Toronto mayoral candidate calls for fare-free #publictransit

Free public transit could combat both economic inequality and climate disturbances. And, if paid for by fees on automobility, fare-less transit could be part of a serious challenge to private, car-centred transit and urban planning.
At Toronto's first mayoral debate Saron Gebresellassi called for fare-free transit. By detailing a bold proposal the left-wing mayoral candidate steered the other candidates to bemoan ballooning fare costs and suggest eliminating some of them.

http://www.rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/yves-englers-blog/2018/10/free-public-transit-could-challenge-reliance-cars

Quebec Concordian calls for #freetransit

The truth is, we’re living in a time when free public transportation should be seen as a basic human right. We at The Concordian believe public transit should be free for all—even if you aren’t a senior or a full-time student. There are way more benefits to free public transit than there are disadvantages. For one, we would significantly lessen our carbon footprint. If people used less cars and more public transit, the environment would be less exposed to harsh gasses.

theconcordian.com

Quebec party promises fare-free #publictransit for seniors and students

montrealgazette The free fares would be available to full-time students regardless of age and to people over 65 everywhere in Quebec, Couillard said. The Liberal party estimates the promise will cost $200 million a year.

Montreal: writer calls for fare-free public transport

mtlblog.com/It would be interesting to see how the plan would flow if it did come into action. Because honestly, we could all use a little bit of cheap transit. Especially after all of the construction along the STM and the new REM being built this year, we deserve it.

A possible next step could be to adopt Sainte-Julie's tactics and just make public transport free altogether! Who knows what will come in the near future from Quebec's political parties.

Quebec, killer heat wave

bbc.com A heat wave in the southern part of the Canadian province of Quebec has been linked to 54 deaths, officials say.

Montreal mayor considering #freetranst for seniors and children

Plante pitches ambitious public transit ridership plan | CTV Montreal News: "She also is considering making public transit free for seniors as has been the case in Laval for the past four years – as well as for children.

Projet Montreal’s platform also promised a reduced fee of up to 40 per cent for low-income Montrealers."

Biggest fear about #freetransit? People will like it.

If public transit is fare-free, more people will ride. That is the basic fear of autosprawl profiteers. When there are few alternatives to driving an auto, they have no problem getting billions of tax dollars for the for-profit auto and sprawl system, but if more people take public transit, it will threaten their profits. They are scared.

To get cars off city streets and fight pollution, Germany to offer free public transport | Montreal Gazette: "But it could also overburden public transport networks in major cities such as Berlin, Hamburg or Munich that are already bustling during rush hours. The plans, some fear, would result in an exponential rise in associated costs because of costly network expansions."