Can you afford the bus?

Can you afford the bus? 

Many Calgarians living in poverty cannot even afford the $ 44 monthly low-income transit pass. And now seniors are also wanting a single ride discount similar to youth. We think this is a great idea and can only be improved by including people living on low-income. 

Help us make transit fares equitable and affordable! a single ride 

Fortunately, there is a motion being brought to City council this budget that can be improved upon to make this possible. It is called NM2013-25. 

The motion is  written to help Seniors help afford transit fares at the same rate youth pay. Currently $ 1.75.  We would like to see this rate also be applied to people living on low-income. 

If you believe single ride fares need to be lowered to help the Citizens who earn a low wage, please share your thoughts with City Council during the November 2014 Budget Adjustments. 

Low-income Transit Passes now at 100% LICO for January 2014

Click here to learn more about 
programs and city services

Congratulations to Calgary City Council! 

Today, September 16th Calgary City Council approved Calgarians living 100% below the low-income cut off to be able to buy a discounted transit pass for January 2014. 

1 in 10 Calgarians lives in poverty, and for many this means having to choose between food and a bus pass. Previously only people whose income fell below approximately $20,000 (87.5% below LICO) in 2013 could buy the pass. Now Calgary's Transit's Low-income Transit Pass is in alignment with the City's Fee Assistance Program, bringing our City to use a common discount across City subsidized fees. This means many people earning minimum wage had to pay full price ($ 95 a month) and will now pay less in 2014. Currently the low-income transit pass costs $ 44 a month.

Way to go City of Calgary for creating Fair Fares for everyone!!! 

• To learn more about the transit pass and to see if you qualify, please visit the Calgary Transit website! 
• To learn more about other programs for people living on low income, please download the brochure on low-income programs in the City of Calgary 

New changes to Calgary's 'Low-Income Transit Pass Program'

To our community partners:

  Fair Fares and Fair Calgary Community Voices would like to inform you of the recent improvements to the Low-Income Transit Pass program.

   
These improvements include:  

-  More ways to prove income
-  Youth from 6 - 17 are now included in the Low Income Transit pass -  The income cut-off has been raised from 75% to 87.5% of LICO for 2013 with the cut-off being increased  to 100% of LICO starting April 2014.

These changes make the Low Income Transit pass available to more people and make the application process much easier.  

We would like to thank the many people living on low income, community members and the community organizations for their hard work in making these changes happen community and City Council and Calgary Transit for listening to the community's input and implementing the much needed changes to the Low Income Transit pass.   

For more information on the Low Income Transit Pass and the new application form please visit the CalgaryTransit website at:

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

Fair Calgary Community Voices

faircalgaryvoice@gmail.com

Fair Fares

fairfarescalgary1@gmail.com

Celebrating 12 years of advocating for 'Affordable Transit'

Thank you to the many people over the years who have helped with "Affordable Transportation" with the Fair Fares and Fair Calgary Community Voices. What an honour to place nearly 100 names (and counting) on an acknowledgement quilt in celebration of International Women's Day at the Women's Centre of Calgary Event on March 7th at the Kerby Centre. Pictured are members of Fair Fares and the Disability Action Hall holding up a tribute to Women. 

Celebrating Affordable Transit and the many people involved in turning the dream of affordable transportation into a reality.  

"We are so happy to be here to celebrate International Women's Day with you. Thank you for inviting us. This year we are celebrating leadership and we see so many great leaders in the room this evening. Twelve years ago when Colleen and I started to talk about affordable transportation it was only a dream.  Today with the help of countless people, Calgary now has a Low-Income Transit pass and that dream has become a reality.

The Disability Action Hall has put together a message to celebrate International Women's Day:  

W- Wisdom of working together. Working on affordable public transportation takes a village of people
O - Organizing and opportunities to share our message with decision takers, decision makers and the people who have expertise riding and driving the bus.
M - Making a difference. While the job isn't finished it is important to celebrate the accessibility of this city.
E - Equality and equity. For Fair Fares and a fair voice.
N - Never stop fighting for affordable public transportation.

Happy International Women's Day.