Rally for #freepublictransit with food distribution!

I support Free Public Transit since car use has hidden costs to society such as higher congestion. Free public Transit is a public good for all. #Freetransit for a more equitable and liveable #ldnont! pic.twitter.com/KIVvmt0dFx

— Dirka Prout (@DirkaProut) December 24, 2019

Free Transit Ottawa campaign launch event

Free Transit Ottawa Event

The case for free public transit in Toronto

Free public transit is a growing movement around the world.

According to Free Public Transit: And Why We Don’t Pay To Ride Elevators, there are 200 cities around the world with some form of fare-free transit, and 97 that are completely fare-free.

Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, implemented free transit in 2013, and it was adopted nationwide last year. Luxembourg is another country where transit is free. The idea has also gained traction in the United States. Kansas City is set to become the first major city in North America with free public transit. On December 5, their city council voted unanimously to eliminate bus fares.
Fare-free transit makes sense. Basic mobility is essential for all people for work, household tasks and broader participation in society. Transit should be accessible to all as a public service. After all, we don’t charge user fees for libraries, parks, schools and healthcare.

https://nowtoronto.com/news/free-public-transit-toronto-john-tory/ 

Dallas has free streetcars, what about Ottawa City?

Ahem #ottcity could do this within core, key zones like bank street, or loop between market, downtown, lebreton, Gatineau; it all starts with a vision and political will @ShawnMenard1 @cmckenney @rawlsonking @MathieuFleury @JLeiper https://t.co/VwGBDqjQZK

— Toon_Dreessen (@Toon_Dreessen) December 15, 2019

Broadview, 190 year-old magazine, calls for #freepublictransit

But a step forward is not enough; a leap is needed. In September 2018, the city of Dunkirk, France, made public transit completely free for all, funded by a transport tax on companies. Within a month, the city saw ridership increase by up to 85 percent on certain routes. Dozens of other French cities have taken similar measures, and German cities are aiming for it as well. Meanwhile, Estonia introduced free public transit for the entire country in 2018, and Luxembourg plans to do the same in 2020. 

Canadian municipalities and provinces need to pursue these sorts of bold, material solutions to the flaws in our transit systems. Doing so will lessen our carbon footprint. Just as importantly, it will open our cities up so that everyone can access them, not just those who can afford to buy a car.

https://broadview.org/free-public-transit/ 

Ottawa #freetransit event January 22

We're launching a NEW campaign for #freetransit in off-peak hours, new and improved @OC_Transpo services, and democratic transit decision making at city hall! Our Campaign Launch will take place on January 22nd at Avant-Garde Bar. RSVP: https://t.co/2pqN1xpsfH ✊🚍🎙️ pic.twitter.com/KSGL2RrKAR

— Free Transit Ottawa (@freetransitott) December 12, 2019

London, ON, rally for #freepublictransit - Dec 23, 2019

https://www.facebook.com/events/799040587235321/

Should we introduce fares to reduce hospital or school crowding?

But isn’t that like saying, “Our hospitals are overcrowded so let’s start charging an entrance fee.” The problem with #freetransit 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙩 be that people would use it anymore than the problem with free schools is that children would attend them. https://t.co/3q6yLWwOfw

— Kevin Richardson (@KORichardson) December 9, 2019

Brantford children under 12 ride #publictransit fare-free

Agreed! I have always believed free public transport change our society dramatically when it came to helping those who lived in poverty, too. @CityBtfdTransit now offers free bus transport to all age 12 and under, which is a start. Let's keep going!!! #freetransport #freefare 🚌 https://t.co/3pPjBs4YOF

— Adrienne Roberts (@adrierob) December 8, 2019

Waterloo a backwater? Kansas City showing the way

Kansas City moves forward, Waterloo Region doesn't. https://t.co/sPLtac6ATq #ZeroFareTransit #FareFreeTransit @tomjgalloway14

— Bob Jonkman, Brantford-Brant GPC (@BobJonkmanGPC) December 6, 2019

Toronto is being "strangled" by the unsustainable #autosprawl system

Mayor John Tory is proposing a significant tax hike in order to fund billions of dollars in investments in transit and housing, a move that he says is necessary to ensure the city continues to prosper and doesn’t begin to “strangle itself” amid continued growth.

The cost of supporting the auto and sprawl system has never been sustainable. When oil was cheaper, this massive growth project was built on energy-subsidy and debt. Now the bill is due. There is only one solution -- unwind the system. Start by making buses fare-free. (Fare-free means no fare, just like fat-free or sugar-free).

When buses are fare-free (zero-fare), more will ride. The savings will begin immediately. A 1% increase in ridership in a city of 1 million would save citizens $5 million a year in petrol alone! Other costs could be cut. For example, how much is your city spending on parking - including parking enforcement? See this blog on how fossil fuel, autos, and sprawl are subsidized. 

Oshawa group has launched a campaign advocating for zero fare transit

OSHAWA — An Oshawa group has launched a campaign advocating for zero fare transit in Durham Region in an effort to battle climate change and fight economic inequality in the region. 

Jesse Cullen and Lucian Mailloux are executive committee members of We Are Oshawa, an Oshawa organization that advocates for progressive causes, which launched the campaign in November. 

“To us, we can’t afford not to do it,” said Cullen. “We know that ridership increases when fares are decreased and ridership drives routes and ridership drives funding from the province and the feds so funding will come with ridership and we hope that this is the type of thing that pays for itself.”

https://www.durhamregion.com/news-story/9749657-should-durham-move-to-zero-fare-public-transit-/? 

Toronto #publictransit riders are punished with bigger fines to discourage riding

#FreeTransit posters popping up around Toronto pic.twitter.com/v7aJubQmLp

— Free Transit Toronto (@FreeTransitTO) December 3, 2019

The cost of cars in Ontario

A Free Public Transit in GTA Vs. cost of driving?
Transportation accounts for 33% of the emissions in GTA. $Billions a year on fossil fuels subsidies. Traffic Gridlock and Congestion costs about $11 billion a year to the economy. And $billions on new roads and maintenance. ???? pic.twitter.com/q1OUlyIhZE

— Majid Babaie (@bermova) December 2, 2019

Pro-free-transit Councillor speaks at Ottawa transit town hall

Fantastic to hear directly from riders today in a transit town hall where back and forth is encouraged. They have solutions. @OC_Transpo needs to listen to them. #ottawa #ottlrt #ottnews #otttransit @HealthTransport @OttTransitRider @freetransitott @EcologyOttawa @JoelHardenONDP pic.twitter.com/7A2yXkbpLe

— Shawn Menard (@ShawnMenard1) November 30, 2019

Free transit not a new idea in Toronto

Did you know that back in the 1980s the Toronto NDP including Jack Layton supported #freetransit?

— Matt Fodor (@matt_fodor) November 26, 2019

September 2018 public transit debate

https://globalnews.ca/news/4484638/toronto-mayoral-candidates-debate/

Beware of high-profile opportunists

@NaomiAKlein says she rarely gets involved in nomination races. But when she does, she stays silent when the @NDP engages in vote suppresion of the African community in #Parkdale. More election fallout for NDP in Parkdale-High Park https://t.co/npLuGqo3cE

— Matt Fodor (@matt_fodor) November 9, 2019

How poor people are hurt by car-only culture @WeAreOshawa #zerofaretransit

#zerofaretransit would boost ridership & help reduce congestion, making an easy step towards a greener & more caring economy. It is already free for kids in @durhamregion; imagine what it could do for masses of workers struggling on less than a living wage. via @WeAreOshawa

— Andres Musta (@AndresMusta) November 22, 2019

+++

90% of assaults on transit workers are over fee disputes. #zerofaretransit would make buses safer for everyone, @Durham_Transit @durhamregion can expect to hear much more about this via @WeAreOshawa

— Andres Musta (@AndresMusta) November 22, 2019

+++

A homeless friend frequently misses job opportunities because they can't afford bus fare, nevermind a monthly pa$$. Transit fees are a poverty tax, kicking people when they are down. 100 cities already provide free transit. #zerofaretransit would boost the economy. @WeAreOshawa

— Andres Musta (@AndresMusta) November 22, 2019

October 2018, Sarah Climenhaga, Toronto mayoral candidate, called for fare-free #publictransit for seniors

Environmental activist Sarah Climenhaga proposed making transit free for senior citizens, citing the success of Mayor Tory’s policy that allows kids 12 and younger to ride without paying.

“...I think we’ve seen how well free transit for children has worked. Now it’s time to have free transit for seniors,” Climenhaga said.

https://www.thestar.com/news/toronto-election/2018/09/26/live-at-7-pm-wednesday-toronto-transit-debate.html 

Cars costs are draining Ontario

And that's without counting the vast sums of money constantly being spent to build vast swathes of ever widening highways that inefficiently gobble up masses of real estate to move people when there are far better more economical options. pic.twitter.com/LS8cmGs9kC

— Laurel L. Russwurm (@laurelrusswurm) November 12, 2019

Toronto reduced-fare study shows dramatic benefits

These discounts have made a transformational difference, according to a consultant’s report coming before Mayor John Tory’s executive committee this week. Before they received the cheaper fares, just 55 per cent of people eligible for the program who were surveyed said they were able to take transit as much as they’d like. After getting and using the discounts, that number jumped to 90 per cent.
And the transit trips they’re able to make now are important ones. The number of survey respondents indicating they can work or volunteer as much as they’d like leapt from 36 per cent to 72 per cent after the pass launched.

https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2019/11/11/ttc-fair-discount-program-offers-proof-that-cheaper-transit-can-transform-lives.html 

Liberal leadership candidate Michael Coteau promising free public transit to help curb climate change

 thestar.com

“Our actions must be bold and decisive ... I believe, as a principle, that like other public services in Ontario, public transit should be free at the point of access,” he said.

Poor people cannot afford the bus

How #zerofaretransit would help in the struggle to survive and improve quality of life

Report on AAP's Community Forum on Free Transit

July 13, 2017




Report on the AAP Transit Forum of June 3, 2017 (by Richard Walsh, AAP member)
The AAP Free-Transit Forum was held on June 3rd in the accessible church hall of Historic St. Paul’s Lutheran Church on Queen St. So., Kitchener. The purpose was to launch a political strategy to establish free public transit for low-income individuals in Waterloo Region. Approximately 50 people participated in the event beyond AAP members and volunteers.
After some brief introductory remarks from AAP member Richard Walsh as the event moderator, two speakers set the moral tone for the Forum: AAP member Regan Brussé shared her personal experience as a mother of three in trying to manage transportation for necessities. By way of precedents, she noted at least two Canadian cities have introduced drastically reduced (Calgary) or free public transit (Kingston). Then Joe Mancini of the Working Centre in Kitchener underscored the importance of affordable public transit for all in the Region.
Next, in five groups participants first discussed what they thought of the AAP proposal to make public transit free for low-income people. Each group then elected a member to report to the whole group what their group had discussed before moving to the second issue, namely, their views on what political action should be taken to achieve this goal.
Views on the Proposal for Free Transit
Some participants reported that given the escalating cost of living and the low rates of public assistance, transit costs make it difficult to get out into the community and to “access social amenities.” Many agreed that this is a common experience that worsens individuals’ mental health. Some said the reverse is also true: Affordable transit enhances social inclusion, which makes people feel part of the community.
Others noted that, with many of the social agencies in the region being located outside of core areas, affordable transit is a necessity. In fact, two groups stressed that affordable transit is a human right. As a matter of social justice, other participants added, the Region has already invested billions in the LRT, so it’s only right that everyone, regardless of income, can use it and the buses. In addition, some people noted the environmental benefits of free transit: Increased reliance on public transit that is made much more affordable by reducing or eliminating fares also reduces per capita pollutants and carbon emissions.

https://www.allianceagainstpoverty.com/single-post/2017/07/12/Report-on-AAPs-Community-Forum-on-Free-Transit 

Fare-free means no user fee, user fees are for rationing, not revenue

Apply your mind Jayme. Ofcourse it has a cost. Are roads free? How about the police? Firefighters? When someone says #freetransit, we are talking about commuters not having to pay directly every day. Just like we don't pay to drive, call the police or the fire department.

— For A Habitable Planet (@muthannas) November 9, 2019

Town hall discussion of #freetransit #zerofaretransit

We're at @JFAAP's townhall on Free Transit tonight at Black Creek Community Health Centre! #freetransit #communityorganisers pic.twitter.com/S6ZieaNFXw

— OPIRG Toronto (@OPIRGToronto) November 7, 2019

Toronto should have fare-free #publictransit #zerofaretransit

Free Public Transit vs. ‘Fare evasion’
Latest public transit news and issues

Wednesday, November 6, 2019
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
BCCHC, 2nd Floor, Yorkgate Mall

Guest speaker: Herman Rosenfeld, member of @ttcriders and @FreeTransitTO pic.twitter.com/bf4MbnZdkv

— JFAAP (@JFAAP) November 4, 2019

#climatestrike calls for #freetransit

Amazing rally in Brampton yesterday for the #GlobalClimateStrike! The climate needs of the suburbs have to be addressed by a #GreenNewDeal. Peel is more than ready for decent jobs for all (no more temporary, precarious work!) free electrified public transit, and migrant justice! pic.twitter.com/kRoYi03Mja

— Climate Justice Toronto (@CJusticeTO) September 29, 2019

TTC workers call for #freepublictransit

The union of TTC electrical workers is protesting across Ontario to advocate for free public transit and to “take down Doug Ford.”

https://www.blogto.com/city/2019/07/ttc-workers-call-mass-strikes-and-free-public-transit/

Writer suggests fare-free public transit for Waterloo, ON region

What a ride.
In its first 11 days of operation, our new light-rail transit system carried almost 300,000 passengers.
It’s a phenomenal, applause-worthy achievement that surpassed initial ridership projections.

Of course, the service for those 11 days was also free. Which begs the question, if we can attract this many transit users during a brief period of free fares, shouldn’t public transport be fare-free all the time?

https://www.kitchenerpost.ca/opinion-story/9488599-should-public-transit-be-fare-free-in-waterloo-region-/