![\"Oct](\"https:\/\/handydartriders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Oct-25-2014-POSTER-ED1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nFor immediate release \u2013 Thursday October 23, 2014<\/p>\n
What:<\/strong> Transit Referendum and HandyDART<\/em><\/strong> Public Forum. HandyDART riders and politicians available for interviews.<\/p>\n When:<\/strong> Saturday October 25, 2014 \u2013 11am to 1pm<\/strong><\/p>\n Where: Cloverdale Library 5642 176A Street<\/a> Surrey BC<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Who:<\/strong> HandyDART Riders, the GetOnBoard BC transit coalition, the Metro Vancouver Alliance, and municipal and provincial politicians including TransLink Critic George Heyman<\/strong> and Surrey mayoral candidate Barinder Rasode<\/strong>. Organized by HandyDART Riders\u2019 Alliance and Amalgamated Transit Union local 1724.<\/p>\n Why:<\/strong> HandyDART riders are mobilizing to win the March 2015 transit referendum, which includes a 30% increase in HandyDART service hours over 10 years. HandyDART service levels have been frozen for five years \u2013 and as a result people with disabilities and seniors were denied service over 42,000 times in 2013, an eight-fold increase in four years.<\/p>\n \u201cWe now have some great allies working to win the referendum for better transit and get more HandyDART vans on the road.\u201d says HandyDART Riders\u2019 Alliance spokesperson Beth McKellar. \u201cIf we don\u2019t win, we will see cuts to HandyDART service and that would be unthinkable.\u201d<\/p>\n Spokespeople and HandyDART riders will be available for interviews before and after the forum.<\/strong><\/p>\n A backgrounder is available at https:\/\/handydartriders.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/HRA-Backgrounder-Transit-Referendum-HandyDART-Oct-23-2014.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n -30-<\/p>\n For more information please contact:<\/strong><\/p>\n Beth McKellar HandyDART Riders\u2019 Alliance Co-coordinator 604 444 9289<\/p>\n Bob Chitrenky, President ATU Local 1724 778 229 2679<\/p>\n About the Organizations:<\/strong><\/p>\n HandyDART Riders\u2019 Alliance www.handydartriders.ca<\/a><\/p>\n Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724 www.atu1724.com<\/a><\/p>\n GetOnBoard BC www.GetOnBoardBC.ca<\/a><\/p>\n Metro Vancouver Alliance http:\/\/iafnw.org\/canada\/metrovancouveralliance<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" MEDIA Advisory HandyDART Riders to hold forum on transit referendum in Surrey For immediate release \u2013 Thursday October 23, 2014 What: Transit Referendum and HandyDART Public Forum. HandyDART riders and politicians available for interviews. When: Saturday October 25, 2014 \u2013 … Continue reading