A local group wants to hear your thoughts on making transit free permanently.
Bus fares have been free since late March because of the pandemic, but the city plans to bring them back on July 20th.
Poverty Free Thunder Bay works to end poverty in Thunder Bay, and wants to hear your experiences with free buses over the past three months.
Spokesperson Tracey MacKinnon points out many people can’t afford a bus pass.
“I know it’s only $44 [for a 20-ride pass], but for someone on ODSP or OW, that could be the difference between [affording] the week’s groceries, or your kid’s lunches for the week,” MacKinnon says.
The group says charging for bus rides puts up obstacles for low-income people and makes it harder to grocery shop, get to work, or go to medical appointments.
MacKinnon says they hope people will get on board with eliminating transit fares, but want to hear their feedback before asking for any changes to transit
If there is enough support for the idea, they say they could ask City Council for one “no fares” day per month, and then to make fares free one day per week.
“When the benefits are clear to all,” the group says, they could advocate for cancelling fares permanently.
Click here to go to the survey, which is open from today until July 20th.
