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| Authored by: ac on Monday, July 05 2004 @ 11:45 PM CDT |
For the Students:
1- It would expand the area where students can live in at a reasonable commute. This would further increase the standard of student housing and reduce student ghetto's
Students can already live far from school and commute in. Some do. Those that choose to live further away do so because they consider the cost savings or higher living standard sufficient to warrant the cost of a bus pass (or gas or whatever). The current distribution of student housing indicates that students *want* to live near the university. A U-Pass would still not be free (probably only slightly less than the current cost of a monthly bus pass). Although this forced expenditure might make the thought of living further away more attractive; it would not be the student's first choice (i.e. living far away only seems attractive when the U-Pass is a forced (unrecoverable) cost).
2- It would allow for students to have better access to KW services at a cheaper, more convenient price [I wonder how opinions would change if gas prices soared to over $1?]
KW "services", for the most part, aren't much cheaper or more convenient than Waterloo "services". Personally, I have only rarely seeked Kitchener services. (I have gone to Kitchener to see some live music occasionally -- where car pooling was the obvious solution)
3- Traditionally buses would change to suit its passenger usage. Therefore better routes would be created to relieve student demand and most likely a bar run will be created similar to other university town set ups.
As it is, most student bars are within walking distance in the UW community. There are few bars that students really want to go to outside this area. Busses might change some of their routes to satisfy student demands, which would be a good thing. However, busses usually stop running around 1:00-2:00am which is typically before bars close.
4- Reduced change of drunk driving Ie. during those afternoon bomber days
Is this a problem? I'm pretty sure most students walk home from the bomber. Of all my friends with cars, I don't ever recall driving to the bomber (nor any other Waterloo bar, except perhaps REV).
Other:
1- It would increase public transit infrastructure and support. This would in turn help the KW businesses and stressed transit budgets
i) We shouldn't increase public transit infrastructure if it isn't needed. Students should not be forced to bear the costs of a stressed transit budget if they don't want the service.
ii) Although KW businesses might be helped, they would be helped at the cost of Waterloo businesses. I don't see this as an inherently good thing.
2- Reduce impact on the environment. Less people will drive = cheaper for you, better for the air
As it is now, most of my commuting is via walking or biking. This is true of most students, from my experience. How does forcing a U-Pass and having students live further out help the environment? Students who have a car already would likely continue to drive.
3- Reduced traffic congestion and need for additional parking spaces on campus, and allow spaces to be provided to those who actually need it.
You seem to base these "benefits" off an assumption that currently students are driving and would suddenly migrate to bussin if a U-Pass were forced on them. I think this is a faulty assumption. The majority of students, walk or bike to get to school. If they suddenly commuted on the bus, the environment wouldn't be helped (actually, it would be worse off); Students who currently own a car are not likely to stop using it, simply because they have a bus pass.
4- Promote better relationships between UW and the community
I think this one is laughable! How do UW students riding the bus promote better relationships between UW and community? (Hopefully it is not by student subsidization of public transit for permanent residents)
5- Reduced need for Vansafe [or whatever its called]
i) Buses typically don't drop people off at their homes -- there is usually some walking to/from the bus stop when getting on or off. The buses would not provide safety during these walks.
ii) The safety van is typically required during late hours when it is unsafe to walk. Busses don't usually run at these late hours. I am skeptical that a U-Pass would encourage bus schedules to change and run at such hours. (i.e. Toronto subway service ends around 1:45am or so; Ottawa Bus Service ends around 1:30am)
The effect of a U-Pass on the safety van requirements would be likely quite negligeable.
If students want to ride the bus -- by all means, let them! They are quite capable of buying a bus pass and using the services to its maximum. Those riders should even get together and negotiate reduced student rates. But don't force non riders to subsidize riders.
[ Parent ]
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