Councillor wants to offer a free day riding London Transit — but should it be everyday?
A city councillor wants free rides on London Transit on a Sunday this fall, and urges colleagues to pursue no-fare transit in the future.
Coun. Skylar Franke has submitted a motion to the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee (SPPC) requesting free bus service on September 22, 2024 to align with the local celebration of International Car Free Day.
She’s asking council colleagues to allocate $17,000 from a reserve fund to offset the LTC’s lost revenue.
“It would be citywide on a Sunday. Anyone could hop on [and] hop off,” Franke told CTV News.
Her motion comes just two weeks after Franke raised eyebrows during a committee meeting by expressing support of free transit every day for everyone.
“I am very open to a completely free fare, for the entire city. (I’m) very interested in that,” she said on April 16 during a discussion about a pilot project to offer free bus passes to high school students.
No councillors took up her offer to make a motion.
London Transit fares range from $2.65 to $3.50 for a single ride. A monthly Citipass offers unlimited rides for $112.
There are also a number of subsidized fares for seniors, youth, post-secondary students, and low-income Londoners.
According to LTC budget documents, 20 million rides each year generate $39.2-million in bus fares.
However, Franke pointed to the far greater amount of tax dollars spent on infrastructure for car drivers.
“Is car ridership what we want to spend most of our transportation money on?” she asked. “Or do we want to diversify more?”
Eliminating bus fares would likely boost ridership, but London Transit already struggles to meet existing demand on many of its routes.
Franke admitted turning the concept into reality would require financial support from the provincial and federal governments, but says free transit aligns with climate targets set by all three levels of government.
“Encouraging people to take sustainable methods of transportation by having a really healthy transit system, all of those things are part of a really good city,” she explained.
On Tuesday a committee will consider Franke’s motion for a single fare-free day to take place on September 22, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
At least 60 reports of Lyme disease so far as Ontario enters tick season
Peak tick season is only just beginning but reports of bites – and tick-borne illnesses – are already higher than normal in Ontario.
Pope apologizes after using 'homophobic terms'
Pope Francis apologized Tuesday after he was quoted using a vulgar term about gay men to reaffirm the Catholic Church's ban on gay priests.
Severe thunderstorms, 15 cm of snow: Canadian weather forecast highlights
Well into spring, some parts of Canada could experience a wintry comeback, while other areas are bracing for severe thunderstorms, according to local forecasts.
Teen was doing homework at family's Mississauga, Ont. restaurant when gunman opened fire: testimony
The 13-year-old sister of a young man killed in the attack on her family’s Mississauga restaurant in 2021 took the stand in a Brampton courthouse on Monday to describe the terrifying moments of coming under fire.
House from 'Home Alone' hits the market for US$5.25 million
Kevin McCallister’s childhood home has hit the market for US$5.25 million. At just over 9,000 square feet, the house from the 'Home Alone' movie was last sold in 2012 for $1,585,000.
Tornado touches down west of the Island of Montreal
Emergency services in the town of Rigaud, Que. are investigating after a tornado touched down shortly after 5:30 p.m.
Richard Dreyfuss' comments about women, LGBTQ2S+ people and diversity lead venue to apologize
The actor Richard Dreyfuss showed up in a dress at a 'Jaws'-themed event in Massachusetts, where the blockbuster 1975 movie he starred in was shot, and then proceeded to make demeaning remarks about women, LGBTQ2S+ people and diversity.
More Canadians only making minimum payment on credit cards: TransUnion
Some Canadians are seeing their credit card balances grow as the cost-of-living crisis and higher interest rates eat into household budgets, a new report shows.
What a CBSA strike could look like, according to an expert
Slowed or interrupted travel, the passing of goods and significantly restricted borders should be expected if Canadian border workers take upcoming strike action.