Re: Transit in crisis mode (News, Feb. 18)
I don’t know why I’m so angry at this article. It must be common sense being clouded by idiots again.
I can tell how much of an issue this is when I need to flip to page A30 to finish reading, but, as I finish my duties on the throne with the Victoria News and get deeper into thought, I’m thinking, “here we go again, another made-in-Victoria story.” Declining ridership? Raise property taxes to pay for it? I think not.
I’m not paying $28.50 more in taxes to ride the bus. I’m not. I’m not paying $28.50 to do anything more in this ridiculously overtaxed area.
I take the #14 on occasion, or regularly, and I’ll tell you it’s packed more times than not.
I see many a bus go past me on different routes that are also full, or close to it. In fact, I’ve been on many (any bus that picks up at the ferry terminal for instance) that take a few over the limit to prevent riders from waiting another hour, which is a class act in my book.
Hey, be a sport and don’t tell The Man. I don’t want them getting in trouble for being good human beings. I call it the Mayberry Effect. It’s a pretty rare quality these days. Just look into the Andy Griffith Show, you’ll see what I mean.
Bottom line: B.C. Transit does a great job here in town, at a very affordable rate. A monthly pass is still less than most car insurance plans per month. People are getting on board, going green, or -- thanks to another B.C. cash grab – serving their .05 DUI prohibitions. Or just needing to get places, whatever the case may be.
The point is, the buses are packed, as usual, and there’s no problem with ridership. We have a great transit system here in Victoria, at an extremely affordable rate.
We don’t need to raise property taxes to cover this made-up crisis. The meat and potatoes part of this article is indeed on page A30, about three-quarters of the way down (thank you burrito night): they may need to cut late-night or slow-performing routes. I have to ask, who’s the overpaid S.O.B that came up with that solution?
If this is just another scare for a wage increase, I’m going to be mighty upset. Even moreso, if my taxes go up because of this, I’m going back to peeing on City Hall instead of spritzing my one per cent share in the public urinal across the street.
I may even make my round throughout the whole region, if my transfer’s valid. Why not get my money’s worth?
Thanks for bumping my blood pressure up.
Mike Evenson
Victoria
