Speaking about the new Provincial Transit Plan, Premier Campbell said "Our transit mission is nothing short of being a global leader in terms of public transit and transit usage."
Unfortunately, the plan will get us no where near to being a "global leader." The new transit plan has ridership reaching 17% by 2020.
But in Stockholm 70 percent of peak period trips are by public transit. In Berlin it is 40% with a goal of 80%. Paris and London are both over 20%.
Lately I've been rethinking my job situation: I need part-time hours so that I can have time for freelancing, and I need to be able to walk to work. I'd been struggling over these two points with myself because I'd started to think that maybe I was being too picky. I live on Broadway and Granville, so really I could catch a bus going anywhere from right outside my door. But I just have SUCH a struggle with justifying that money and time spent on taking transit.
Now, with the fare hikes, it would cost my Starbucks teas for the WEEK to take a bus to and from work for 2 days. Not to mention it will now cost $15 (which could have been flowers or some other gift) to visit my grandmother in Richmond Hospital twice a week, and $10 (again, flowers or something else) to go to my parents' house in Tsawwassen on Sunday.
The 1% decrease in GST is not exactly going to be saving someone like me much money, either. Maybe if I were, say, buying a car or some other large item it would help me out, but really, that extra 1% savings is not going to clinch the deal for me when buying a pair of winter gloves. The money is going to slither out of my wallet in other ways, instead.
Start: Dec 8 2007 - 9:00am
End: Dec 8 2007 - 5:00pm
Vancouver Transit Camp 07 is an inaugural event and we envision a full-day event for Metro Vancouver to bring people using, loving and geeking over transit (maybe together with staff from TransLink), to work together on how we can make it better, easier and more enjoyable for everyone. Transit Camp is inspired by BarCamp, which is powered by participation and focused on a positive, respectful atmosphere. We will hold simultaneous small-group sessions on a self-organized basis around topics of interest to the community, as well as celebrations of transit through user-generated media and articles (music, buttons, t-shirts), photography, illustration and music inspired by transit in Vancouver.
The event will be well-documented in the form of blog posts, wiki content, photos, and video for everyone who is unable to attend. Even if that's you, tell a friend and see if they can come!
We envision a full-day event for Metro Vancouver to bring people using, loving and geeking over transit together with staff from TransLink, to work together on how we can make it better, easier and more enjoyable for everyone. Transit Camp is inspired by BarCamp, which is powered by participation and focused on a positive, respectful atmosphere. We will hold simultaneous small-group sessions on a self-organized basis around topics of interest to the community, as well as celebrations of transit through user-generated media and articles (music, buttons, t-shirts), photography, illustration and music inspired by transit in Vancouver.
Sign up at the Vancouver Transit Camp website, or send an email to vancouvertransitcamp@gmail.com letting us know you'd like to come!
The event will be well-documented in the form of blog posts, wiki content, photos, and video for everyone who is unable to attend. Even if that's you, tell a friend and see if they can come!
A recent comment on this blog claimed that SPEC did not support commuter or transit trains in the Fraser Valley. Of course, this is false. Ironically enough just today SPEC announced an advertising campaign to promote passenger rail in the valley.
Join us for a panel discussion with Dr. Larry Frank, architect Peter Busby and transportation engineer Lon LaClaire. Dr. Frank, the Bombardier Chair holder in Sustainable Transportation at UBC’s School of Community and Regional Planning, will deliver the keynote speech. Dr. Frank specializes in the interaction between land use, travel behaviour, air quality and health. Mr. Busby will provide commentary on the relationship between parking and the development and financing of higher density housing. Mr. LaClaire’s comments will focus on the relationship between density and transit.
What's the origin of saying "Thanks" to the bus driver when he drops you off at your spot? The tone of voice for some people suggests habitual recitation, yet it still sounds genuine.
I've never had this experience before on public transit in Toronto, Mississauga, Halifax, Orlando or Memhpis - only Vancouver.
Is it just a delightful social practice that spread virally? Was there some campaign to increase friendliness between drivers and passengers?
