[bru-info] TransLink Steals Millions from Bus Riders for Privatized RAV Line

[bru-info at lists.resist.ca]

*** July 13, 2004 ***

TransLink Steals Millions from 
Bus Riders for Privatized RAV Line

    The Bus Riders Union condemns TransLink's decision to increase fares and to proceed with a two billion dollar rail line from Vancouver to Richmond (the RAV line).  The Bus Riders Union plans to wage a massive campaign to stop the fare increase which comes into effect on April 1, 2005.  The campaign will be launched at a public meeting at the Vancouver Public Library (Central Branch, Alma Vandusen Room), on Saturday July 24 at 1 PM.

    "TransLink is robbing the poor to give to the rich," says Bus Riders Union organizer Jennifer Efting.  "With another fare increase this coming April, they plan to take $40 million dollars out of the pockets of bus riders over the next three years.  Bus riders are mostly low-income people, who already struggle to survive in the face of stagnant wages, high unemployment and cuts to social program.  Where is our money going?  It's going directly into the pockets of big business owners who will make tens of millions of dollars in profit from RAV-line contracts."

    "This is the third fare increase in 5 years.  With yet another hike, fares will have increased more than 40%!  It's an attack on the right to mobility of transit-dependent people in this region who are mostly low-income, majority women and disproportionately immigrants, Aboriginal people and other people of colour.  This process of increasing fares for bus riders while cutting services to transit-dependent communities is unjust, it's bad public policy.  The fact that the money taken from bus riders is going to line the pockets of big corporations clarifies TransLink's real priorities."

    "What we're hearing from bus riders is that they are fed up," concludes Efting.  "The buses are overcrowded, the waits are long, and the fares are already too high!  People aren't going to stand idly by while TransLink hikes the fares again."

    The Bus Riders Union is a grassroots organization with over 400 members throughout the region.  In March 2004 the Bus Riders Union won the campaign for Night Owl bus service, with full Night Owl service slated to be restored by September.

For more information contact the BRU office at 604 215 2775 or e-mail
bru at resist.ca
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