Remove the downtown "Free Fare Zone"? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Bobblehead · 05-12-2006, 09:11 AM

I heard on the news yesterday that an alderman was proposing to remove the C-Train's free fare zone to try and get the 'unsavory' crowd away from the downtown c-train & platforms.

I'm only downtown a couple times a month, and since I go into then out of the free fare zone, I always need a ticket; I don't really have an opinion on the issue.

Those of you who work downtown, what are your thoughts? Would this work?

Bring_Back_Shantz · 05-12-2006, 09:21 AM

I doubt the "unsavory" crowd are hanging out in that portion of town because the C-train is free.

This seems more to me like they are trying to justify getting more revenue from the C-Trans, but giving some other excuse so it doesn't seem that way.

I could care less, the free fair zone is a nice thing to have, but it doesn't affect me. The only problem I have with it is that they aren't calling it what it is.

Reaper · 05-12-2006, 09:27 AM

Personally, I think the Free Fare Zone should remain as is in order to encourage people to not drive into the core. If they want to reduce the number of cars downtown then charging people to ride one or two stops in the core is not the way to do it.

mykalberta · 05-12-2006, 09:31 AM

They should brand this as attempting to save the Health Care System money by making people walk 3 blocks instead of ride it.

I cant believe the number of people who use that for one or two stops. Walk you lazy asses or if its cold use the +15.

MYK

GrrlGoalie33 · 05-12-2006, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykalberta

They should brand this as attempting to save the Health Care System money by making people walk 3 blocks instead of ride it.

I cant believe the number of people who use that for one or two stops. Walk you lazy asses or if its cold use the +15.

MYK

Not everyone has the physical capability to walk the 6 blocks between two stops. Just because you are completely able-bodied doesn't mean everyone else has the same luxury. Don't forget there are many disabilities that you can't see. How about the man standing next to you that lost his leg and has to wear a prosthesis. Or what about the woman on the other side of you that is waiting for a knee replacement...

Not everything is so black and white.

ken0042 · 05-12-2006, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykalberta

I cant believe the number of people who use that for one or two stops. Walk you lazy asses or if its cold use the +15.

MYK

The other thing is I sometimes use it on my lunch hour; when time is a factor.

However if a train isn't coming I will hoof it.

The other thing about it getting rid of the ugly people; it's not that they are there because it's a free zone; it's that transit cops can't ask to see their tickets because it's a free zone.

Heck, make it a 25¢ fare within the Downtown core. Problem solved, and I'd pay the 25¢ to save walking 8 blocks.

JD · 05-12-2006, 09:47 AM

It's only one guy's perspective, but I've never ever been able to take advantage of the free fare zone. If I'm getting on the train, it's to go to Stampede Park or elsewhere outside of the core. Does it help handicapped people? Perhaps... I'm sure plenty of people enjoy the free fare zone.

But the first thing I thought of when I heard they're trying to keep the homeless off the trains is, "what, are they going to fine them?"... point is, if that's truly the goal (which, as pointed out already, is unlikely), it's not going to accomplish it. You can't deter someone by threatening to take away what they don't have.

I-Hate-Hulse · 05-12-2006, 10:12 AM

The Free Fare Zone was established to try and reduce cross town traffic, cutting down on car travel within the downtown core. Removing that will only increase traffic congestion and not do a damn thing for the bums that infest our downtown.

If anything, they should expand the FFZ to Sunnyside / Stampede.

Bobblehead · 05-12-2006, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

If anything, they should expand the FFZ to Sunnyside / Stampede.

I can see that working to Sunnyside, but they'll never give up the $ from people going to/from the Stampede.

Bill Bumface · 05-12-2006, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

Heck, make it a 25¢ fare within the Downtown core. Problem solved, and I'd pay the 25¢ to save walking 8 blocks.

Bingo. Thats be best solution if they want to be able to remove people from Transit property.

Maritime Q-Scout · 05-12-2006, 11:24 AM

you have a "no fare zone"? that's awesome, Halifax has a fare-free bus in the summers. I think it's an amazing idea to get people around downtown (as opposed to outlying malls, and business parks) plus gets them used to public transit and hopefully turns them onto it.

Fare Free in downtowns I'm a HUGE fan of

J pold · 05-12-2006, 11:58 AM

Maybe the "unsavory" crowds are due to the price of gas, people need too find an alternate route (like myself) and have no other options other than transit, and now they want to charge us for that? pretty soon its going to be you pay a nickel per step you take

ken0042 · 05-12-2006, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J pold

Maybe the "unsavory" crowds are due to the price of gas,

How do you figure that?

I'm pretty sure the people that can't afford to bath also can't afford to maintain a vehicle; no matter how cheap you would make gas.

Superflyer · 05-12-2006, 12:50 PM

This will not work. There are not to many that actually ride the train, they usually just go on the platform and harass people there. Also it is worst on the two ends the closer you get to the center the less "unsavory" people you see.

J pold · 05-12-2006, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

How do you figure that?

I'm pretty sure the people that can't afford to bath also can't afford to maintain a vehicle; no matter how cheap you would make gas.

I agree but that is only a certian percentage of the cowrd, all I am saying is that alot of people take the train because gas its so expensive, along with parking, if you lowered the price of parking and gas the number of people taking the train would drop

Edit:
Ok hold on I mis understood the thread here, I thought the complaint was pertaining towards the number of people taking the train, my fault

ken0042 · 05-12-2006, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superflyer

This will not work. There are not to many that actually ride the train, they usually just go on the platform and harass people there.

Ture, unless they designate the area a paid fare zone. They do that right now for the suburban LRT stations; if I'm dropping somebody off I can't wait on the platform with them.

J Pold- now I see where your comments came from. Yes, I think the rest of us were refering to people who are unsavory; as opposed to an unsavory quantity of people.

Julio · 05-12-2006, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

I can see that working to Sunnyside, but they'll never give up the $ from people going to/from the Stampede.

The Stampede has actually suggested that they extend the free fare zone to Erlton station during Stampede, and/or if you had a prepaid gate admission (such as a rodeo or chuckwagon ticket) you'd be able to travel free on the Train...this was a while back so details are hazy but I believe the idea was to up the ticket prices 25 cents and give that $ to CT to compensate for the lost fares.

mykalberta · 05-15-2006, 12:50 PM

For people who need to travel when time is an "issue", simple leave yourself more time or dont go so far for lunch. The train runs every 15 minutes durring lunch, are you telling me that you cant walk 6 blocks in 15 minutes. And for people who arent phyhsically able to walk the 6 blocks, then issue them a disabled persons CTrain pass (I am sure one exists for a fraction of what they charge now (80$/month?).

If you are too fat or too lazy to walk it, that is no excuse.

The whole issue comes down to policing abusers, you cant tell me that 1/2 of everyone who uses the Ctrain from Sunnyside to downtown is paying for it.

MYK

ken0042 · 05-15-2006, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykalberta

The train runs every 15 minutes durring lunch, are you telling me that you cant walk 6 blocks in 15 minutes.

Sorry MYK, but you are wrong. Each of the 2 routes has trains every 10 minutes; so on average you would have a 5 minute wait for a train.
201 Schedule
202 Schedule

That's also a pretty wide brush that you are painting people with. Leaving early isn't always an option; I get an hour for lunch and I'm on the west side of Downtown. Going the 10 blocks to City hall by train isn't a case of me being lazy; it's a case of me not wanting to have to put in extra time at work to make up for it.

sadora · 05-15-2006, 02:54 PM

I think that would suck if it happened for two reasons. I use the Free Fare Zone quite often and because I'm actually working on a project which incidentally is called "In The Free Fare Zone", four or five short films that take place within the Free Fare Zone. I know the second reason is rather selfish but there are many people who work or live in the downtown area who use this service, it's just overall convenient for everyone to keep this going. The unsavory people will be there regarldless if the train service is free or not. The city should find another approach to deal with this problem.

If anyone has any interesting stories that have happened to you in the Free Fare Zone or on the C-Train and would not mind sharing them please feel free to PM me.