[bru-info] Bus Riders Union Calls November FARE STRIKE

[bru-info at lists.resist.ca]

BUS RIDERS UNION CALLS NOVEMBER FARE STRIKE

Fare Strike: Transit for All!  November 14 - 18

The Bus Riders Union (BRU), a grassroots organization of transit-dependent
bus riders with over 800 members throughout the Lower Mainland, has called
for a one week fare strike from November 14 - 18.

"TransLink needs to lower the fares, buy new buses and increase service
now!" says BRU organizer Zailda Chan.  "TransLink is spending billions of
dollars on privatized mega-projects like the R.A.V. line money that should
be spent on meeting the needs of transit dependent communities.  The
impact of high fares and privatization is to redistribute resources away
from low-income transit dependent people - disproportionately women,
people of colour and Aboriginal people - and into the pockets of regional
and national business.  The fare hikes have not resulted in better service
for transit dependent communities who are suffering from high fares,
long-waits, and chronically overcrowded and unsafe buses."

The week long fare strike takes place in the lead up to municipal
elections on Saturday, November 19 when TransLink directors will be
seeking re-election as Mayors and Councillors in municipalities throughout
the region.

"We're calling this fare strike to demand that TransLink meet their
responsibility to provide affordable, reliable and environmentally sound
public transit for our region," says BRU organizer Beth Grayer.  "We are
demanding more buses and lower fares to meet the basic needs of
transit-dependent communities.  We are demanding that TransLink deal with
the real safety concerns of bus riders; overcrowding, long-waits and
inadequate service.  We are demanding an end to the criminalization,
racial profiling and harassment of bus riders and that TransLink disband
the 'armed and dangerous' Skytrain police."

"We use civil disobedience because the voices of transit-dependent bus
riders have been so consistently ignored by TransLink," says Chan.  "As
poor people, as women, as people of colour, we know that the system
doesn't work for us.  But collectively we have the power to make change,
by refusing to be ignored and by standing up and fighting for our rights."

An estimated 5,000 people participated in a one day Fare Strike organized
by the Bus Riders Union on January 14, 2005. In the week of November 14 -
18 BRU members and supporters will be organizing bus riders to get on the
buses without paying or showing passes.

Media Contact: BRU Office 604 215 2775

Bus Riders Union
407-119 West Pender Street, Vancouver
(604) 215-2775
http://bru.resist.ca/
bru at resist.ca