People hate the transit fare increase
Dave at Human Powered sums it up quite nicely, in addition to providing a number of statistics to back up his arguments.
That’s a 40% increase at the farebox; the ever-helpful Bank of Canada tells me that inflation over this period has been less than 16%, meaning fares have gone up 2 and half times faster than everything else.
The only new buses that have come since any of the fare increases in 2000, 2002, and 2005 are replacement buses that were needed 10 years ago.
This time, TransLink heralds the largest bus expansion in 31 years (better sit down for this one): 90 buses. That’s not even 10% of what we have already and a far cry from those earlier promises.
That would all be bad enough, but now TransLink is trying to brainwash us into thinking that Transit Service equals Fares. Want more Service? Pay more Fares. Want Peace? Go to War. Want freedom? Give up your Rights. TransLink is spinning with the best.
He also brings up an interesting perspective I rarely think of – that of a family:
If you’re a parent in the ‘burbs, I bet you’re not going to bring your 3 kids with you into the City by bus. That would put you back at least $30; gas still doesn’t cost that much and there is lots of free parking to be had.
Meanwhile, Nice Vancouver asks what to do with FareSaver passes bought in ‘07:
I bought a book of FareSaver Tickets a month before the fares were increased. I know in Ottawa if the bus fare and ticket fares go up you can continue to use your “old” bus tickets until they are gone…meaning if you have like 2 sheets of bus tickets at $0.90 you can continue to use them until they are gone even if the ticket price is $0.95.
So, what’s a typical Joe to do? Well, Dave gives three proposals (all of which are more than palpable), with my commentary afterwards. I don’t necessarily endorse these options, but ideas are ideas nonetheless. :
- Stop paying fares. It’s a mixed bag, but most bus drivers don’t care. Half don’t even check nowadays.
- Share your tickets. Sharing encourages community, gives the poor another option to evading fares, and is nice to others…
- Get a ticket from the Transit Police and challenge it in court. Actually, you don’t even need to challenge it. If you are a regular transit rider, there’s not much they can do to make you pay it (they usually bring it up before driver’s licence renewal). Besides, the trick is to not carry ID, and then send the ticket to “James Green”. The money goes into provincial coffers by the way, so it’s not like there’s even any incentive for TransLink to actually ensure you do pay, nor does the money go back into your transit system.
10 Responses to “People hate the transit fare increase”
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Sean Orr on January 8th, 2008
Pay in pennies. It clogs up the machine and nobody else can pay until the bus is taken out of service.
Rebecca on January 8th, 2008
Oh but apparently we’re getting a “bargain” [News1130]
paul on January 8th, 2008
@ Rebecca. I know, what a load of crap.
Sure, it may be true, but doesn’t that reveal a much larger national problem? i.e. The lack of sustained funding and capital investments in our major cities’ infrastructure through both provincial downloading and federal packratting.
Erika Rathje on January 9th, 2008
My fare doubled because I went from a one zone student discount of $69 to a whopping $136. And I haven’t seen any transit improvements; quite the opposite, so I’d like my money back. To put it into perspective, cash fares would cost $200-250/month for my commute and that doesn’t include the occasional recreational trip. At least I can finally claim this on my taxes. I can’t imagine what it’s like for low income earners, with kids, mortgage payments or higher rent. Does anyone know if the daypass price is still $8?
Miss604’s Vancouver Blog » Blog Archive » WTS - What The Surrey #19: Link Fest Edition on January 10th, 2008
[...] says riders are still getting a bargain with the new fare increase [...]
carolbrowne on January 10th, 2008
I have to agree with Erika. I’ve not seen any improvement in the service at all with the increase in fares. I have noticed the newer buses have fewer seats, though. I guess to squeeze in more customers by standing up instead of sitting. So lame. I pay $3.75 one way from Burnaby now. Totally crappy.
Erika Rathje on January 10th, 2008
I noticed that about the newer buses, too, especially the weird chunky ones with the closet-sized engine tower in the back, or whatever that is. I found getting up to head to the door while the bus was in motion pretty alarming because there’s nothing to hang on to and I was carrying a backpack and a huge umbrella! Plus if you go flying you’ll either end up in a very narrow section by the stair, or clear across the back against the wall. Eep. $3.75 sucks… My coworker saves herself good money by walking across Boundary into Vancouver to head to work! Not everyone is that lucky.
Erika Rathje on January 10th, 2008
Such bullshitters. As if you can get from Downtown to Langley in 90 minutes. http://www.translink.bc.ca/About_TransLink/News_Releases/news01080801.asp
I’ll remember next time they promise “significant bus improvements” to my area that it’s nothing noticeable.
S. on January 11th, 2008
re: http://www.news1130.com/news/local/article.jsp?content=20080108_192234_5068
Nice of Translink to point out the worst case scenario in comparing their fare to Toronto’s. What about Calgary where $2.50 will get you over 40 kms? (i.e. no zone system in Calgary).
Erika Rathje on January 11th, 2008
Shyeah. Lowballers. Mind you, in Calgary apparently one has to wait longer for trains, but could you imagine no zones here? That’d be sweet!
Someone in Vancouver was complaining about having to pay “higher fares” for Surrey residents to bus around. Riiight.