Mike Cleaver wrote:latest gas tax increase will simply mean more trips to the states where it costs at least a third less to fill up the tank, even counting the drive there and back. Add to that the 27 dollar a night hotels in Seattle, much cheaper food and wine prices, cheaper clothing and household items, lower taxes, more variety in everything, friendly service, cheaper air fares and a three day trip to the states make more sense every day because after 48 hours, each person can bring back $400 worth of goods duty free. Raising the cost of everything in Vancouver simply drives people south where the savings are real and people appreciate your business.
Mike Cleaver wrote:So if going to the states to save a buck makes me a traitor, so be it.
Our American neighbours are having a much tougher time of it than we are.
I don't mind helping out by leaving some dollars down there.
Jack Bennest wrote:Transit should be free - making it free means it would be utilized to a maximum degree and we could move away from oil,gas and other carbon based fuels.
Jack Bennest wrote:Each transit system should do this first - figure out the times when ridership is the lowest and make that period free - let's say 6pm to 6am
This should boost ridership and could prove the theory. Then you could move to free ridership 9am to 3pm if
that is a lighter time of the day.
Improve the need and the people will support the idea. At the same time increase downtown parking fees and fuel taxes.
Give exemptions to trucks, vans, freight vehicles and those that can prove they need to use vehicles. Promote
walking and biking.
Give exemptions to electric cars - and the small class car (Smart Cars). Promote living closer to work.
Jack Bennest wrote:Each transit system should do this first - figure out the times when ridership is the lowest and make that period free - let's say 6pm to 6am
This should boost ridership and could prove the theory. Then you could move to free ridership 9am to 3pm if
that is a lighter time of the day.
Improve the need and the people will support the idea. At the same time increase downtown parking fees and fuel taxes.
Give exemptions to trucks, vans, freight vehicles and those that can prove they need to use vehicles. Promote
walking and biking.
Give exemptions to electric cars - and the small class car (Smart Cars). Promote living closer to work.
Jack Bennest wrote:Each transit system should do this first - figure out the times when ridership is the lowest and make that period free
Howaboutthat wrote:Promote living closer to work?? Do you have ANY idea how expensive housing (purchase or rental) is in the Lower Mainland? There is no way a family of 4 could afford to live anywhere near downtown if both breadwinners happened to work there.
Or perhaps you'd like to give them free housing as well?
Howaboutthat wrote:Don't go suggesting they get a job outside the downtown core either, while that's possible for some, most are simply hanging on to what they've got right now, and unlike certain flight attendants, are happy to have a job.
Howaboutthat wrote: Free transit ridership at certain times of the day because of low usage? That won't increase the number of people using it... there simply aren't as many people riding at those times. Besides, it's blatant discrimination letting some ride for free while others pay full fare at other times because those are the times they MUST ride.
Howaboutthat wrote: Or would you like to reduce fares as well? Where would the revenue come from to pay the overpaid transit jockeys who sit on their asses all day driving
Where do you make up all the lost revenue from all these exemptions you talk about? Like most politicians, you forget there is only one taxpayer!
The lower mainland's transit system is useless for anyone that doesn't work 9-5. Service on routes drops to every 30 minutes or every hour after 7pm, so if you miss a connection, you're screwed. Translink won't increase service because the usage doesn't justify it, and most employers, especially small businesses, don't have the flexibility to change hours.
Downtown parking fees are already the highest in the country. Increase them more?
'Promote walking and biking'. From where? Coquitlam to Vancouver?
I'm sure you have it nice in your little utopia, but please, this is a discussion for grown-ups who have to deal with the reality of cars, transit and weather on a daily basis.
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