Why You Need To Question

Question what? Everything.

Why?

Here's an example:

So I read this article about a proposed fare increase for our local transit system - which is obscene considering how expensive it already is and how many times they increase it.

"The planned increases range from 11 to 15 per cent. That would bring adult fares for one, two and three zones to $2.50, $3.75 and $5.00, respectively."

Then it says; "The increases would still leave Vancouver transit riders paying less than commuters in Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa."

Now I know that fares in Toronto did not used to be as ludicrous as here and I was sure they still weren't so I took a look at the TTC website (the Toronto Transit Commission or as my friend Edwin says; "It stands for Take The Car.") to check fares and what do you know, as of April 2006 the flat fare for an adult is $2.75. Is that more than $5.00 now? In that case, I'm trading all of my fives in for toonies.

Bolstered, I checked Montreal's STM (Société de transport de Montréal) transit fare site - and there I see that the flat rate is also $2.75.

Ottawa's OC Transpo (Ottawa Carleton Transportation) does charge $3.00 - $5.00 which puts their fares in the same range as our new rates, but is certainly not more.

So this article skews and spins the facts to make it seem like the protesters in Vancouver are being unreasonable even though clearly, we pay much more in transit fares than Toronto and Montrealers do.

And even if the false claim that "the increases would still leave Vancouver transit riders paying less than commuters in Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa" were true - what does that have to do with the local feeling that it is too much? I am also not pleased with the subtle way this discourages people from voicing their discontent over fares. It is misleading, dishonest, and generally unfair to the public to be treated this way. It also gives TransLink a carte blanche to be assholes. Yes, I can get this riled up about the misrepresentation of a transit fare. And I wish there were more of us.