Calgary Transit to raise fairs AGAIN - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

the_only_turek_fan · 12-18-2005, 10:32 PM

$2.25 for a trip now.

http://www.calgarytransit.com/html/fares.html

fredr123 · 12-18-2005, 10:46 PM

What gives? Guess it's time to stockpile those books of 10 now.

Anyone know how they're justifying the increase this time? Will it be gas prices? C-train expansion? More buses in the next couple years?

Service sucks and the price keeps going up...

HelloHockeyFans · 12-18-2005, 10:52 PM

Ottawa is $3.00 now I believe... $4.00 for express...

$4!!! That's insane!

Otto-matic · 12-18-2005, 10:54 PM

Thats what drives the people away from using CT. Not to mention the crowed trains and the buses. Now with the prices for a ride goes up.

Winsor_Pilates · 12-18-2005, 10:58 PM

What will this mean for the U-pass and tuition?

CaptainCrunch · 12-18-2005, 11:04 PM

Its amazing how expensive this city is getting now. My downtown parking increased from 16 to 20 per day last month, I think its ridiculous that they're getting away with a 20% increase when thier whole parking garage is automated and dosen't have day time staff.

LRT rates increase by 10% per day, and having to dig around for that extra quarter is just ######ed and inconvienient, yet service has declined and the City tranisit people can't even be bothered to clean up the LRT platfroms.

Now the City is looking at a $2500 minimum taxation on new housing starts.

Yet we still have severe gridlock, poor services, and un patroled parks where needle jockeys are laying all over the place.

I guess that the city fails to realize that people rarely see a 10 to 20% cost of living adjustment on thier wages on a yearly basis.

This is why I didn't vote for Bronco, he's following the Liberal guidbook of jacking up taxes and services costs for very little in return.

Hopefully this is his last term in office

BOOOOOO!!!!

flamingchina · 12-18-2005, 11:20 PM

Well, the city is stuck for cash, They can only raise property taxes so much, and with too much sprawl we have, good bus service is hard.
You want better bus service? move to the inner city. When I used to live over westgate, I usually had to wait at most 10 minutes for a bus, any time of day, since there were like 4 different bus routes within a 3 minute walk of my house.
But Bronco is an ass, I will agree, and the inner city c-train stations are a bit disgusting.

REDVAN · 12-18-2005, 11:32 PM

uh... the reason why Bronco needs all the money is because he is spending on stupid things... he is a liberal after all. Still boggles my mind that in the most conservative place in Canada we elect a liberal mayor. The guy also had his mom threaten the other candidates in one election. Real stand-up mayor we have. I think we should have a city-wide vote on everything.

The transit thing doesn't bug me, because I don't use it. But if I did, I am sure I'd be ****ed.

Draug · 12-19-2005, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Its amazing how expensive this city is getting now. My downtown parking increased from 16 to 20 per day last month, I think its ridiculous that they're getting away with a 20% increase when thier whole parking garage is automated and dosen't have day time staff.

BOOOOOO!!!!

I hear ya. But, I cant blame them. All last week, most parkades I went to were full. (I am a contractor. jumping from site to site, so a monthly pass - if you could get one - is not an option).

Most times, I ended up in the Eaton's Center Parkade. Incidentally, they have raised thier daily maximum from $20 to $25. And, it was packed full every day. In fact, it was overfull, with extra cars parked all along the sides.

If the lots are full, it stands to reason prices will go up. You cant blame the parking comany, but, perhaps the city can be blamed for having too few lots?

flamingchina · 12-19-2005, 02:01 AM

A lot of people think we have to many ugly lots downtown...
maybe another couple of parkades are in need? the one on ninth looks nice..

4X4 · 12-19-2005, 04:58 AM

Thats brutal. $2.25 for a ride on such a pitiful transit system. My buddy lives by anderson station and works at glenmore & 37th. On a good day, he can get there in 45 minutes. To get home (late evening) it takes over an hour. By car, the trip is 10 minutes without any traffic jams.

Here in Rome, I can get downtown in 15 minutes, usually including wait time for a bus. There are 3 busses that follow the route I take (roughly). A ticket is 1 Euro (about $1.40 canadian). My friend has a car, but we bus it more often than not, simply because transit is cheap and efficient.

I swear, you can go almost anywhere in Rome in less than an hour. Try getting from bridlewood to westhills in less than an hour.

I understand that population plays a huge role in transit service, but calgary is approaching a million people, and the transit system isn't sufficient for the people who use it (which is less than half the population).

Maybe calgary wouldn't need all those overpasses if they had more of those drivers on the bus.

Aw, who am I kidding. In calgary, I'm a driver. I like the overpasses.

ken0042 · 12-19-2005, 07:14 AM

At least this time they are putting some thought into it. Last 2 increases saw the monthly pass go up by itself. The problem became that a monthly pass wasn't cost effective. 20 work days per month time $3.50 for tickets works out to exactly $70; the same price as a monthly pass. If I catch a ride for even one trip I'm losing money.

For that reason, I don't buy the monthly pass, and then because it only costs me about $1.25 more to drive I drive more often.

Of course, if you try to mention this to Calgary Transit they suggest that I use the pass on weekends. Yeah, right. Kinda hard to use the bus pass when they don't offer bus service.

Flames_Gimp · 12-19-2005, 09:05 AM

i dont have a problem with transit service. i'll pay the extra .25, big whoop.

Ironhorse · 12-19-2005, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flamingchina

Well, the city is stuck for cash

Key part right there...

habernac · 12-19-2005, 09:20 AM

**** 'em, I'll keep riding my bike. why would I want to pay more to ride the cattle cars they call buses?

Cheese · 12-19-2005, 09:22 AM

Wow...the last time I used a bus I think the fare was $0.25 cents. I HATE Public Transit and havent used a Bus or train for 30 years or more.

I do pity those who must use this service on a daily basis. I guess be thankful you dont live out here...people who travel to Toronto daily for work from KW spend $25 a day on Via Rail.

Engine09 · 12-19-2005, 09:28 AM

I walk an extra 12 minutes out of my way to catch a bus that has far less riders than the one one block away from me. Can't stand a packed bus. Public transit is horrible to begin with, I'm going back to driving.

FireFly · 12-19-2005, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

What will this mean for the U-pass and tuition?

Nothing if you're at U of C. The U-Pass is on the first year of a three year contract. The contract does have it going up for each year, but those are still set increases.

shane_c · 12-19-2005, 11:52 AM

Sometimes I really wonder why I even bother to take transit. I can drive to work in 40 minutes. If I take transit it takes me at least an hour. Yes, I save on gas and parking but I also have to share the bus and train with 100's of others where as if I drive I have a quiet car to myself.

sec304 · 12-19-2005, 01:19 PM

Damn 301 sucks too... when it first started it took me a 1/2 to get downtown to work, now they've added so many stops without adding more busses and now the busses are packed and it takes almost 45 minutes... plus now I get to pay more!!! They can kiss my furry beanbag!