Toban Talkback

The wheels on the bus

Chelse McKee and Magally Zalaya

Leah Crawford Third-year arts	How often to you take the bus? I’m here two days a week so I take it twice a week there and back. What do you think of a proposed 25-cent increase to bring fares to $2.25? I’m a big supporter of the buses so I don’t mind. It’ll make it less convenient with the change situation. How would you feel about the increase if the funds were going towards developing a rapid transit system? I’d be up for that. If that’s what the proposal was for. What effect do you think it will have on low-income individuals who rely on transit? I never really thought about that. In the grand scheme of things, it is cheaper than having a car. I believe so. You always have to think about that, no matter who you are, I guess.
Spencer Trout University 1	How often to you take the bus? Every day, except on weekends. What do you think of a proposed 25-cent increase to bring fares to $2.25? It’s laughable. It’s absolutely pathetic. How would you feel about the increase if the funds were going towards developing a rapid transit system? I would feel better, but since no one is really getting off their ass and doing anything about that, it would still be awhile. What effect do you think it will have on low-income individuals who rely on transit? It’s a kick in the pants. Even for myself, you know, like, middle-class student. That’s ridiculous. I can only imagine what it’d do for somebody in a lower income bracket — it must be hard.
Aaron Loeppky Third-year music education.	How often to you take the bus? Probably two or three times a week. What do you think of a proposed 25-cent increase to bring fares to $2.25? Oh, I wouldn’t like that. Two dollars is plenty enough. How would you feel about the increase if the funds were going towards developing a rapid transit system? If I knew that the extra money for the fares was going to provide better public transportation and that kind of stuff I’d be more likely to support it. What effect do you think it will have on low-income individuals who rely on transit? I think it will pose a little bit more of a problem. It’s easy to say it’s only 25 cents on two dollars, but it’s been increased a lot over the last little while, so it has made a big difference, I think.
Michelle Keller Third-year arts	How often to you take the bus? Maybe about once or twice a week. What do you think of a proposed 25-cent increase to bring fares to $2.25? I wouldn’t like it. . . . I think two dollars is already quite a bit, especially when you’re only going for a short period of time. How would you feel about the increase if the funds were going towards developing a rapid transit system? Okay, that would be a little more convincing. However, it would depend. I would have to know a little bit more about what the rapid transit system would entail. What effect do you think it will have on low-income individuals who rely on transit? That would be harder for them, too . . . I think it would be hard. But, like anybody, they would have to get used to it.