From My Bottom Step

Free Ride for Seniors?

From ‘Fare-Free Canada’:
In its newly-released electoral platform, the Parti au Service du Citoyen, … is proposing that … there be free public transit for seniors and parents travelling 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays.

LTC’s Threatened Fare Hike

I’ve thought for quite a while that the senior management at the LTC is clearly incompetent, but the news that a fare increase is being proposed (”LTC wants 10% hike in fares”; London Free Press; 2008/09/04) is remarkably stupid even for them.
The LTC’s Larry Ducharme is quoted as saying that “This is a reality check, a watershed budget.” Well, here’s a reality check for Larry…
When … Continue Reading

In The News – 2008/06/19

Local, regional, national, and international. Whatever catches my attention and interests me. Updated throughout the day!

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Free Public Transit Is Gaining Credibility

Even though local politicians and media have mostly ignored my efforts to raise this topic so far, you know that it’s only a matter of time once the Toronto heavyweights start to latch on to it.
Have a gander at Is free transit the better way? in today’s Toronto Star. Then you might like to have a look at this recent post.
… Continue Reading

Increasing Credibility of Free Transit

It’s sometimes lonely being out ahead of the pack. That’s been the case since I first started warning about the probability of increased Toronto-like crime & safety problems here in London and the need for more police, and which has all since come to pass. It’s been the case with my call for prohibitions against the use of plastic bags. It’s been the case with my continued call for a Pedestrian Committee here in London, such as they have in more progressive cities. And it’s the case with my contention that public transit out to be free in the sense that it’s totally funded from tax dollars and no additional cost to those citizens who use it.
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Making Progress in Hamilton

Do you recall my post about Hamilton Councillor Sam Merulla and his proposal for free public transit?
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Ted Kheel’s Fight for Free Public Transit

Ted Kheel is a labor attorney/environmentalist who founded the Nurture Nature Foundation and has been lobbying for free transit in New York City for a lot of years. In Feb. 2007 he commissioned a $100,000 study which is expected to be released shortly. Some of the preliminary materials are available online now:
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Free Solar-Powered Public Transit

Just like Hamilton Councillor Sam Merulla’s proposal for a free public transit system, Adelaide Australia’s “world’s-first solar-powered electric bus”, is an example of visionary thinking.
Would you like to see London’s LTC purchase one of these to put it through it’s paces and calculate the economics of having a whole fleet of them?
Links:… Continue Reading

TAC Smog Season Suggestions

Acc. to the 9th Report of the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC), the following “Suggestions for possible actions during smog seasons” have been forwarded to City staff for feedback:

TRANSIT
 The use of public transit during a smog alert should be encouraged.
If free public transit is not practical then perhaps a reduced fare is an option.
Give people who take the bus (show … Continue Reading

The LTC Response to a Cashless Public Transit System

This just received from Joanna Kurowski, LTC Manager of Service Quality.

“Thank you for your comments regarding a cashless transit system. London Transit is subsidized by the City of London. Your suggestion for free public transit services would require more subsidy and would have a huge impact on city taxes at a time when the City is attempting to reduce property tax increases.”

Geez, and all this time I thought that LTC … Continue Reading