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

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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

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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