5619 replies to this topic

[nagel]

As far as I know from listening to Susan Brice on CFAX last night she said Transit hasnt been approached on this but she is aware. Youth passes cost $45 per month, where are you getting the info that transit is offering $11.20?

https://www.timescol...days-1.23520732

[Cats4Hire]

ok, so someone demand no charge buses, I am demanding free gasoline for my car and while I am at it free groceries too.  Where does it end?

The comparison would be you fill up at the station or walk out of the grocery store without paying then at tax time everyone pays. You aren't just getting a free service...

[spanky123]

As far as I know from listening to Susan Brice on CFAX last night she said Transit hasnt been approached on this but she is aware. Youth passes cost $45 per month, where are you getting the info that transit is offering $11.20?

 

That was my understanding as well. Parents would still pay $11.20 a month, the City the rest. I find it hard to believe that Mayor Helps would announce a new initiative without speaking with the stakeholders (ie BC Transit)!

 

Edit: I notice in the TC this morning that Helps is now stating free bus passes and negotiating a $11.20 rate with BC Transit. 24 hours, new plan, why not?!

Edited by spanky123, 06 December 2018 - 09:12 AM.

[Nparker]

...I find it hard to believe that Mayor Helps would announce a new initiative without speaking with the stakeholders (i.e. BC Transit)!

Really? It sounds exactly like her modus operandi to me.

[tjv]

The comparison would be you fill up at the station or walk out of the grocery store without paying then at tax time everyone pays. You aren't just getting a free service...

You must also support housing every homeless person here too.  What's wrong with a user pay system?  Bus costs $2.50 which is practically free compared to the cost of running a car

 

Is there anywhere in Canada/US that offers free bus service?

[sdwright.vic]

https://www.timescol...days-1.23520732

Transit is not offering anything. More a wish price of the cities.

[nagel]

It's almost like, the mayor and council should ask for a staff report for all the details so we totally understand the exact numbers involved, before everyone freaks out.

 

But that doesn't sell newspapers and clickbait on Facebook.

[Jackerbie]

You must also support housing every homeless person here too.  What's wrong with a user pay system?  Bus costs $2.50 which is practically free compared to the cost of running a car

 

Is there anywhere in Canada/US that offers free bus service?

 

The one only one I can think of off-hand is Calgary, where the C-Train is free downtown.

 

If your question is earnest, Wikipedia has a list of free routes and systems by country: https://en.wikipedia...ransport_routes

[shoeflack]

You must also support housing every homeless person here too.  What's wrong with a user pay system?  Bus costs $2.50 which is practically free compared to the cost of running a car

 

Is there anywhere in Canada/US that offers free bus service?

 

You've clearly never been to Disney.

 

Calgary has a fare-free zone downtown on the C-Train. Winnipeg offers a number of downtown bus routes for free. In terms of systems in their entirety, Elmira, Ontario is currently running a free service pilot program. There are many US communities that offer free transit (Missoula, Montana; Chapel Hill, North Carolina; and many more)

 

Heck, just across the water in Island County, Washington (Whidbey Island, etc.) they operate free public transit.

 

This is another good site that has a solid list of these free services.

[DustMagnet]

ok, so someone demand no charge buses, I am demanding free gasoline for my car and while I am at it free groceries too.  Where does it end?

 

Last time I checked healthcare isn't no charge, I get a bill every month in the mail.  Plus when I walk out of the doctors office with a prescription I seem to recall my wallet coming out at the pharmacy.  No charge, yah right!

 

Just like transit, it is heavily subsidized by property taxes and income taxes, but you still get a bill if you want to use it

 

There is no free lunch.  I think people do understand that.  What we are talking about is no user fee and cost sharing across the population, not just the user base.

 

If you prefer a car analogy it's like saying driving on the road is free because there are no toll booths.

[rjag]

It's almost like, the mayor and council should ask for a staff report for all the details so we totally understand the exact numbers involved, before everyone freaks out.

 

But that doesn't sell newspapers and clickbait on Facebook.

 

Who's freaking out? Its a topic for discussion. CoV arent exactly known for thinking beyond ideology and the unintended consequences. Some folks blindly follow: others question and challenge....thats what separates us in Canada from Cuba or Venezuela 

Edited by rjag, 06 December 2018 - 10:25 AM.

[Cats4Hire]

You must also support housing every homeless person here too. What's wrong with a user pay system? Bus costs $2.50 which is practically free compared to the cost of running a car

Is there anywhere in Canada/US that offers free bus service?

I don't recall ever actually saying I wanted this. I was explaining the difference between "free" and "no charge". I did say I'd rather everyone is subsidized over just children and gave some potential reasons it would be a good idea but I don't think it would work out very well.

[nagel]

Who's freaking out? Its a topic for discussion. CoV arent exactly known for thinking beyond ideology and the unintended consequences. Some folks blindly follow: others question and challenge....thats what separates us in Canada from Cuba or Venezuela 

Fair enough, freaking out was dramatic.  And while we had fun with numbers this morning, I'd love to see actuals to see if this could work.  If the one does really essentially offset the other, I'm totally in support, even though it will benefit me less personally.

[vortoozo]

Is there anywhere in Canada/US that offers free bus service?

 

Tofino (service is seasonal).

[tjv]

I don't recall ever actually saying I wanted this. I was explaining the difference between "free" and "no charge". I did say I'd rather everyone is subsidized over just children and gave some potential reasons it would be a good idea but I don't think it would work out very well.

Ah fair enough, I took it as implied, sorry

[rjag]

Fair enough, freaking out was dramatic. And while we had fun with numbers this morning, I'd love to see actuals to see if this could work. If the one does really essentially offset the other, I'm totally in support, even though it will benefit me less personally.

Thanks for catching my mistake with missing out annualising the cost. Still a significant shortfall.

I noted earlier that I’m also in agreement with the concept but believe it needs to be a regional approach and it should be expanded to include rec centre passes as well.

[Nparker]

...I noted earlier that I’m also in agreement with the concept but believe it needs to be a regional approach...

And it needs to be coordinated between the 3 school districts and BC Transit. It shouldn't be done piecemeal on a city-by-city basis; not in a region as geographically small as ours.

[nagel]

Thanks for catching my mistake with missing out annualising the cost. Still a significant shortfall.

I noted earlier that I’m also in agreement with the concept but believe it needs to be a regional approach and it should be expanded to include rec centre passes as well.

Socialist.

[Bingo]

Who's freaking out? Its a topic for discussion.

 

Keep freaking out as it relieves some of the boredom on these threads, and keep keeps the moderators from falling asleep. No need for any...

[rjag]

Socialist.

 

Realist