MEDIA Advisory
HandyDART Riders Gathering Allies for ‘Unknown’ Transit Referendum Campaign: Poll shows only 1/3rd of residents know about planned transit referendum
For immediate release –Thursday July 24, 2014
While a recent TransLink poll shows that 64% of Metro Vancouver residents don’t know that a transit funding referendum is planned, HandyDART riders are bringing allied groups together on Saturday July 26 for a public forum about mobilizing for the vote expected in Spring 2015.
“It will take a big diverse coalition to win this referendum most people don’t even know about yet.” says HandyDART Riders’ Alliance spokesperson Elizabeth McKellar. “After five years of neglect we desperately need more HandyDART vans on the road, so we desperately need allies willing to campaign for better transit.”
Speakers from the GetOnBoard BC transit coalition and the Metro Vancouver Alliance will speak at the forum about how they plan to mobilize for the yes side in the referendum.
“The mayors have proposed a substantial increase in HandyDART service” says HandyDART Riders’ Alliance spokesperson and former Vancouver City Councillor Tim Louis. “It is not enough given our rapidly aging population, but it is worth campaigning for.”
The Mayors Council proposal is for a 30% increase in HandyDART service hours over 10 years, about 2.7% per year.
When elected mayors sat on the TransLink Board, they increased HandyDART service hours by about 5% per year to keep up with demand linked to a growing population of older seniors. But after the provincial government imposed an appointed board in 2008, HandyDART service hours were frozen and HandyDART trip denials soared. People with disabilities and seniors were denied HandyDART service over 42,000 times in 2013, an eight-fold increase in four years.
HandyDART is a door-to-door transit service for people with disabilities and older seniors who cannot use the regular transit system for at least some trips.
The HandyDART Riders’ Alliance and Amalgamated Transit Union local 1724 are co-sponsoring the public forum Mobilizing to Increase HandyDART Service, Saturday July 26, 2014 – 12:30 to 2:30pm at New Westminster Public Library, 716 – 6th Avenue New Westminster. . Spokespeople and HandyDART riders will be available for interviews after the forum.
The poll by Maple Leaf Strategies for TransLink surveyed 677 lower mainland residents in May 2014. The Lower Mainland Transportation Issue Survey conducted on May 22-27 asked the question “Have you read, seen, or heard anything about a referendum on funding new transportation infrastructure in Metro Vancouver?” 33% replied Yes, 64% No, 1% Unsure, and 1% Don’t Know.
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For more information please contact:
Elizabeth McKellar HandyDART Riders’ Alliance Co-coordinator 604 444 9289
Tim Louis, HandyDART Riders’ Alliance Co-coordinator 604 732 7678 / 604 738 0405
Bob Chitrenky, President ATU Local 1724 778 229 2679
About the Organizations:
HandyDART Riders’ Alliance www.handydartriders.ca
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724 www.atu1724.com
GetOnBoard BC www.GetOnBoardBC.ca
Metro Vancouver Alliance http://iafnw.org/canada/metrovancouveralliance