Wednesday, September 16, 2020

More arguments in favor of fare-free #publictransit (zero fare)

Our belief in fare-elimination as the first step in a transformative sequence is grounded in historical experience. When the University Pass was applied to every student at UVic in the 1990s, ridership increased dramatically. In fact, it was such a success with packed buses that transit had to scramble to improve service, put on more buses and thus increase frequency.

This wasn’t the “wait for service changes” approach. It was about unleashing demand which forced service improvements. We simply propose up-scaling this proven approach to the entire system.

https://www.timescolonist.com/comment-make-public-transit-free-for-all-1.24198374 

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

#freepublictransit for seniors in Brampton

Thursday, March 5, 2020

"Less congestion, less environmental pollution.. Let's go for it"

"There are cities in the world that have free transit, why can't the city of Toronto?" said the councillor to Yazdani following Tuesday's board meeting.
"The fourth-largest city in North America? The most diverse city in the world? Why would be not have free public transit?" 
"We're going to get a lot more people on the TTC and we're going to get a lot more people out of their cars," he continued. "Less congestion, less environmental pollution... boy am I for it. Let's go for it."
https://www.blogto.com/city/2020/02/cost-toronto-homeowner-ttc-free/ 

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

No money for #freepublictransit? But six billion for useless subway

Creative people of Guelph come up with four ways to pay for free public transit for teens

In Mayor Cam Guthrie’s State of the City address for 2020, he put forward the idea that, in the (near) future, he’d like to see free transit for those 18 and under in Guelph. 
While I’d consider myself a supporter of that vision, I did have questions about how the city would fund such an initiative. 
Last month, the Transit Action Alliance of Guelph (TAAG) hosted a chat over coffees at Planet Bean Coffee in downtown Guelph.

The mayor and members of the Guelph Coalition for Active Transportation (GCAT) were in attendance. Ideas were shared about the ways in which the free-transit initiative could be funded with the least burden to taxpayers. 
https://www.guelphmercury.com/opinion-story/9864728-four-ways-to-pay-for-free-public-transit-for-teens-in-guelph/ 

"We need to organize for change"

https://twitter.com/DesmondCole/status/1234180739266158592

starting today, an adult ttc metropass is $156
student and senior passes are now $128.15

service is often terrible, presto sucks, and the system is nowhere near accessible for many

@johntory
 is hiring more goons to fine, arrest, and abuse riders

we need to organize for change

the ttc's problem is chronic underfunding by all levels of government.
@johntory
 wants to distract you by obsessing over people who can't pay. don't buy it. we need to fund transit through taxation and let people ride the damn system without barriers and harassment

 I repeat, public transit shouldn't cost anything at the point of entry. it should be paid for through taxes. WE NEED TO CANCEL FARE INSPECTION, which is having the worst impact on people who are black, indigenous, poor, homeless, disabled or mentally ill. we rely on the ttc

 we can rid ourselves of fare inspectors and continue fighting for free transit by educating ourselves, and supporting each other as we ride. advocate when we see someone being stopped, learn what fare inspectors can and can't do, take videos, talk to media and our councillors

 and you ttc union folks who are watching this fare enforcement regime happen, or actively supporting it, square up for the fight of your lives. you should be supporting riders, as unions in other cities have done, and you're going to hear from us if you keep acting the fool

 groups like
@ttcriders
 and many others have been doing this work for years. we need to build on that advocacy and fight back before our system is further militarized and even less accessible. I'll be devoting more time to this in the coming months #freethettc

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Guelph Mayor: #freepublictransit for youth


GUELPH -- Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie delivered his State of the City address on Friday, and with it came some ambitious ideas for the future.
Without setting timelines, he spoke of a future where the downtown core was free of cars, and where public transit was free for people under 18.
https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/guelph-mayor-envisions-car-free-downtown-free-transit-for-youth-1.4804053 

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Student fare for TTC going up

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Ottawa Transit Challenge -Défi transport en commun d'Ottawa

Ottawa Transit Riders is organizing the second annual Ottawa Transit Challenge, along with Ecology Ottawa, Healthy Transportation Coalition, and Free Transit Ottawa!
Please join city councillors, staff, and supporters and commit to riding the bus/train/Para Transpo for seven days, from February 17- 23, 2020!

*****
Les usagers du transport en commun d'Ottawa organisent la deuxième édition annuelle du Défi transport en commun d'Ottawa, en collaboration avec Écologie Ottawa, la coalition pour les transports sains, et Transport en commun gratuit Ottawa!
Veuillez vous joindre aux conseillers municipaux, au personnel et aux partisans et vous engager à prendre l'autobus ou le train ou Para Transpo pendant sept jours, du 17 au 23 février 2020!

Monday, February 17, 2020

Public transit advocates confronted by security at Ottawa city hall

Saturday, February 15, 2020

TTC abuses riders and the public in general

Imagine, though, if your Mazda 3 greeted you every time you got in it with a, “Hey, you delinquent criminal!” It doesn’t matter if you’re not delinquent and did nothing wrong, you still get the message every time you or your passengers get in.
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2020/02/14/fare-evasion-may-be-a-problem-but-the-culture-shift-we-need-is-a-respect-for-transit-riders.html 

Thursday, February 13, 2020

Guelph, ON, fare-free for youth takes a step forward

Mayor Cam Guthrie announced Friday that he wants free bus rides for high school students and children under 13.
Speaking at the annual State of the City address, he said the plan will be brought to council shortly https://www.guelphtoday.com/local-news/mayor-to-introduce-plan-plan-for-free-transit-for-high-school-students-and-kids-under-13-2076839

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Idea of #freepublictransit gaining traction

In order to make public transportation a truly public service, cities across North America should eliminate rider fare.
A recent New York Times article explored the conversation happening in several American cities around waiving fare on public buses. The idea, which is gaining traction in US cities, has had tangible effects: the mayor of Lawrence, Mass., has implemented a two-year pilot eliminating the fare on the city’s buses with promising results.

Effective public transportation is a basic need. It enables people to get to grocery stores to buy their food, and it allows them to pursue employment opportunities outside walking distance of their homes. Free public transit would be a positive step towards providing people with equal access to mobility within the area they live.
https://www.queensjournal.ca/story/2020-02-11/editorials/free-public-transportation-could-get-cities-further/

Barrie City Councillor supports #freepublictransit

Saturday, February 8, 2020

ATU Canada supports #freepublictransit

“ATU Canada advocates for fares to be affordable for all, and advocates for progress toward creating a fare-free transit..."
https://freetransitottawa.ca/free-public-transit-in-canada/ 

Trudeau owned by energy industry

Monday, February 3, 2020

Good media coverage of Free Transit Ottawa - @freetransitott

Free Transit Ottawa’s campaign launch featured several city representatives, including Capital ward Coun. Shawn Menard, who said these issues align with what he has been campaigning on since the beginning of his political career. 
“100 municipalities across the world have free transit right now,” he said. “We even have free transit in Canada—in Calgary, Victoria—it’s possible in different capacities.” 
“We all benefit collectively from free transit, and it’s a service that should be funded for people the same way our roads, our bridges, and our light poles are,” he added.
https://charlatan.ca/2020/01/activists-advocate-for-free-public-transit/? 

Sunday, February 2, 2020

London, ON, courageous council member stands up against #racism, #classism

Toronto - fares to rise for university students

This year they chose students to be their victim. Specifically, the 2020 TTC Operating Budget singled out the Post-Secondary Student Metropass, raising the price from $122.45 to $128.15. This may seem like a measly sum of an extra $5.70 per month, but think clearly about the implications of this. This increase is proportionally larger than any other TTC increase that has been proposed this cycle. Additionally, the rising cost of living in Toronto continues to push students and other residents into substandard, illegal, or dangerous housing situations. 
City Council has the power to levy various increases in other areas too, from a revival of the $60 vehicle registration tax — which would generate over $55 million — to minor increases in the property tax that amount to the cost of a few coffees per year. Funnily enough, City Council generally rejects these proposals, but is fine asking students to pay an extra $68.40 per year to use our public transit system.
https://thevarsity.ca/2020/02/02/op-ed-the-city-balances-its-budget-on-the-backs-of-students/

Petition against fare increase:
https://joshmatlow.ca/student-transit/

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Ireland Elections: People Before Profit promises #freepublictransport for all Ireland

Solidarity-People Before Profit said it will introduce a free public transport system by tripling investment and subsidising journeys.
Launching its "Planet Before Profit" climate change manifesto, the party said it would do this by adding 500 electric buses every year at cost of €500 million.
https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/politics/solidarity-people-before-profit-manifesto-21387262 

Free Transit Ottawa starts Campaign

“We’re really fighting for affordable, better and democratic transit,” said Kayla Charette, co-lead of Free Transit Ottawa.
The first two pillars are interconnected, as they view both cheaper and more accessible transit as basic necessities for an effective transit system.
“Adding more buses to service,” Charette said. “Adding neighbourhood routes, creating lanes, that sort of thing.”
Free Transit Ottawa’s third pillar is democracy, and Charette says the “don’t rock the boat” mentality at city hall over who goes on the transit committee takes away from citizen involvement.

https://freetransitottawa.ca/campaign/
https://twitter.com/freetransitott 

Monday, January 27, 2020

Toronto - Here is a chance to lobby for #freepublictransit

Sunday, January 26, 2020

Excellent respository of information about #freepublictransit

Free fares would be the biggest single pro-environment policy enacted by any national government anywhere on the planet, dramatically slashing car use and CO2 emissions.
https://theleftchapter.blogspot.com/p/the-struggle-for-free-transit-and.html? 

Thursday, January 23, 2020

Launch of campaign for #freepublictransit in Ottawa