[bru-info] BRU Fare Strike Week Kicks Off

[bru-info at lists.resist.ca]

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

BRU Fare Strike Week Kicks Off 


November 14th 2005 - Today marks the beginning of a week-long fare strike called by the Bus Riders Union (BRU) to protest high fares and poor transit service. Dozens of BRU organizers began riding the buses at 7am encouraging bus riders to participate in the political action.

"The energy among bus riders is high this morning," says BRU organizer Beth Grayer. "Bus riders are sharing their frustrations with the deteriorating bus system and many are taking action by not paying their fare or showing their pass. Bus riders are streaming onto the buses and reclaiming our right to mobility."

For the past year, the Bus Riders Union has been calling on TransLink to lower bus fares and buy more buses to meet the critical transportation needs of low-income people and communities. Despite broad support for the campaign from bus riders, trade unions, student groups, community organizations and the Vancouver School Board, TransLink has refused to address the issue of high fares. Instead TransLink has continued to pour money into the privatized R.A.V.
line, and on increased enforcement, including arming TransLink security police with semi-automatic handguns.


"Bus riders are fed up with TransLink's policies which are eliminating transit as a public service and turning it into a cash cow for big business," says BRU organizer Jennifer Efting. "Fare Strike Week is an opportunity for transit-dependent people in this region to send a clear economic and political message to TransLink that their policies of high fares, privatization and criminalization of bus riders are unacceptable. Today, hundreds of bus riders are already beginning to take collective action for our rights. We anticipate that many more will join this mass protest action by the time the week draws to a close."


-30-

Media Contacts: 
BRU Office -- 604 215 2775 
Jennifer Efting -- 604-255 4745

Bus Riders Union
419-119 West Pender Street, Vancouver
(604) 215-2775
http://bru.resist.ca/
bru at resist.ca

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