Hello Transit Riders and welcome to another newsletter!
Meeting with Government
On April 30th we met with George Anderson, Parliamentary Secretary for Transit to discuss the UBCM resolution calling for fare-free transit for students up to grade 12, fare-free for seniors, and our broader goals of fare-free for all. Unfortunately, he was unable to make any commitments for the UBCM resolution and tried to push the issue back on municipalities to do. There was also no commitment to fulfill their campaign promise on free public transit for seniors in off-peak hours.. If you haven’t already, please send a letter to the Minister demanding that the Province expand their Get on Board! program to cover teens across the province.
Spring Transit Celebration was a success!
We hosted its first community event on Sunday, March 30, and we are proud to announce that it was a great success! Our Spring Transit Celebration was held in appreciation of transit workers in this city and in protest of the huge fare hike which hit bus riders in Victoria on April 1st. It was also meant to start the process of building a community of transit riders in this city, and to help grow VTRU as an organization. Read more about it on our blog.
Earth Day Rally
Together with Transit For Teens and the Greater Victoria Teachers’ Association, we staged an Earth Day rally at the Legislature Building April 22 to protest the fare increases and continue calling for Fare Free for Teens. Read more about it in the Oak Bay News.
No More PWD Poverty Rally
Friends of the VTRU are holding a rally tomorrow May 29th at the Legislature at 1pm to demand an immediate increase in monthly provincial Disability Income Support for ALL Person with Disabilities. Find out more on their Facebook event.
Cowichan Valley Transit Strike
Unionized transit operators, mechanics, and cleaners in the Cowichan Valley. have been negotiating a new contract with Transdev (the private contractor who runs transit in the valley) since the spring of 2024. On Feb 8th they went on strike for fair wages and bathroom breaks. Send a message to the mayors and councillors of the Cowichan Valley, BC Transit and B.C.’s Minister of Transportation.
Transportation Research at McGill
McGill is currently running a survey aimed at understanding how people in Canada experience transport in their regions and what their public-transit needs are. Take the survey and tell them about your experience for a chance to win some prizes.
Victoria’s Vital Signs
Vital Signs is a community check-up conducted by community foundations across Canada, measuring the vitality of our communities and identifying key trends that impact quality of life. In Victoria, the Victoria Foundation produces the Vital Signs report, using citizen survey results to highlight local priorities. In previous years, Transportation in Victoria only got a C+ rating. Take the survey and rate transit in Victoria.
T-Shirts!
We’ve got some t-shirts with a new logo on them. We’ll be giving them out in exchange for a donation at our events. If you can’t make it to our events and would like a shirt, send us an email at victransitridersunion@proton.me and we’ll try to get you one!
Want to get involved with VTRU and our ongoing fight for fare-free and excellent transit for all? Write to us at victransitridersunion@protonmail.me to find out how you can do that.
Victoria Transit Riders Union 