Fare-free transit pilot program is win-win policy for Vancouver
Today COPE City Councillor Sean Orr is bringing forward a motion to direct staff to seek to work with TransLink to identify and evaluate options for implementing a one year fare-free transit pilot.
The motion calls for a pilot program on two or three bus routes or corridors across the City of Vancouver, including but not limited to consideration of Route 5 (Robson Street), Route 9 (Broadway), Route 20 (Victoria Drive), and Route 41 (41st Avenue).
This motion, seconded by OneCity Councillor Lucy Maloney, is a common sense way to promote transit use and to look for new ways to expand fare-free public transit in Vancouver.
There are examples from across North America and around the world that show expanding fare-free transit is a win-win-win policy.
“By making public transit fully funded and free-to-ride, we can tackle the climate crisis, make life more affordable, and make our city less congested and more accessible for everyone,” said COPE co-chair Tanya Webking.
The Pilot Program calls for two or three one-year free bus routes serving working-class communities in Vancouver, reducing emissions city-wide and reducing costs for people who have to commute daily to work.
The motion also calls on the City to write to the provincial government to make possible fare-free transit route pilot projects throughout Metro Vancouver.
Fare-Free Transit works. A recent high-profile example is New York City’s fare-free bus pilot project which resulted in:
A 30% increase in ridership on weekdays, 38% on weekends;
A 39% drop in assaults on bus operators;
An increase in ridership, with the largest increases in new riders coming from low-income earning groups.
COPE has always fought to expand public transit and reduce costs, including passing motions at Council and School Board and supporting the grassroots effort that won free public transit for kids in B.C.
Read the full motion here. Public speakers are expected to begin on this motion later today.
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