Saturday, November 30, 2019

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Free transit not a new idea in Toronto

Friday, November 22, 2019

September 2018 public transit debate

Beware of high-profile opportunists

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

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Wednesday, November 13, 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 

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Cars costs are draining Ontario

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

“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.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

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 

Friday, November 8, 2019

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

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Monday, November 4, 2019

Toronto should have fare-free #publictransit #zerofaretransit