulting in higher levels of injuries, claims and consequent concerns for senior drivers, their families and traffic authorities. This is an emotionally charged subject we are loath to address for fear of offending parents or potential voters. Free transit for seniors would alleviate that by providing a dignified and affordable alternative to driving."

Ontario - people want more #publictransit

The Globe and Mail: "But with a new mandate and the freedom to manoeuvre that comes from a strengthened position in the legislature, the Liberals will be able to push ahead with their ambitious transportation plan.

“The people of Ontario … want us to get on with building the transit and transportation infrastructure that we know we need,” Ms. Wynne said during her triumphant victory speech late Thursday evening."

We must expand public transportation system

guelphmercury opinion : "Expanded public transportation is essential for social, safety and environmental reasons. Our political leaders must deal with it, and not support more or wider highways.

It is common knowledge that petroleum supplies are unsustainable; therefore our present system is unsustainable.

Changes are in order — now.


Helen Hansen

Guelph"

#Freetransit. Can it be done? Yes.

Free public transportation: Javier Pardo’s Big Idea

Toronto Star: "What’s the big idea: Make public transportation in Toronto free. One of the big difficulties of people is to pay the expensive public transportation in Toronto and general in Canada. Some cities in Europe are starting to think about putting tax money towards free public transportation. Nothing better than to have the opportunity to go anywhere to study, work or create business. If we can get free subways, trains and buses we will be able to do anything. Having public transportation means that people will have time to create business and ideas. Make Toronto great by being a model for the world. Free transportation is like having health care or education. If you cannot move to work or to find a job or to study is really hard to live. Kids need to learn from the city, from the culture. Transportation is vital like food."

Longer life: The public health argument for better transit

CBC Hamilton: "Better urban planning and more public transit investment can lead to an improvement in health for residents in Hamilton and across the GTHA, according to a new report released on Wednesday.

Building communities that support greater walking, cycling and public transit use would prevent over 330 premature deaths and over 1000 cases of diabetes each year across the GTHA, the report says."

Toronto bus riders tired of being packed like sardines

https://www.facebook.com/TTCriders?

TTCriders is a public transit advocacy group that gives transit riders a voice. We are 17,000 transit users who want more and better public transit in Toronto. Visit us at http://ttcriders.ca/

People can vote for #freetransit in Toronto Ward 6 - #topoli

Elect Michael Laxer - Ward 6 City Councillor 2014: Michael Laxer for City Councillor Ward 6: "2) Transit: As Ward 6 City Councillor I will fight to see the Waterfront West LRT plan brought back to connect our Ward with Toronto's downtown in a faster and easier direct route. I will work to see transit expanded city wide and to have revenue tools put in place to finance and maintain this expansion. I will work to integrate GO Transit and TTC routes within the city so that people can use the Lakeshore line as if it was a subway.  I will also fight against any agenda to raise fares and will work towards FREE transit, which should be the environmental and social goal of any government."

Forum on Solving Gridlock in Toronto/Hamilton

Transport Futures: "Traffic congestion in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) has reached unacceptable levels and opinion polls consistently report that it is a top of mind issue for citizens. Building more transit and road infrastructure is the accepted way to combat gridlock but will cost the province well over $50 billion by 2031. On April 14, 2014, the Ontario government announced its Move Ontario Forward plan with the promise that quicker commute times are coming sometime in the next decade. "

Public transit should be fare-free

Public Transit is more than simply a means to get to work in the morning. It is a necessary public service, which makes it possible for everyone to go where they want and need to go: to visit friends and relatives, shop, get to school, work and attend critical and important tasks. It is a key way of reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and is a way of addressing climate change and climate justice.

Olivia Chow prefers LRT to subway #topoli

Save Transit City: "The whole thing about subways was started solely as a delay tactic by Rob Ford to make sure no new transit gets built under his watch. That's it."

Make TTC free overnight during cold alerts, Councillor Josh Colle urges

Toronto Star: "“On those rare occasions, when there are a lot of people who need to get to shelter or home, they could use the transit system,” said Colle. “Those buses are running anyways. We’re spending the money."

This sensible proposal exposes what is wrong with charging fares. Fares are for rationing use, not for revenue. When you charge fares, fewer ride, and that raises the cost per rider by under-using the system. Since the buses are running anyway, why not make them free all the time and maximize their value? What if roads were priced with user-fees [tolls] at their actual cost? There would be a lot of letters-to-the-editor complaining about the wasteful nature of empty roads. And, you are correct if you are thinking that fares do not cover actual costs for buses. That's the point. Get it? Why play that game. Let's just decide what is best and fund it. Polls constantly show that people want more public transit, but the money keeps going to roads.

Privatization won’t solve Toronto’s transit problem

Toronto Star: "Fortunately, there is a more reliable route to improved transit in Toronto. Experience from around the world shows there are three key ingredients for a successful urban transit system. Regrettably, Toronto has none of these currently in place."

Public transit free of charge: Ken Fisher’s Big Idea

Toronto Star: "What’s the big idea: What if public transit in Toronto was free? “Big Ideas” are always met by naysayers with “It can’t be done.” However it has been done and is being done. The city of Hasselt in Belgium is but one example. Transit fares were abolished in 1997 and ridership was more than 10 times higher by 2006.
How will the big idea work: Benefits: Faster boarding and exiting; low-income people are the primary benefactors; road traffic is greatly reduced benefiting drivers as well; air and noise pollution are reduced; fare-collecting costs eliminated."

Michael Laxer for City Councillor Ward 6 - #freetransit advocate

Elect Michael Laxer - Ward 6 City Councillor 2014: Michael Laxer for City Councillor Ward 6: "As Ward 6 City Councillor I will fight to see the Waterfront West LRT plan brought back to connect our Ward with Toronto's downtown in a faster and easier direct route. I will work to see transit expanded city wide and to have revenue tools put in place to finance and maintain this expansion. I will work to integrate GO Transit and TTC routes within the city so that people can use the Lakeshore line as if it was a subway.  I will also fight against any agenda to raise fares and will work towards FREE transit, which should be the environmental and social goal of any government."

Toronto voters name #publictransit as their top priority

The Pulse: Public transit tops priority list | Toronto Star: "It may still be early days in the municipal election campaign, but one thing is already abundantly clear: Public transit is a key issue in this year’s race."

Urban sprawl is sickening, as well as ugly

Editorial | Toronto Star: "Urban sprawl is ugly, inefficient and bad for the environment. It’s also – quite literally – sickening. The unhealthiness of spread-out, car-dependant neighbourhoods is clearly spelled out in a new study by St. Michael’s Hospital researchers. Urban planners, municipal leaders and city residents would be wise to pay close attention."

TTCriders.ca | Take Action: Will you support public transit this January 29?

TTCriders.ca On January 29 and 30 Toronto City Hall will be debating the 2014 City Budget. This City Budget determines how much funding the TTC receives. Come down to City Hall at 100 Queen Street West on January 29 and participate in the following events to call for more funding, better service, and lower fares. Please RSVP below. That way we can communicate with you easily and keep you up to date on our plans. For more information please contact Jess at jess@ttcriders.ca, 647 772 8770.:

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Buses, heavy rail, light rail

What is the best way to improve public transit in your town?

Superimposing rail on top of sprawl can be very divisive. Rail is fixed, meaning there are winners and losers. There is a big difference between heavy and light rail. Light rail can be good when the bus lines are already saturated with riders. Heavy rail (subways,commuters) can only be justified in extreme density. Subways send people underground to make room for cars above, and commuter rail prolongs the life of sprawl.

Why start at the top with capital-intensive projects? First make the buses fare-free. Then as the riding patterns develop, you will see where you need light rail, and, in extreme cases, heavy rail. When the buses are busy, rail will not be controversial.

Why is this obvious pattern not followed? That's right, because government is filled with people who are subservient to oil, auto, and sprawl profiteering. They want public transit to suck.

Solution? Start or join a free-transit campaign in your town.

So more cars keep pedestrians safer???

Pub Patio Playdate: "One of the reasons we live downtown is because it’s easy to get around without a car and as the little one gets older my attention is turning to preparing her to take advantage of our neighbourhood’s walkability."

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