Dear Editor,
What's up with the transit shortage?
Did you know we haven’t seen an increase in transit service since 2020? TransLink has run buses for more hours, yes, but that has all gone to fighting congestion to just maintain the same level of service.
In a time when a recession is being threatened by a foreign leader and cost of living is very likely to increase for everyone, is keeping public transit stagnant the best choice? I don’t think so.
Public transit in Metro Vancouver has not kept up with demand, and yes the fact that the system has such a high demand indicates it’s an effective system, but it's still leaving way too many people behind. Surrey is being given every available bus-hour that can be scrounged up, at the expense of other cities, but it’s not nearly enough. Surrey deserves a lot better, and so does every single municipality in the region.
Just hours before writing this article I saw a mom with her baby in a stroller get left behind at a bus loop because the bus was too full. This is not OK.
We know we need to do better. Politicians know we need to do better … wait, do they? The 2025 B.C. budget had almost zero mention of increased investment in public transit service and TransLink is at risk of having to cut its service in half. Say goodbye to 145 bus routes.
Maybe the politicians don’t know after all…
How can you help?
Movement is hosting a Rally for Transit on Sunday March 23 from 1 to 2 p.m. at Metrotown SkyTrain Station (east entrance). It will be a family-friendly event with energetic transit supporters, a button maker, transit-themed colouring sheets for kids, and lots of fun pro-transit signs!
Visit www.savethebus.ca for more information on the campaign.
— Michael Hall, volunteer, Movement: Metro Vancouver Transit Riders
