(12-19-2025, 05:13 PM)MidTowner Wrote:

(12-19-2025, 04:50 PM)danbrotherston Wrote: Yeah, the seniors thing pisses me off too.

But as far as things which piss me off, it's not that high on the list.

When it comes to it, we're (trying to) rent a car this trip to Canada. Transit is just too bad and too expensive for it to be feasible to use.

Of course, renting a car is also proving difficult because they do not want my money...seems you cannot rent a car without a credit card...it literally doesn't matter how much money I have...the ONLY thing they want is my debt.

I consider transit to be pretty good in Waterloo. But it's not even close to being competitive with driving when it comes to speed, for nearly any trip. When time-constrained like on vacation, it just doesn't make sense.

(12-19-2025, 04:06 PM)MidTowner Wrote: Seniors are more likely to use transit at off-peak times, so that would be one reason to extend this kind of thing to them and not others, making better use of the capacity.

(12-19-2025, 07:16 PM)ijmorlan Wrote: No, it’s a reason to discount transit in off-peak times. Instead of targetting people based on sometimes-not-even-true-on-average stereotypes, target the actual thing that matters, in this case encouraging people to use the system when it’s not busy so that we can get closer to full use of the system.

(12-19-2025, 03:34 PM)SammyOES Wrote: Does anyone else have a problem with this:

“Region to launch pilot offering free transit for seniors”

https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2025/12/18/region-to-launch-pilot-offering-free-transit-for-seniors/

Why is this targeting seniors?  I feel a lot of our younger and poor residents are in much bigger need of this type of support.  Medical appointments and grocery shopping are important, but that applies to a lot of other people including parents.  And add to that there’s a lot of people that rely on public transit to get to their minimum wage jobs who can use the help.

And then:

Quote:Acting Commissioner of Transportation Doug Spooner warned of revenue loss with the program, estimating the region could lose as much as $250,000 based on the number of seniors who already take transit.

A handful of councillors, including Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, stressed the program in other municipalities has led to people taking the bus more frequently.

“The pilot actually led to people using transit on the non-free days as well because they got used to it, and that ultimately could lead to increased revenues going forward.”

I’m super skeptical it’s going to increase revenues, but even if it did… wouldn’t that apply to all of your demographics other than seniors too?  Like if this is the expected result… do it for everyone and make more money!

I’d much rather a real pilot for everyone or else something income tested.  I guess age is a lot easier to verify but still feels like we could get something that works.

(12-19-2025, 07:16 PM)ijmorlan Wrote:

(12-19-2025, 04:06 PM)MidTowner Wrote: Seniors are more likely to use transit at off-peak times, so that would be one reason to extend this kind of thing to them and not others, making better use of the capacity.

No, it’s a reason to discount transit in off-peak times. Instead of targetting people based on sometimes-not-even-true-on-average stereotypes, target the actual thing that matters, in this case encouraging people to use the system when it’s not busy so that we can get closer to full use of the system.

(12-22-2025, 10:45 AM)bravado Wrote: I think that if we want nice, reliable public services, they have to be financially sustainable. You should have to pay ~something~ to use a nice and reliable service, or else it won't be that way for very long.

There might be some value in means-testing these sorts of programs, but we really need to get used to the idea of "nice things cost money". Without any means-testing, it's pretty clear: seniors are the wealthiest cohort in Canada (by quite a lot) and getting wealthier faster than all the others. This is a strange proposal to subsidize the wealthy under the guise of accessibility.

As for time of use... even an empty bus needs to be paid for by somebody.

(12-22-2025, 10:45 AM)bravado Wrote: As for time of use... even an empty bus needs to be paid for by somebody.

(12-27-2025, 09:45 AM)MidTowner Wrote: New Year's Eve is next week.

London Transit Commission, Guelph Transit, Hamilton Street Railway, Go Transit, TTC, OC Transpo, Niagara Transit, all have free transit after a certain time.

GRT, however, does not.

(01-01-2026, 01:23 AM)Bob_McBob Wrote:

(12-27-2025, 09:45 AM)MidTowner Wrote: New Year's Eve is next week.

London Transit Commission, Guelph Transit, Hamilton Street Railway, Go Transit, TTC, OC Transpo, Niagara Transit, all have free transit after a certain time.

GRT, however, does not.

I heard multiple drivers calling in to ask if they were supposed to be doing free rides for NYE on the scanner. And ION security calling in name checks for fare evaders as late as 11:40pm. Surely they have something better to do tonight. It's embarrassing.

(01-02-2026, 08:16 AM)MidTowner Wrote:

(01-01-2026, 01:23 AM)Bob_McBob Wrote: I heard multiple drivers calling in to ask if they were supposed to be doing free rides for NYE on the scanner. And ION security calling in name checks for fare evaders as late as 11:40pm. Surely they have something better to do tonight. It's embarrassing.

That is nuts. Free transit on New Year's Eve is practically a tradition in North America by now. Driving under the influence is still very much an issue, and giving people more easy options to get home safely is a good thing.

As with other initiatives to increase access, it's also good sales and marketing.

I was thinking on New Year's Eve, additionally, the weather was bad. I know there is little chance of this happening here in Waterloo Region, but there is nothing stopping GRT from offering fare-free rides during inclement weather. If they are planning on running the Ion, but the police services are telling people to avoid traveling by car if possible, I think it would make sense to let people board without a fare.