So I'm fuming right now because I read a news article about how the city is raising bus fare in less than a month.
Current fare is $3 for adults
$2.50 for high school students
Free for 8th grade and under
The free rides for anyone below high-school level was only just put into place like a year ago? But it's been a huge relief to families for sure. Even people without kids were in support (obviously there's always going to be someone against it because they personally don't benefit but that's life) and things have been fine.
Just over a decade ago was when they last raised prices and it was $3.10 for adults, this may seem like no big deal to some but if you take the bus twice a day 5-6 days a week for work then that 10 cents is absolutely brutal.
Not only is it hard to break a bill into the needed amount, now you need small change explicitly mixed in to achieve that 10 cents.
The transit riders were pissed and eventually they brought it back down to $3 and left it there.
Just in the time I was in high-school they raised the price from 50 cents to $2 within 4 years. The worst was when it was 90 cents because again getting the right amount of small change can be difficult, if you had no choice but to use a loony ($1 coin) then you're out of luck because you can't get that 10 cents back. When they introduced the electronic farebox it was even worse if you had American coins mixed in because it wouldn't count them and you were at risk of being kicked off the bus for not paying the full fare, good luck explaining that to your teacher if you were late.
Now on top of raising the price 50 cents, there's going to be a second increase in January.
Supposedly they justify it as expansion or sustainability of the busses and adding more lines later but given fact that a few years ago they had to change out the person in charge of city transit because they were stealing money from the budget and purposely buying old run down buses and parts when newer and more functional buses were on offer from other cities, I can't say I trust the reasoning behind this increase.
Not to mention the increase happens right after school ends. The student only routes won't be running and the city intentionally cuts down on runs in further out areas while university classes aren't going on. Because you know it's not like anyone but students ever need city transit.
There's free charter buses during the summer for the different festivals and events going on.
Many routes including mine are still only one way loops even after years of expansion.
There's no justification for such a steep increase in price, nevermind a double increase in 6 months time.
And this is just considering the change, adding in the cost of digital tickets or monthly passes and many people around the city are going to lose their main form of transportation because it's just not in their budget to afford it.
Do you know how agonizing it is to have to choose between a doctor's appointment and groceries because you can't afford to do both? Because of 50 extra cents!
I am ready to Riot!
