Public Transit Action Alert

 Posted by Winnipeg Chapter on December 6, 2017 at 7:40 PM

After Manitoba’s provincial government decided to end their funding guarantee for public transit, the City of Winnipeg was faced with a huge budget shortfall for public transit service.

The City’s budget will be voted on at the December 12 council meeting, and if the current proposals are approved, the result will be far fewer buses, longer waits, and higher bus fares.

If you’d like to know more, Functional Transit Winnipeg has detailed information on the problems and solutions facing our public transit system.

Right now, we have to take action and let city council know that a good public transit system is vital to our city.

Buses are:

  • better for our infrastructure (they create far less wear-and-tear on the roads than cars do),
  • better for the environment (lower emissions), safer (accident rates plummet when there are fewer cars on the road), and
  • better for the economy (more people can get to work, shopping, and life events).

It’s time to take public transit seriously in Winnipeg and make our city a truly livable city for everyone.

Here are some actions to take now
• URGENT – the timeline is short •

  • Functional Transit Winnipeg is organizing handing out leaflets downtown on Friday Dec 8 and Monday Dec 11 from 4 PM to 6 PM. We would like volunteers to assist with this if possible. [CONTACT: Joseph Kornelsen 204-232-2023 | joseph.kornelsen@functionaltransit.com
  • Rally for Transit Monday Dec 11, 12 Noon to 2 p.m. at City Hall Admin Building 
  • Call or email your city councillor to voice your opposition to raised fares and schedule cutbacks.
  • Call or email your city councillor to voice your support for a suspension of the council meeting rule that limits delegations for and against an agenda item to two. The suspension would apply to the Dec 12 Council meeting, and would allow many more concerned citizens to speak on this vital issue.

Direct action suggestions

  • always ask for a transfer. If you don’t use it, offer the transfer to someone at the bus stop when you are done your trip.
  • Participate in the Sardines Award. The winner will receive a free January bus pass. Post about your crowded bus on Twitter and Facebook, use the hashtag #sardinelife and tag @mayor_bowman for a chance to win a January bus pass.

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