What ever happened to user pay?
The requirement for increased services in transportation is understandable. Increased services means increased costs and increased riders.
Why then are the users of the service not paying for the use?
As important a question is why the automobile owner is penalized by whatever increased taxes government can think up.
Gasoline taxes were originally to be used for road upkeep – not!
There are taxes on battery disposal to be used entirely for disposal – not!
There are taxes for used tire disposal – not!
Transit is a business with a massive financial infusion and huge operating structure. With all the mental capacity we have in the province, surely we can come up with better leadership, financial planning and bottom line results. But first we need the desire.
Politics, in my opinion, are driving the bus, so to speak, in TransLink.
Increasing fares to pay for expanded routes makes obvious business sense.
The people that are using the service should pay for its use. Why is the car and truck driver the easy target?
Politically increasing fares is a concern that with the many thousands of voters using the system, we could see a protest vote at election time.
Instead let’s put more taxes on cars and truck people to pay for services they probably don’t use. Less voters, less protests at election time.
Let’s everyone pay their “fare” share.
Sherrold Haddad
Surrey