Trip Ed Transit Pass

GROUP TRANSIT PASS PROPOSAL

This proposal is put forward by the TripEd committee, an ad hoc group of citizens who have noted a substantial decrease in the number of visits by schools to various public amenities (libraries, parks, etc.) and events. Further investigation revealed that the cost of available transportation was a major reason for the decline. The submission is a written version of our presentations at recent Translink open house forums.

We propose the creation of a low-cost annual group transit pass for youth (K-12) for use on educational trips (field trips, science fairs, theatrical performances, etc.). The pass would cover students, teachers, and support persons, allowing them to go to and from their destination as a group. We suggest an annual fee of $10.00 per Annual Group Transit Pass to cover administrative costs.

Such a pass accords with all the regional transportation objectives as set out in Transport 2040 Strategic Goals. It is particularly strong on these:

1. Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

A class of 30 can ride in: 7-10 automobiles, I rented bus, or existing transit. By converting automobile rides and/or private bus rentals into rides on existing public transit, there are fewer engines creating GHG emissions. GHG reduction is additionally a stated goal of the provincial government.

2. Safe, secure, and accessible transit for everyone.

Safe travel is a great concern to parents and teachers. Fewer parent volunteer drivers owning cars are willing to take on the insurance liabilities of transporting kids on a school trip. Frequently they can’t meet current seat-belt and booster seat regulations.
Transit is time tested and has proven safe and secure. And “everyone” has to include kids!

3. Optimization of the region’s transportation assets.

Field trips occur primarily during school hours, which is to say off-peak hours for transit. Buses run at less than capacity, and can handle class-sized groups without major problems. The buses are already running, and groups can be accommodated at existing service levels.

A low-cost annual group transit pass would assist in achieving another goal set by the provincial government, that of doubling transit ridership by 2020, .

It also facilitates numerous educational objectives. High transit costs result in fewer field trips to museums, festivals, libraries, community recreational facilities, musical and dramatic performances, parks, and science centres. At current fares, a class of 30 needs $105.00 to take transit there and back—and that doesn’t count teachers or adult supervisors. Cross a zone and it goes up to $150.00 A class from Surrey heading to Science World or the Children’s Festival, will need $210.00—just for transit.

Clearly this discourages children and youth from participation in our cultural, educational, and recreational resources. Add to that the worst child poverty rate in the country, and many BC kids who are not exposed to these resources through a school field trip, will not find them at all. A similar story plays out for ESL students, whose parents may not understand or engage the myriad of our cultural institutions for many years. Imagine a childhood without access to a public library or a park! This is precisely the reason field trips are an essential part of the curriculum. It is shameful that a transit fare could cause any child to be left behind.

Additionally, there are substantial community benefits. Our children are introduced to transit as a viable and preferred mode of transportation to the region’s many cultural and educational resources. This will influence their future transportation choices, perhaps even where they live and work. The amenities themselves benefit from increased user volume and participation, not only through the field trip itself, but also through increased patronage and use. This permits secure financing, jobs, and spin-off benefits for both the amenity and the community.

School group use of public transportation at low or no cost is not a new idea. At least two BC cities have policies where school trips on public transit are done routinely. In Kamloops and Kelowna, classes can board a bus without difficulty, and at no charge. Their transit systems have not gone broke, nor are they overrun.

The annual low cost transit pass has supporters in every community—business, arts and culture, education, politics, recreation, sports, and the environment. A partial list includes:

• David Suzuki Foundation

• Vancouver School Board

• Vancouver City Council

• BC Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils

• British Columbia School Trustees Association

• BC Field Trips

• North Vancouver School District

• Gregor Robertson, Mayor City of Vancouver

• West Vancouver School District

• Richmond Museum Society

• Young Adults and Children’s Section of the BC Library Association

• BC Teacher’s Federation (BCTF)

• Burnaby Public Library

• New Westminster Public Library

• Surrey Teacher’s Association

• Delta School Board

• Mt Seymour Resorts

• Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver

Translink has worked hard to improve accessibility and attract new transit riders. Express buses, rear boarding, bike racks, the U-pass, and buses that kneel for handicapped

access, are innovations and improvements that we applaud. A low cost annual group transit pass for kids could only assist in that effort.

TripEd Committee,

Schula Leonard, Cynthia Wong, Krista Tulloch

tel: 604-254-8533 email: westcoastfisher@gmail.com web: www.triped.info