Get to the Streets, Rally & March: 'Transit for All, Stop the Fare Increase'

Posted by Jark
Filed in City
September 16, 2007

Momentum is building towards the Saturday, September 22 Rally and March to "Stop the Fare Increase: Transit for All!" with a growing list of endorsements from social justice, immigrant rights, environmental and trade union groups. This rally will unite transit dependent bus riders, social justice activists, trade unionists, environmentalists and other progressive people to demand an affordable, accessible, clean air, and fully public transit system as an important concrete step towards social, economic and environmental justice for our region.

The demonstration leaves from the Main St. Skytrain Station at 1 PM and will march to the Canada Line office on Granville Street downtown, where marchers plan to 'decorate' the fenced around Canada Line construction. The Bus Riders Union argues that the $2 billion Canada Line is cannibalizing the bus system, sucking much needed resources out of the bus system that the vast majority of transit-dependent people rely on, and is putting these resources into an unnecessary privatized rail line. The rally and march will call on TransLink, and the Provincial and Federal governments, to support an affordable, accessible, and fully public transit system for the region. Click for more...

Join us for this rally and march to expose and oppose the rapidly increasing privatization of our public transit system and demand change. What everyone is going to be shouting out is:

"TransLink: Stop the Fare Increase! Buy 500 buses by 2010."

"Provincial Government: Stop Gateway! Invest billions in public transit not highway expansion."

"Federal Government: Money for Public Services Not for War! Withdraw all Canadian troops from Afghanistan, money for public services not for war and occupation."

For more information, visit the Bus Rider's Union website

Media Contacts: BRU Office, 604 215 2775 or Aiyanas Ormond, 604 215 2662

PICTURE CREDIT: here_comes_that_sound_again's photostream

Reader Reviews and Comments

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Hi Jark,

I totally support the idea of a more accessible bus system. However, I wonder if there are other tactics/strategies that can be used. Mobilizing people is very important, but I am not 100% sold on aggressive strategies (maybe I am reading wrong, but these tactics may be bordering on aggressive?) What do you think?

Posted by: Raul at September 16, 2007 12:45 AM | Quote Comment

Raul: I'm not sure if a "rally" or "march" is aggressive. But i'm all ears. I would be inclined to think that this is a pasifist approach to getting people to think more seriously about what's government and their role in representing the voice of the people, to start. In this case, more specifically, this pacifism follow principles of nonviolence, believing that non-violent action (rallying, protesting, marching) is morally superior and/or pragmatically most effective. But, then again, it's all up for discussion... ;)

Posted by: Jark

at September 16, 2007 12:53 AM | Quote Comment

Hi Jark,

I hope you don't mind that I copy and paste my response to yours on here :) sorry if you get this twice!

Hi Jark,

Wouldn't you think that 'decorating' the fence would be an aggressive approach? As I said, I am hesitant to pass judgment, but definitely I support the businesses who have been hurt and/or closed by the Canada Line and I support a call for a better transit system. I guess we'll just have to see how the participants in the rally/march do. After witnessing some violent protests, I am a little wary. But as you said, let's keep our ears open. I always enjoy our discussions ;) We should actually grab a coffee sometime, you know, in real life :)

Have a great one,
Raul

Posted by: Raul at September 16, 2007 2:06 PM | Quote Comment

Raul -- still not sure how decorating is aggressive. Let's look at a few realities: (1) people are having a hell of a time dealing w/ the construction on cambie, and i don't just mean commuters, but the hundreds of merchants who've seen their gross incomes wither 75% or more; and (2) alot of these merchants are going to witness lease increases when the RAV line is finished construction; not to mention that (3) the city and (Cambie's own business improvement association) are showing a deaf ear to the Cambie merchants' pleas for help.

Now, let's look at most protests in Vancouver: this isn't actually a city where people get all out of control when they march, as (1) first off too few people actually show us to look alarming to the traffic security or the RCMP; and (2) most of the violence often attributed to the cops (as i've already pointed out in other articles, See the pepper-spraying of young children article a month ago). I'm not sure if this makes sense, but ya, all this jazz certainly is food for thought, or material for coffee-chat.

Have a good one bro. Jark.

Posted by: Jark

at September 17, 2007 1:09 AM | Quote Comment

Jark - Hmmm... I see your point. True, perhaps I was just being a little too wary. And I can't agree more that people are having a hell of a time with the construction on Cambie. I try to do my part by shopping there regularly (small, family-run businesses, though!)

I'm throwing a half-baked idea on inaccurate statistics on my blog this morning. Comments absolutely welcome.

Posted by: Raul at September 17, 2007 7:39 AM | Quote Comment

Raul -- It's a tough situation on Cambie, I'm trying to empathize, and also try to shop in few spots there (my favorite Thai restaurant is on Cambie & 6th) but that's all I can do on a regular basis. I'm also organizing the Main St. business improvement association (in which I am Diretor right now) to get an addition voice to lobby on Cambie's behalf. But all said and done. I'm also in a half-baked situation. That's a good metaphor.

I'll check our your last post. Will give feedback in the next couple hours. Cheers.

Posted by: Jark

at September 17, 2007 12:51 PM | Quote Comment

Jark - I think it's great that you are organizing the Main St. Business Improvement Association. I can tell you that I shop, eat, drink coffee and walk on Main Street a lot!!!!

I haven't finished the blog post, so wait maybe for another few hours. It's on the inaccuracy of statistics in regard to transportation. I am not sure how can we transport 25 million people if only 2 million live in Vancouver and a fraction of those use transit. Strange, huh? That's the half-baked idea, I am just trying to get my brain to work it out. Right now my blog has more mind-less posts :-) oh and a promotional post for charity-related forthcoming event, worth checking out. Be well, bro.

Posted by: Raul at September 17, 2007 1:11 PM | Quote Comment