April Fool’s Day is but a day away and this year, instead of throwing a whoopie cushion under ours bums as we plonk ourselves down on our morning commute to work, Translink are hiking the fares we are expected to pay on a daily basis in a move that can only be considered a JOKE!
Sure, with the massive expense that comes with the providing great new services like the wildly successful “Canada Line”, the money has to come from somewhere. But let’s at least try to be semi-intelligent about things here and consider who this is going to hurt the most, and who isn’t going to even bat an eyelid.
But first, let’s take a look at what the increases being implemented tomorrow are going to look like. The VancityBuzz.com Blog suggests they will look something like this:
| Fare Type | Adult Fare Tomorrow (1 April, 2010) |
Increase | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Fare Cards | 1 Zone | $81.00 | $8.00 |
| 2 Zone | $110.00 | $11.00 | |
| 3 Zone | $151.00 | $15.00 | |
| Faresaver Tickets (Book of 10) |
1 Zone | $21.00 | $2.00 |
| 2 Zone | $31.50 | $3.00 | |
| 3 Zone | $42.00 | $4.00 | |
| Employer Pass (per year) |
1 Zone | $846.00 | $84.00 |
| 2 Zone | $1,139.00 | $113.00 | |
| 3 Zone | $1,561.00 | $155.00 | |
| Day Pass | All Zones | Price remain the same – $9.00 | - |
I’m certainly not the kind of person who is going to squabble too long or loud over an extra $11 a month, but it’s the principle of the thing. Here I am doing the right thing paying for my travel day-in, day-out using my monthly 2-zone pass knowing full well that due to TransLink’s lackadaisical fare checking (ie. honest-based system), there’s hundreds of people sitting and standing around me who haven’t paid a cent for their travel.
If only a mere half of these people were forced to pay for their travel via ticket gates and mandatory ticket checking etc, then TransLink would have the extra funds they desire and perhaps these HUGE fare hikes wouldn’t be necessary.
As it stands now (or as of tomorrow) I, along with my fellow honest commuters, will be funding the fare jumpers… and somehow that doesn’t seem right??
Moo
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