#freepublictransit for youth "shouldn't even be a debate"

This shouldn't even be a debate. #Nanaimo maintains roads for $Millions/year that cars use for free. We allow parking on the sides of our roads for free. Imagine the outcry if we instituted a fee of $5/car to drive on the roads each day just like we do for people using transit. https://t.co/F5KYLB3Fki

— Don Bonner (@donbonner) February 27, 2020

#freepublictransit would make healthcare provision much easier for old and poor

Maintenance of fares is maintenance of inequality in public transit access, and access to public life.
Social isolation is as dangerous as smoking and affects many, especially older adults.
I hope very much that some of these issues will be raised in the next installments.
Has the author of this piece ever watched a medical problem of a client living in poverty worsen, endangering the person's life, because they lack access to transportation?
I have, as an outreach worker in Victoria.
I've had the painful job of distributing limited bus tickets to people in Victoria living in extreme poverty. It's horrifying.
When we say that something costs the healthcare system money, we're usually saying that it violently harms those in society with the least power.
I agree that we need to be realistic about the costs of creating equity in transit, as we do when we work for equitable access to healthcare and all other resources.
The transportation is what gets people to those other resources.
I just hope that those of us who are privileged enough to be able to take transit have some respect for what it actually means to lack that access when we discuss this issue.
Isolation from community, opportunities, healthcare, and often safety from dangers of other options.
I'm very lucky to have a Vancouver transit pass right now because I'm in university, but a few years back I was struggling financially after a BSc and was dealing with health issues. I was too poor to take the bus often, and biked when I wasn't really well enough to.
It was a very sad and difficult feeling to have to bike in all weather while I was sick because I didn't have much money. On one of the days during this period I had a near miss of a very serious accident with a truck, in which I could have died or been seriously injured.
It's very possible that all of this will be discussed in future installments.
But just in case, I wanted to remind us all what it means to put off finding these "major new taxpayer funds".
Other taxpayer funds, and very real suffering in our communities, are on the line.

https://twitter.com/lizoftheisland/status/1236469335578705920 

BC giving tons of money to fossil fuels, but stingy toward school students

Emma-Jane Burian, a student from the West Shore region, said she's "incredibly disappointed" with the vote because she understands "the implications of how hard it is to get to other places" in the area.

She said offering free transit to youth would help those families with lower income who live on the region's outskirts, and would also reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/victoria-transit-commission-votes-down-225119932.html 

BC Ecosocialists challenge Greens and NDP

"As a political party seeking to gain representation in the BC legislature, the Ecosocialists commit to challenging every one of the forty-three Green and NDP members of the legislature who are keeping this government in power, a government that, through its Solicitor-General, has directed the invasion and militarization of Wet’suwet’en territory. This is our responsibility as settler allies of the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs and as stewards of a planet whose climate is imperiled by the LNG megaproject that the pipeline fuels. Our solidarity is not just with the Wet’suwet’en but with the children and youth of the world who have been leading actions for the climate on every continent."

https://press.bcecosocialists.ca/wetsuweten 

Climate Justice Victoria is demanding free transit for all under 19 years old

Climate Justice Victoria is demanding free transit for all youth. 

During a Victoria Regional Transit Commission meeting on Feb. 25 the group plans to ask the commission to “prioritize climate action and social equity” by eliminating fares for youth 18 years old and younger travelling on regional public transit.

https://www.vicnews.com/news/climate-group-demands-free-transit-for-all-crd-youth/ 

BC Ecosocialists call for #freepublictransit

@BCEcosocialists

Let's make public transit fare-free for all youth in our region -- Free Transit Victoria

https://www.climatejusticevictoria.ca/youth-transit-pass

Start building expanded, zero-emission, fare-free transit!

The City of Victoria’s Youth Bus Program is a big success! 2,100 youth have used the program already. Families save money, and fewer car trips mean lower CO2 emissions.
But last summer four Transit Commissioners voted against making public transit fare-free for all youth in our region:

• Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes
• Saanich Councillor Susan Brice
• Sooke Mayor Maja Tait
• Colwood Mayor Rob Martin

Benefits of #freepublictransit -- less dementia

Researchers at the University of B.C. have found a link between living near highways and an increased risk of several major neurological disorders, including dementia and Parkinson’s disease.

https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/ubc-study-links-living-near-highways-to-risk-of-neurological-disorders 

Victoria City Councillor calls for activism to achieve #freepublictransit

I encourage everyone who supports this progressive, climate-friendly policy to work with your neighbours, classmates, co-workers and the Free Transit Victoria coalition to demand that the Victoria Regional Transit Commission, with support from the Government of British Columbia, move forward without delay with fare-free public transit for all young people in the capital region — as a first step toward universal access to mobility for everyone.

https://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/op-ed/comment-we-need-people-power-to-expand-fare-free-public-transit-for-youth-1.24047205? 

From April, 2019, Victoria Capital Region District goes fare-free

Victoria City Council has endorsed a proposal to make all public transit in the Capital Region District (CRD) free for riders. 

The proposal is described as an environmental action and involves phasing out transit user fees in the CRD and significantly improving bus services to encourage community usage. 

...According to the city, vehicle emissions are responsible for over 50% of the community’s carbon output and encouraging residents to switch from personal vehicles to public transit would result in a significant step towards carbon neutrality.

https://www.victoriabuzz.com/2019/04/victoria-city-council-approves-proposal-for-free-bc-transit-across-the-crd/ 

British Columbia anti-poverty group support #freepublictransit

https://twitter.com/PovReductionBC

http://bcpovertyreduction.ca/

Poor people do not have access to car culture

This looks like a possibly very strong case, pending other data & probably more research, for heavily subsidised or free public transit? Along with much stronger support for biking and pedestrian paths in planning, especially in low income areas.

— Jordan Carlson (@jordantcarlson) November 22, 2019

Now, two Nanaimo councillors calling for fare-free youth transit

Nanaimo councillors call for free public transit for youth https://t.co/fNvto6pnYc

— Sue Stroud 🍊❤️💪🏼 (@suestroud) November 14, 2019

Whistler and Victoria students to ride fare-free

In Whistler, the students will be provided free bus passes for the Whistler transit system early next year, while Victoria will give youth bus passes beginning next month.
Whistler’s plan will be funded by increasing the cost of monthly parking passes in day lots 1, 2 and 3, according to a news release from the Resort Municipality of Whistler.
Passes for monthly parking passes will increase by $10 to $60 dollars a month.

https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/whistler-pilot-project-makes-transit-free-for-students 

@donbonner Nanaimo councillor calls for #freetransit for youth

A Nanaimo city councillor is proposing youth ride transit for free around the city.

On Wednesday, Coun. Don Bonner wrote on social media that while he was riding the number 40 bus to a Nanaimo council finance and audit meeting, the bus was full of NDSS [Nanaimo District Secondary School] who have to pay to go to school.

“Time to make riding the bus free for youth under 19,” Bonner wrote.

https://www.cheknews.ca/nanaimo-councillor-calls-for-free-public-transit-for-youth-622127/ 

Free bus passes for kids living in Victoria starting Dec. 1

Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps says free bus passes for youth will be available for use at the beginning of December.

https://www.cheknews.ca/free-bus-passes-for-kids-living-in-victoria-available-dec-1-619776/? 

New West schools on board with campaign pushing free transit for youths

The New Westminster school district is the latest public entity to sign onto a campaign calling for TransLink to make transit free to youths aged 0-18.

The school board voted to endorse the #AllOnBoard campaign with effectively no discussion recently, making it one of a handful of school boards and city halls to endorse the campaign.

https://www.newwestrecord.ca/news/new-west-schools-on-board-with-campaign-pushing-free-transit-for-youths-1.23968339 

Campaign for fare-free transit for students on Sunshine Coast, BC

There is a growing call on the Sunshine Coast to make public transit free for students.

This initiative has so many benefits. Creating a culture and lifelong habit of taking the bus lowers our collective CO2 emissions by reducing the need for parents and students to drive. It would also make getting around the Sunshine Coast more equitable, giving equal access regardless of household income. And of course, it would reduce the congestion on our all too busy roads.

http://transportationchoices.ca/wp/freetransit/ 

#climate strikers call for fare-free #publictransit

More chanting inside Waterfront Station, calling for free public transit. #ClimateStrikeVancouver pic.twitter.com/ORP8wvP9H7

— dustin godfrey (@dustinrgodfrey) September 27, 2019

City of Powell River looks into free public transit

City of Powell River Council is awaiting a report from BC Transit regarding a prospective initiative to offer free transit to Powell River riders.

The suggestion to offer free transit came from the city’s youth council, which recommended at the June 18 committee of the whole meeting that council support a free transit pilot program for summer 2019 where all buses would be free.

https://www.prpeak.com/news/city-of-powell-river-looks-into-free-public-transit-1.23884090