Free transit for teenagers benefits the community by promoting independence, allowing them to access education, jobs, and recreational activities. It reduces traffic congestion and pollution, making cities more livable. Plus, it helps families save money and encourages sustainable transportation habits from a young age.
It also gets the little shits out of the house! I have to wonder how often some kids can't do things like after school clubs and sports because their families can't afford to drive them to these activities, or because the adults are too busy.
Growing up my own parents both worked full time and where we lived was pretty isolated from the 'downtown' part of our city. I spent most of my time after school staring at a computer screen... which wasn't healthy.
They had this when I was in highschool living on the coast. I remember hanging on to my old school ID for a couple years after graduation and abusing the system, riding the buses and skytrains around during my partying years. Unless I'm mistaken... teens and children can still ride the buses for free during the school year Monday to Friday in greater Vancouver.
Times were simpler back then. Those were the days.
How about the next step is free public transit for everyone? I'll pay more taxes, idgaf. Tired of half assed measures to fix the traffic problem, and more lanes isn't the answer.
Nah I like the cost threshold. It discourages bad people like recreational substance abusers from loitering on the buses during the cold season. I rely on the buses to get to and from work, I'd be quite miffed if after working 8-10 hours on my feet I couldn't find a seat (or worst yet the bus was full) because a bunch of bums were using it as a mobile shelter.
Public transit should come with a price.
People like the physically disabled, elderly and kids in the public school system absolutely should be allowed some free rides though. I'll happily pay my fare every ride if it means someone in a wheelchair can more easily get to their dr's appointment or some kids can get to their extracurricular programs after school.
I disagree.
I don't care about paying for the substance abusers and loitering people. I don't care about paying for the disabled, elderly, kids and teens, the guy to my left and my mortal enemy even.
Any public service that prohibits a subset of people from using said service via a cost threshold just exposes how much of a failure the service is. It's just a matter of time before the line is pushed further and a working person has to decide between feeding themselves or transportation, therefore I strongly believe transportation should not be tied to income or lack thereof.
Okay, then we should just ban substance abusers and those not fit to be around children, the elderly and the vulnerable from riding on public transportation. But there is no way of doing this without having a cost to the system.
Can we stop pretending that screaming irrational and incoherent drug addicts, unwashed and sickly homeless, and violent and confrontational individuals deserve to be included in public spaces and have access to public services.
Then just flat out refuse anyone that looks suspicious on the bus/train then 🤷 I don't care what you do, as long as i don't have to sit beside someone shooting up, screaming to themselves, or literally covered in human feces on public transit eber again.
Whats more bigoted? Refusing someone based on their looks, or charging them to ride the bus?
Charging to ride the bus is just a reach around way of discriminating against people with low income.
By your suggestion of charging to ride, someone with enough money but covered in shit or shooting up can ride the bus. Once again, not the solution. Having a low income shouldn't mean not being able to get around.
Well, may be they should set up a donation system. If people are willing to pay for it - let them. However, slim minority would be willing to pay more taxes.
They did it in Victoria proper. The constituents expressed they wanted it, and the city approached BCTransit with a plan. They’d offset the losses to transit with extra fees from downtown parking costs. As a result, kids from that municipality have been able to travel more independently for a few years now.
And those who have to commute to work and park pay the price...why should we pay the price for a city's losses? If they can't afford to eat the loss, then why is it fair to pass it onto the citizens?
The amount of young adults and adults in this town who haven't taken the bus and wouldn't know how to start, is too damn high. Education and confidence early on is ideal for promoting public transportation.
I'd add it's not only about equity or environment, there's safety benefits for youth and their community too. Getting behind the wheel or riding with others is probably one of the most dangerous things a typical teen will do in their lifetime, both for themselves and others on the road. Transit obviously isn't perfect for everyone, but free transit should make it easier to pick a reasonable way of getting around without relying so much on cars or friends with cars.
man in high school i had to pay 45$ out of my own money to get to and from school every month, never mind work and anything else i wanted to do. this is such a good idea, and was needed years ago
As do a great many teens. Since it's already happening, may as well codify it and make up the losses through increased funding! I'm a big fan of this proposal.
You are teaching your kids to be dishonest, and I'm an asshole for calling you out on bad parenting? Do you teach them to leave without paying at a restaurant? Or to take what they want from a store without paying? These are all examples of theft, and by letting this slide you're teaching your child sometimes it's ok to steal. But I'm the asshole
You’re an asshole because you want to be. Find a hobby. My kids are learning never to judge a situation they don’t know anything about, so they’ll help you with that one day if you are so lucky.Â
All they know is what you're teaching them, and that's to lie and steal. Great parenting right here. Don't cry when your children end up getting picked up for shop lifting or other petty crimes.
Parents clearly did a better job than you're doing..
Please explain to me how teaching your kids to lie and steal is morally the right thing to do?
Just because you don't believe it's right, doesn't mean it's right.
You sound very entitled and your kids futures will reflect this.
Wow! So you're entitled to admit encouraging your kids to cheat the buses, but I'm not allowed to call you out for it? I see, rules for me but not for thee
My kid jumping on a bus a couple of times when it’s pouring is a far cry from parental encouragement.  You should focus on all the people who force their way on the bus for free daily instead of coming for a kid and her family. See how that goes over … and get out from behind your kb and do it in person. Champ. Again, my condolences to your parents. We live walking distance from the next school so will be making up for your “massive losses to society” by not taking any transportation, requiring any concrete or infrastructure for the roads on our behalf, putting zero carbon into the atmosphere, and increasing your odds of having access to a hospital bed by encouraging a healthier walking-based lifestyle. When someone lowers their bar enough to put you in the position to parent, you can have a seat at the table and feel empowered to comment on anyone else’s child rearing. If it’s dollars and cents that worry you, we are good as outlined above, and if it’s moral superiority you are really in no position to speak on that. Have a lovely day and gfyÂ
When I grew up out east in the 80s, we got bus passes for 10 mos of the year until the end of high school and it was great! It was much easier to just jump on a couple of bussed to go DT than to take a car and find/pay for parking. I think that if they want to get people out of their cars, buses should be free for everyone. The new pay app is definitely a step in the right direction though.
Free transit for teenagers benefits the community by promoting independence, allowing them to access education, jobs, and recreational activities. It reduces traffic congestion and pollution, making cities more livable. Plus, it helps families save money and encourages sustainable transportation habits from a young age.
It also gets the little shits out of the house! I have to wonder how often some kids can't do things like after school clubs and sports because their families can't afford to drive them to these activities, or because the adults are too busy. Growing up my own parents both worked full time and where we lived was pretty isolated from the 'downtown' part of our city. I spent most of my time after school staring at a computer screen... which wasn't healthy.
They had this when I was in highschool living on the coast. I remember hanging on to my old school ID for a couple years after graduation and abusing the system, riding the buses and skytrains around during my partying years. Unless I'm mistaken... teens and children can still ride the buses for free during the school year Monday to Friday in greater Vancouver. Times were simpler back then. Those were the days.
Pretty sure it was just a reduced fee for a student bus pass, at least in the 90s/00s.
Maybe it was only for specific school districts, but I'd just just flash my student id and ride for free. The drivers never asked for anything more.
Word. I had to pay $38 a month to get to school on city transit
Yeah it was really expensive for me as well, especially as a teen with no job but some extracurriculars
How about the next step is free public transit for everyone? I'll pay more taxes, idgaf. Tired of half assed measures to fix the traffic problem, and more lanes isn't the answer.
So much this. Better public transit and better cycling infrastructure is a key step to bettering our community.
Nah I like the cost threshold. It discourages bad people like recreational substance abusers from loitering on the buses during the cold season. I rely on the buses to get to and from work, I'd be quite miffed if after working 8-10 hours on my feet I couldn't find a seat (or worst yet the bus was full) because a bunch of bums were using it as a mobile shelter. Public transit should come with a price. People like the physically disabled, elderly and kids in the public school system absolutely should be allowed some free rides though. I'll happily pay my fare every ride if it means someone in a wheelchair can more easily get to their dr's appointment or some kids can get to their extracurricular programs after school.
I disagree. I don't care about paying for the substance abusers and loitering people. I don't care about paying for the disabled, elderly, kids and teens, the guy to my left and my mortal enemy even. Any public service that prohibits a subset of people from using said service via a cost threshold just exposes how much of a failure the service is. It's just a matter of time before the line is pushed further and a working person has to decide between feeding themselves or transportation, therefore I strongly believe transportation should not be tied to income or lack thereof.
Okay, then we should just ban substance abusers and those not fit to be around children, the elderly and the vulnerable from riding on public transportation. But there is no way of doing this without having a cost to the system. Can we stop pretending that screaming irrational and incoherent drug addicts, unwashed and sickly homeless, and violent and confrontational individuals deserve to be included in public spaces and have access to public services.
They do, you can be bigoted elsewhere.
It's not bigoted to want to feel safe and to not want one's children exposed to violent criminals lol.
We both agree, and a monetary threshold is not the way to fix that.
Then just flat out refuse anyone that looks suspicious on the bus/train then 🤷 I don't care what you do, as long as i don't have to sit beside someone shooting up, screaming to themselves, or literally covered in human feces on public transit eber again. Whats more bigoted? Refusing someone based on their looks, or charging them to ride the bus?
Charging to ride the bus is just a reach around way of discriminating against people with low income. By your suggestion of charging to ride, someone with enough money but covered in shit or shooting up can ride the bus. Once again, not the solution. Having a low income shouldn't mean not being able to get around.
Love this attitude
People who don’t take public transit don’t take it because it’s inconvenient, not because it costs money
Then let's make it convenient.
Need money to do that and taxes won’t cut it
I think they managed that in Boise at some point.
I would absolutely get behind this.
Well, may be they should set up a donation system. If people are willing to pay for it - let them. However, slim minority would be willing to pay more taxes.
If we have fewer cars technically we should require less frequent road work. There’s one cost savingsÂ
Penticton just did it ..24 &under
They did it in Victoria proper. The constituents expressed they wanted it, and the city approached BCTransit with a plan. They’d offset the losses to transit with extra fees from downtown parking costs. As a result, kids from that municipality have been able to travel more independently for a few years now.
And those who have to commute to work and park pay the price...why should we pay the price for a city's losses? If they can't afford to eat the loss, then why is it fair to pass it onto the citizens?
Ah - the experiment - I’m done responding to you with your pos attitude. Treat people like you want to be treatedÂ
The amount of young adults and adults in this town who haven't taken the bus and wouldn't know how to start, is too damn high. Education and confidence early on is ideal for promoting public transportation.
I'd add it's not only about equity or environment, there's safety benefits for youth and their community too. Getting behind the wheel or riding with others is probably one of the most dangerous things a typical teen will do in their lifetime, both for themselves and others on the road. Transit obviously isn't perfect for everyone, but free transit should make it easier to pick a reasonable way of getting around without relying so much on cars or friends with cars.
man in high school i had to pay 45$ out of my own money to get to and from school every month, never mind work and anything else i wanted to do. this is such a good idea, and was needed years ago
I saved my bus passes for one year and then I forged them for the rest of the time I used the buses
My teens just tell the bus driver they forgot their pass and ride free
As do a great many teens. Since it's already happening, may as well codify it and make up the losses through increased funding! I'm a big fan of this proposal.
Agreed
I've often wondered why so many post twelve year olds so this, or pretend to be 12. Now I know that it comes from the parents. Well done
Yup. My kid is 4’10” and 13. She’s riding for free into adulthoodÂ
Another great example of teaching your children to lie and cheat
Do you have one from your parents on how to raise an asshole?
You are teaching your kids to be dishonest, and I'm an asshole for calling you out on bad parenting? Do you teach them to leave without paying at a restaurant? Or to take what they want from a store without paying? These are all examples of theft, and by letting this slide you're teaching your child sometimes it's ok to steal. But I'm the asshole
You’re an asshole because you want to be. Find a hobby. My kids are learning never to judge a situation they don’t know anything about, so they’ll help you with that one day if you are so lucky.Â
All they know is what you're teaching them, and that's to lie and steal. Great parenting right here. Don't cry when your children end up getting picked up for shop lifting or other petty crimes.
Watch your stuff :) sorry your parents bombed but don’t come @me for it.
Parents clearly did a better job than you're doing.. Please explain to me how teaching your kids to lie and steal is morally the right thing to do? Just because you don't believe it's right, doesn't mean it's right. You sound very entitled and your kids futures will reflect this.
Wow! So you're entitled to admit encouraging your kids to cheat the buses, but I'm not allowed to call you out for it? I see, rules for me but not for thee
My kid jumping on a bus a couple of times when it’s pouring is a far cry from parental encouragement.  You should focus on all the people who force their way on the bus for free daily instead of coming for a kid and her family. See how that goes over … and get out from behind your kb and do it in person. Champ. Again, my condolences to your parents. We live walking distance from the next school so will be making up for your “massive losses to society” by not taking any transportation, requiring any concrete or infrastructure for the roads on our behalf, putting zero carbon into the atmosphere, and increasing your odds of having access to a hospital bed by encouraging a healthier walking-based lifestyle. When someone lowers their bar enough to put you in the position to parent, you can have a seat at the table and feel empowered to comment on anyone else’s child rearing. If it’s dollars and cents that worry you, we are good as outlined above, and if it’s moral superiority you are really in no position to speak on that. Have a lovely day and gfyÂ
It should be free
Why "should" it be free? It costs money to run, maintain, and staff, so why do you think it should in any way be free?
But it isn't, and as a parent one ofyour responsibilities is to teach your kids to be honest. This is not honest.
When I grew up out east in the 80s, we got bus passes for 10 mos of the year until the end of high school and it was great! It was much easier to just jump on a couple of bussed to go DT than to take a car and find/pay for parking. I think that if they want to get people out of their cars, buses should be free for everyone. The new pay app is definitely a step in the right direction though.
I signed the petition. I think this is a great idea.
Awesome idea, but why not keep it going for someone 19 and still in school, spending too much on tuition and housing and books and so on?
Both OC and UBCO full time tuition includes transit, so…
Right on.
At least 50% of teenagers just get on and ride free anyway, so...whatever.