[bru-info] BRU Monthly Meeting: Sat Sept 13, 11am

[Updates on Bus Riders Union events]

*Bus Riders Union Monthly Meeting*
*BUS RIDERS ARE NOT CRIMINALS
Stop Privatization of Public Transit!
*

*When: *Saturday, September 13 at 11:00 am
*Where: *Organizing Centre for Social and Economic Justice
672 E. Broadway (at Fraser) Vancouver  V5T 1X6

Bus riders face daily intimidation, racial profiling and harassment from
skycops. According to a recent report, Skytrain police used tasers on
several people who were found without a valid fare, but did not physically
resist in any way.

While TransLink claims that the expanded police presence is for the
protection of riders, particularly women, it is clear that their main focus
is fare enforcement.  Skycops spend the vast majority of their time handing
out $173 fines. Translink has stepped up its campaign to deter riders from
giving away used transfers.  This is all directed towards gaining public
acceptance of transit service as a saleable privilege rather than a right.

By targeting people who can't afford the fare, Translink is criminalizing
poverty.  In addition to fines, Transit Police are booting people off of the
bus. This will prevent poor people from doing basic daily activities like
work, school, and making medical appointments.

These developments in poor bashing should be set against some context:
Translink recently commissioned PriceWaterhouseCooper to audit fare payment
in the transit system.  PWC found that over 97% of transit fares are paid.
When the cost of policing and audits like this are compared with money lost
to non-payment, it is clear this is about more than just money.

Translink is using criminalization of the poor to move along their road to
privatize transit service.  By keeping unwanted passengers off the bus they
hope it will be easier to make the rest of us pay for the "privilege" of
using public transit and further erase the right to transit as a public
service.

Let's show Translink who owns the transit system!

Join us as we plan how to stop poor bashing and privatization of transit and
build a transit system for all of us.

If you have been fined, kicked off the bus, or just think that the fares are
too high and privatization has to stop - Come to our meeting to build the
campaign for Justice for Riders!

There will be snacks. This is a kid friendly event!

-- 
Bus Riders Union
672 East Broadway St.
Vancouver BC
V5T 1X6
http://bru.vcn.bc.ca/
604-215-2775
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