Disgruntled Riders Take Part In TTC Boycott
Posted November 13, 2009 6:25 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Transit riders may have had an easier time getting a seat on a subway, streetcar or bus Friday.
Some TTC users took part in a one-day boycott of The Better Way in response to a proposed fare hike that would raise the cost of a cash fare by a quarter.
Protest organizer Nicole Winchester encouraged people to walk, ride or carpool instead of stepping on the Red Rocket.
Thousands of disgruntled transit users confirmed they would be taking part on Winchester’s Facebook event page.
The transit commission is facing a $100 million shortfall on its 2010 operating budget and insists a fare hike is the only way to generate extra revenue as the city and province can’t offer more funding. TTC brass won’t consider service cuts to save money.
While several riders didn’t take part in the boycott, many are still upset about the idea of paying more to use the system.
“I feel it’s not fair because I’m buying a Metropass … and plus, I have children and I have to buy tickets for them also, which will be much higher,” a rider named Lorna said Friday morning.
The TTC will meet on Nov. 17 to discuss the budget problem and the proposed fare increase, which is expected to take effect in the New Year.
If approved, a cash fare would go up to $3.
But in an interview with Spacing magazine, TTC chairman Adam Giambrone said when he attends the meeting he will recommend the price of a regular adult Metropass be raised to $121 instead of the $126 originally proposed. He will also call for post-secondary students to get the same discount as high school students.
