Metro Vancouver transit use encouraged to get ridership levels up

Are you willing to “Try Transit”? That’s what unionized transit workers across Metro Vancouver are hoping.

CUPE is launching a public awareness campaign in the region, as well as in Victoria, in an effort to convince more people to hop on a bus or SkyTrain.

The union points out it’s more affordable — especially with inflation hitting gas prices. CUPE notes transit use is also better for the environment.

“Metro Vancouver and Victoria have excellent infrastructure for public transit, and systems everyone can use—we just need more people to use them,” said CUPE 7000 President Tony Rebelo.

The campaign is not only encouraging people who are familiar with the transit system to use it more often but is also asking those who’ve never considered it to be an option to give it a try.

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• TransLink ridership shows some recovery despite deficit, route restrictions

Transit use took a hit through the COVID-19 pandemic, as more people began working from home and amid concerns over virus spread. Lower ridership numbers also saw revenue plummet.

However, over the past few years, TransLink has seen its ridership numbers increase. The transit authority says ridership is currently at 75 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, adding its recovery is among the highest across systems in North America.

Earlier this year, the province committed $2.4 billion to help move the Mayors’ Council’s 10-year transit plan forward. That amounts to 40 per cent of the total costs of that multi-year vision.

In May, Environment Minister George Heyman noted that the funding would not only help with improvements to the transit system but also “help TransLink maintain service as ridership recovers from the pandemic emergency.”