kingofsurrey Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 Free Public Transit in Vancouver Well of course not free but... .paid for from city residents through taxation...... Would it ever be considered.... http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20190128-the-cost-of-luxembourgs-free-public-transport-plan Late last year Luxembourg made headlines when it announced that all public transport would be free. From 1 March 2020, there will be no charge for using the trains, trams and buses that traverse the tiny tax-haven sandwiched between Germany, France and Belgium. The move will benefit the Grand Duchy’s 602,000 residents and 175,000 cross-border workers alike, as well as around 1.2 million annual tourists. But what’s behind the move – and what will it achieve? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonMexico Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 It's already free. Just don't pay and don't carry ID. How else do the degenerates get out to the suburbs to commit property crime? 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuckistani Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 Why should people in Surrey or Coquitlam, where transit is super crap and they all have cars, have to pay for transit to those who live around the skytrain stations ??? Transit is cheaper than having a car anyways, no reason for it being free completely. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingofsurrey Posted May 8, 2019 Author Share Posted May 8, 2019 22 minutes ago, canuckistani said: Why should people in Surrey or Coquitlam, where transit is super crap and they all have cars, have to pay for transit to those who live around the skytrain stations ??? Oh really.... hmmmm. Are you entrenched in your opinion..... ? https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/vancouver-council-supports-free-transit-for-youths Jan 17, 2019 The campaign for free transit for everyone under 18 is moving into other cities and municipalities in the region after a vote by Vancouver city council to support the idea. The motion, proposed by Coun. Jean Swanson, requests TransLink to “immediately and without delay amend existing by-laws and cease ticketing all minors for fare evasion as the first step toward the full implementation of free transit for children and youth” up to 18 years of age. As well, the motion also calls on TransLink to look at sources of funding and develop a plan for a sliding scale of reduced transit fares based on income and adopt an overall poverty reduction mandate. Vancouver council approved the motion in support of the #AllOnBoard campaign late Wednesday night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuckistani Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 5 minutes ago, kingofsurrey said: Oh really.... hmmmm. Are you entrenched in your opinion..... ? Under 18 is an entirely different scenario than being free to all. I am okay with transit being tax-funded for minors, since a lot of things are cost-controlled for minors anyways. But i see no reason why it should be free for adults, when its already the cheapest mechanism of transport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nucker 67 Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 Here's a plan: Put virtual toll booths at all road entrances into Vancouver. Every time a vehicle (busses and taxis excluded) crosses the virtual toll into VAN, the vehicle is charged a small fee. Use those fees to provide free transit to everyone in the GVA. The beauty of it, it would be paid for by those who choose to and can afford to do drive in Vancouver. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nucker 67 Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 18 or under? So are bus drivers now required to check everyone's ID? What about the elderly or disabled? What about adults living in poverty? That's just leaving too many well-deserving people out. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonMexico Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 3 minutes ago, NUCKER67 said: Here's a plan: Put virtual toll booths at all road entrances into Vancouver. Every time a vehicle (busses and taxis excluded) crosses the virtual toll into VAN, the vehicle is charged a small fee. Use those fees to provide free transit to everyone in the GVA. The beauty of it, it would be paid for by those who choose to and can afford to do drive in Vancouver. The NDP scrapped the tolls on the bridges so they could win the election. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingofsurrey Posted May 8, 2019 Author Share Posted May 8, 2019 9 minutes ago, canuckistani said: Under 18 is an entirely different scenario than being free to all. How is it different.... what does age have to do with it... What about a disable senior citizens struggling to pay rent.... ? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuckistani Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 22 minutes ago, kingofsurrey said: How is it different.... what does age have to do with it... What about a disable senior citizens struggling to pay rent.... ? Age has everything to do with it: minors are not in a position to work full time or earn a full time wage. Disability people or senior citizens can also qualify for this on the same basis. However, for a regular, economically functional adult, these reasons don't apply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuckistani Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 29 minutes ago, NUCKER67 said: Here's a plan: Put virtual toll booths at all road entrances into Vancouver. Every time a vehicle (busses and taxis excluded) crosses the virtual toll into VAN, the vehicle is charged a small fee. Use those fees to provide free transit to everyone in the GVA. The beauty of it, it would be paid for by those who choose to and can afford to do drive in Vancouver. why should the cheapest form of transit be subsidized by the most expensive form of transit ? Why should those who drive for a living have to incur an extra tax ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingofsurrey Posted May 8, 2019 Author Share Posted May 8, 2019 1 minute ago, canuckistani said: Age has everything to do with it: minors are not in a position to work full time or earn a full time wage. Disability people or senior citizens can also qualify for this on the same basis. However, for a regular, economically functional adult, these reasons don't apply. Oh i see. I was more thinking about reducing our carbon footprint... climate change... dumb stuff like that..... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goalie13 Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 The idea has merits. In theory it can even benefit people that live nowhere near good transit because there would be fewer vehicles on the road and more parking spots available at their destination. The trick is, how to pay for it? Victoria coucil recently pondered a similar question and it was revealed that locally, transit takes in $43M in fares. Because Victoria, like Vancouver, has many municipalities, the solution would have to be a regional one and not an undertaking by any single municipality. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuckistani Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 1 minute ago, kingofsurrey said: Oh i see. I was more thinking about reducing our carbon footprint... climate change... dumb stuff like that..... Its already the cheapest form of transit, so subsidy doesn't make sense. If carbon footprint is the angle, its already the most carbon-friendly way of travel AND the cheapest. Whats next ? GIVE people money to ride the buses and trains ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alflives Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 1 minute ago, canuckistani said: Its already the cheapest form of transit, so subsidy doesn't make sense. If carbon footprint is the angle, its already the most carbon-friendly way of travel AND the cheapest. Whats next ? GIVE people money to ride the buses and trains ? I heard the losers, thieves, and lowlife scum already use transit for free. Isn't transit just a means for these useless people to move about freely, and do their terrible things? How about we do away with transit, and have people drive cars, like we are supposed to? Then we could build more roads, bridges, and other infrastructure creating a boom in the economy. Plus, look at all the spin off jobs from all those cars! It would be a bloody bonanza for our economy! The only buses we should have would be those little ones for the handicapped people. Then would have the tax dollars to subsidize those buses. Oh and do away with the ferries too. People can buy their own boats, or swim. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingofsurrey Posted May 8, 2019 Author Share Posted May 8, 2019 6 minutes ago, goalie13 said: The idea has merits. In theory it can even benefit people that live nowhere near good transit because there would be fewer vehicles on the road and more parking spots available at their destination. The trick is, how to pay for it? Victoria coucil recently pondered a similar question and it was revealed that locally, transit takes in $43M in fares. Because Victoria, like Vancouver, has many municipalities, the solution would have to be a regional one and not an undertaking by any single municipality. It would also encourage people to move closer to transit hubs... skytrain stations etc..... Would it in the end save taxpayers money? Less wear and tear on roadways.... less icbc claims... less need for road / bridge expansions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuckistani Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 Just now, Alflives said: I heard the losers, thieves, and lowlife scum already use transit for free. Isn't transit just a means for these useless people to move about freely, and do their terrible things? How about we do away with transit, and have people drive cars, like we are supposed to? Then we could build more roads, bridges, and other infrastructure creating a boom in the economy. Plus, look at all the spin off jobs from all those cars! It would be a bloody bonanza for our economy! The only buses we should have would be those little ones for the handicapped people. Then would have the tax dollars to subsidize those buses. Oh and do away with the ferries too. People can buy their own boats, or swim. You will give @kingofsurrey a heart-attack, mate. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuckistani Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 1 minute ago, kingofsurrey said: It would also encourage people to move closer to transit hubs... skytrain stations etc..... Would it in the end save taxpayers money? Less wear and tear on roadways.... less icbc claims... less need for road / bridge expansions. how does less ICBC claims save the taxpayer money ? ICBC is funded by the insurance premiums they charge. Sure, they dip into the tax pool, but that's a failing of socialized vehicle insurance, not a flaw shared by privatized insurance corps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goalie13 Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 3 minutes ago, kingofsurrey said: It would also encourage people to move closer to transit hubs... skytrain stations etc..... Would it in the end save taxpayers money? Less wear and tear on roadways.... less icbc claims... less need for road / bridge expansions. It could ultimately save all taxpayers money. Of course in the short-term both would need to be funded while mindsets are changed, but I think there is value in the big picture idea. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingofsurrey Posted May 8, 2019 Author Share Posted May 8, 2019 Just now, goalie13 said: It could ultimately save all taxpayers money. Of course in the short-term both would need to be funded while mindsets are changed, but I think there is value in the big picture idea. Me too. I think Vancouver can be a real world leader in transit as the citizens in Vancouver seem to ready to shift to Green Energy / reduced carbon footprint. Plus the high costs of housing / poor parking access etc... would make free transit even more attractive... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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