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.

Congrats Calgary!! Youth are now included!

Congrats to City Council who unanimously voted in favour to create a pilot project ages 6-17 to also be part of the low-income transit program. It was a coordinated community effort and just in time for the holidays. Please help us in thanking council for doing the right thing!!!!

City Council has now include youth in the low-income transit pass program

311 Weekend Action to help youth living on low-income ride transit

Transit needs low-income youth fares 

Ask your Aldermen to include Youth in theLow Income Transit Pass Program

On December 17^th, 2012 City Council will decide whether or not to initiate a pilot project to expand eligibility for the Low Income Transit Pass to all youth.

If you know a young person who needs affordable transit, share the message with The City & Alderman by Monday, December 17^th, 2012.

By phone: 403-268-2430 or 311

By Email: Their first name.last name.calgary.ca

e.g. shane.keating@calgary.ca or your alderman site

Why should youth be included in the Low-Income Transit Pass program? 

-Affordable transit will increase opportunities for youth to participate in community.

-It will give youth more opportunities to attend after school programs, including the ‘Critical Hours’ programs.

-It will assist youth when traveling to a job, appointments and social events etc.  This will result in less isolation and exclusion among youth on low-incomes.

-It will give youth a safer way to get around our city instead of having to walk long distances.

-It will correct the imbalance between low-income youth, who pay $57.50 for a monthly transit pass and who do not always receive a rebate from schools, and their parents who will pay $44.00 per month for a low-income transit pass.

-It will make the Low Income Transit Pass program fairer for all.

Learn more! 

Watch a video from youth speaking out about transit, visit the Busting Bus Fares video! 

Read about the affordable youth transit movement, please visit the United Way Social Voice 

One giant step closer!!!!

Please help us thank Council 

 

Calgary City Council has made one giant step closer to guarantee that the low income transit pass is going to be available to everyone under the poverty line!!! 

http://www.calgaryherald.com/mobile/news/top-stories/City+council+votes+raise+seniors+annual+transit+pass+from/7616760/story.html


And if you want to help youth also get on the bus, please plan to come to council December 5th and tell share your story!

Fair Calgary Report to be read December 5th, 2012

THANK YOU!!!! And keep SPREADing THE WORD!

Fair Fares wants to thank the many people who came to City council on November 5th, 2012. 

Community showed up to share concerns about the rising costs of transit fares.  Council tabled the Fair Calgary report until Wednesday, December 5th at 9:30 am in the City Hall "Engineering Traditions Committee Room"


We need to keep on telling our stories to our City alderman. 
Help us keep the momentum going! Learn why! 

Read the story of Salia Davis, a youth speaking out for youth who cannot afford to get on the bus who showed up on November 5th at City council.  


Spread the word about the petition 

Raise awareness:
While our transit system now has some funds to help increase services, there is no commitment to create better discounts for people living below the poverty line. 
We need a balanced approach to help create a transit service for everyone to afford. 

Urgent Call To Action for Affordable City Programs: November 7, 2012

Fair Fares Call to Action 

Help us tell Alderman not to leave people behind

1. Sign the Petition
2. Join us Wednesday December 5th for the City Meeting and Fair Calgary Report
3. Call your alderman and tell why we need to help all Calgarians get on the bus
4. Write a letter to your alderman. 

On Wednesday, December 5th, at 9:30 am, City Council’s ‘Standing Policy Committee on Community and Protective Services’ will be hearing from citizens about why they City’s Low Income subsidy programs like the low-income transit pass need to help all citizens. We know of children are staying home from school and single mothers who cannot afford to get to work. 

We need your voice to help the people being left behind.  We are asking you to call or write your alderman and tell them why we need a household transit pass, a sliding scale to help families pay what they can afford and that the scale should start at 50% of the full fare.

The report from City Administration does not go far enough. If you wish to read the report and learn more visit:  

What Calgarians told us:

1.     Have one form for all of the City’s reduced fee programs and services.

2.     We need more places to apply for the reduced fee programs.

3.     Make sure all the City’s reduced fee programs start at 100% of the poverty line. (100%   
        pre-tax low-income cut off).  Currently the eligibility for the Low Income Transit Pass is   
        75% of before tax LICO

4.     Pay what you can: Use a sliding scale because some people have less income.

5.     Start the sliding scale for transit at ½ of the adult fare.

6.     Make a ‘Household pass’ to help low-income families.

7.     All people who currently receive a low-income subsidy be grandparented at the rate they   
        currently pay for transit.

8.     The reduced fees programs include people from ages 7-64.

9.     A single ride reduced fee be introduced when people cannot afford to buy a monthly pass.

What Fair Fares will recommend:

·      The eligibility for the Low Income Transit Pass be raised from 75% to 100% of   
        before tax LICO in January 2013.

·      The City set up a sliding fee scale pilot project for the Low Income Transit Pass 
        in 2013. 

·      The sliding fee scale start at 50% of the regular adult transit pass and be 
        reduced further according to an individual’s income.

·      That the sliding fee scale be applied to single fares.

·      That all members of low-income households be eligible for subsidies.

·      Low-income youth between the ages of 7 – 17 should be eligible for the Low   
       income Transit pass effective January 2013.

·      All people who currently have a low-income subsidy continue to pay the rate  
       they pay in 2012 for transit.

Call To Action:

Let’s make sure everyone can afford to get on the bus. 
Thank you for your help!