Translink vs. The Government

Now here is an interesting article. Apparently, various supporters of the RAV, notably Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon and Larry Campbell, pressured Translink to build and pay for it. When Translink tried to raise funds with the parking tax in order to pay for the RAV, the BC government replaced Translink’s elected board of directors with appointed members of the business community.

Democracy by Persistence

New Taxes: Worth it or not?

So here we go: Translink wants to charge taxes to fund its new ventures. Do taxpayers have a choice?

Drivers Face Tax

Translink Eyes Vehicle Tax

Transit Passes: Worth it, or not?

Here is an interesting story about the value of buying a transit pass, and note the well-informed comments from transit users too.

Is it worth buying a transit pass?

A view of the Coast Mountain

I was looking again at Cox’s story and I guess what bothers me is the following statement by Coast Mountain about Cox’s blog.

“Some of the information was offensive and negative about or towards the corporation.”

Indeed. But what is your point? You don’t like public criticism and you will punish anyone who engages in it? I see.

Another point I find interesting is the complacency of those who commented on Cox’s situation, that Cox might have deserved his firing. Since when does the law protect employers from public criticism by their employees? Cox said he was trying to be even-handed. Is Coast Mountain that lacking in confidence? When children act like Coast Mountain, we usually say the child needs to grow up.

A waiting game

Well, I have a story to share that made me a little curious about what goes on at Translink. A few months ago I went to White Rock on a Sunday and while waiting for a bus to get back home, no bus came. I waited for thirty minutes then decided to phone Translink, but according to a recorded message, the office was closed for the weekend. So I phoned a different number, bus information, and asked them why the bus had not come. The lady, who was very helpful, said she would look into it and that I should stay on the line. After ten minutes she told me that there was no problem, all the buses were running on time. Was I late in getting to the bus stop? Is ten minutes early too late? No. So where did the bus go? “I’m not sure,” she says. You’re not sure? In the end, I just stood there and waited for one hour twenty minutes for the next bus.

Looking for stories

Has anyone anything to say about Vancouver’s transit system? Really? Is criticizing a company you work for that intimidating? Are there any users of the system who would like to comment about Vancouver’s transit system, Coast Mountain, or Translink?

Short Turns

This is the first post in an attempt to keep track of public commuting in Vancouver. The aim here is to provide a forum for Vancouver transit users to complain and, in the tradition of Michael Cox, make suggestions for improvement. I don’t like what happened to this guy and I want to keep his blog discussion alive.

Read Cox’s story in the Vancouver Sun here.

Also see this at Metro