Plenty of U-Pass benefits

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/02/2014 (4327 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In an attempt to posture himself to jostle for the mayor’s position, Coun. Scott Fielding again shows his lack of faith in evidence-based policy planning (Fielding won’t support U-Pass plan, Feb. 25).

Winnipeg is the only Canadian city of its size that does not currently have a student transit program — either through a U-Pass or subsidization beyond our current rates — such as the one set to begin in Winnipeg in fall 2016,

U-Passes take thousands of student commuters off the roads and increase ridership on rapid-transit routes, which in turn justify service improvements for all Winnipeggers — not just post-secondary students.

By subsidizing this program, the city is spending money to benefit all Winnipeggers, clearly showing the U-Pass is in the public interest.

If Fielding is serious about future political aspirations, he should have a look at what other Canadian cities are doing. Failing to examine the long-term implications for such programs sets a poor tone for his mayoral ambitions.

ZACH FLEISHER

Winnipeg