[bru-info] Oppose the Fare Increase: Dec 8th

[bru-info at lists.resist.ca]

SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE FARE INCREASE

What: TransLink vote on 2005 fare increase

Where: Richmond Municipal Hall, 6911 # 3 Road, Richmond

When: Wednesday December 8th, 9 AM

This Wednesday December 8th, at 9 am at Richmond Municipal Hall, TransLink will vote on whether or not to raise bus fares in 2005. This would be the third time that TransLink has increased fares in 5 years, that's a 43% increase in fares for bus riders over 5 years. The fare increase would mean that the people who rely on public transit won't be able to afford to use the system or will have to take money away from meeting other basic needs to pay for bus fare. This fare increase will push more transit dependent people, who are disproportionately people of colour and Aboriginal people and are majority women, deeper into poverty and social isolation 

This vote follows on the heals of TransLink's decision on December 1st to funnel 1.5 billion dollars of public money away from the bus system and into the Richmond Airport-Vancouver Skytrain (RAV) project, the largest Public Private Partnership in Canadian history, to meet the 2010 Olympics timeline and to respond to the needs of big business. To subsidize the construction of the RAV line, TransLink plans to increase fares as well as cut bus service on the # 3, 8, 15, Granville and Oak routes.

On December 8th the Bus Riders Union will demand that TransLink respect the rights of bus riders to affordable and accessible public transit. Bus Riders Union members will out in force at this meeting to demonstrate our collective strength and determination to defend our rights and to force TransLink to be accountable to bus riders. We call on bus riders and progressive allies to attend this meeting and to sign up to speak. To speak you have to submit a "delegation request form" by 8 AM Monday (6th) morning. You can fill out and submit the form on TransLink's website www.translink.bc.ca. 

If TransLink decides to move forward with this unjust fare increase the Bus Riders Union will take action and launch a Fare Strike in January 2005. The fare strike would be one day of collective protest against the increase where BRU organizers will ride buses and encourage bus riders to not pay fares. It is crucial that we impact TransLink's bottom line because fare increases and service cuts seriously diminish quality of life for transit dependent people and our families and compromise the health of our communities.

For more information please call the Bus Riders Union at 604-215-2775.

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