[darwink]

I don't agree with extending the free fare zone, but we should be considering a zone-based system. $3.80 is a really steep price if you're taking the train from downtown to Kensington or SAIT (as I do). Conversely, it's an absolute bargain if you're going from downtown to Somerset-Bridlewood.

Alas, until the downtown tunnel is complete, the logical 'zone' system is paying for crossing into the free fare zone. Outside of somewhat wide peaks, the system could be super cheap. Trip cost for LRT only is $1 or so (can't confidently say what it is today, two decades ago the cost was something like $0.27 a rider iirc).

In reality, something close to 80% of trips include a connecting bus so you'd need to raise fares for trips that include buses to make up for the induced shift to more kiss and ride and walk ups to LRT.

I think the model today is pretty good for the system as designed. Do we really want to shift trips to less efficient modes, like moving Max Orange trips to LRT trips using our most constrained (and expensive to add incremental capacity) resource, downtown access?

 

[Surrealplaces]

I don't agree with extending the free fare zone, but we should be considering a zone-based system. $3.80 is a really steep price if you're taking the train from downtown to Kensington or SAIT (as I do). Conversely, it's an absolute bargain if you're going from downtown to Somerset-Bridlewood.

It would be nice if there was a flat rate of say $3.80 for anything past a certain point, but a cheaper ticket for a shorter zone, say anything 5 stops or less. Easy enough to do with a closed system, but with the current pay method it's more difficult. Although maybe those new validation scanners would take care of that issue?

 

[kora]

Expand the Free Fare Zone from Sunalta to the Franklin stations on the Blue Line and the SAIT/ACAD/Jubilee and Erlton Stations on the Red Line.

Great idea. I would make transit free for people under 12 years old. That's the policy out here in Victoria under BC Transit. I personally would extend it to anyone under 16 or even 18. Why should children pay for transit when they don't make money?

 

[kora]

the main barrier to increasing ridership is not the fare price,

I don't necessarily always agree with this. Consider a family of 4 taking a trip with 2 teenagers. In Victoria that costs $3 x 4 = $12 even for a short 20 minute bus ride downtown. Car travel is almost always cheaper, severely discouraging transit use in this circumstance.

 

[thecivilengineer]

How about if we put a cap on daily fare and weekly fare to certain numbers.

 

[badc0ffee]

Great idea. I would make transit free for people under 12 years old. That's the policy out here in Victoria under BC Transit. I personally would extend it to anyone under 16 or even 18. Why should children pay for transit when they don't make money?

It's already free for kids 12 and under, and discounted for 13-17 (13-21 if attending high school).

 

[trtcttc]

Okay, all good points about extending the free fare zone. How do we feel about including the cost of a train pass in a ticket to say the McMahon/Jubilee or Saddledome/Stampede Park?

Adding $8 to an adult tickets isn't a big bump but I think a decent amount of people already take transit to those places so can the system even handle more people for large events?

That would require buy-in from those organizations, but maybe there is and CT just haven't tried to do that. This would also be better for fare evasion as I'm sure many, many people are not paying for transit to these events because there's simply not enough validators for the passenger load, and they usually don't have fare inspectors during these big crowded

I don't agree with extending the free fare zone, but we should be considering a zone-based system. $3.80 is a really steep price if you're taking the train from downtown to Kensington or SAIT (as I do). Conversely, it's an absolute bargain if you're going from downtown to Somerset-Bridlewood.

It would be nice if there was a flat rate of say $3.80 for anything past a certain point, but a cheaper ticket for a shorter zone, say anything 5 stops or less. Easy enough to do with a closed system, but with the current pay method it's more difficult. Although maybe those new validation scanners would take care of that issue?

Vancouver does this, some people get screwed if they travel short distance between the fare zones, but most benefit. The only thing is there'd need to be a way to addfare, but we use a ticket system instead of an account system, there's no way to charge someone extra if they have a 1 zone ticket but travelled two zones.

 

[Albertasaurus]

Great idea. I would make transit free for people under 12 years old. That's the policy out here in Victoria under BC Transit. I personally would extend it to anyone under 16 or even 18. Why should children pay for transit when they don't make money?

In addition, free transit for youth is a great way to get young people acclimatized to taking transit. It's surprising how reluctant many people are to take a bus or train if they're not used to doing so from an early age.

 

[DougB]

In addition, free transit for youth is a great way to get young people acclimatized to taking transit. It's surprising how reluctant many people are to take a bus or train if they're not used to doing so from an early age.

When I attended elementary school in the 70s, Calgary Transit did a half day session teaching kids how to ride transit: reading schedules, paying fares, transfers, safe riding etc. We also got to tour the Victoria Park facility to see how the buses are cleaned and maintained. It was well worth it.

 

[kora]

It's already free for kids 12 and under, and discounted for 13-17 (13-21 if attending high school).

That Youth rate is cheaper than here in Victoria. Day passes are way more expensive in Calgary. $6 in Victoria across the board.

 

[Surrealplaces]

In addition, free transit for youth is a great way to get young people acclimatized to taking transit. It's surprising how reluctant many people are to take a bus or train if they're not used to doing so from an early age.

My son has been taking full advantage of transit the past couple of years. Him and his friends use it a lot. He turned 13, but still gets on for free most times.