Political advocacy – FilipinaYEG

By: Giselle General

This is part of an ongoing series of posts discussion issues I personally encounter while taking public transit in Edmonton. Links to other posts will be added on an ongoing basis:

What is a Captive Transit User? I learned about the term for the first time from the City of Edmonton’s website. The easy definition is: someone who takes public transit because it’s the best (or only available) option for them to travel around. The part about feeling ‘captive’ comes from the restriction that sometimes comes up, perhaps because one is too poor to own and maintain a vehicle, one does not know how to drive, or for medical reasons, cannot operate a vehicle. In many ways, I relate to this a lot. Though I’m pretty fortunate to afford the occasional taxi ride, and with my husband having a car.

In my first few years in Canada, I had to learn how to keep track of all the different phone numbers, watch lines and apps for reporting different issues. In fact, because I knew that this can be confusing for other people, I’ve written a resource articles on this subject a few times for multicultural media outlets in the city. It can be hard to tell right away what constitutes an emergency. When someone is in the middle of an unsafe situation, regardless of whether someone’s bleeding or not, everything seems urgent.

Frankly this is why I have major concerns that the information to ask for help when taking transit can be hand to find. If my personal feedback can be summarized in one word, that would be consistency.

Consistency on where the information can be found, both on the buses and LRT vehicles, would be handy. When I used to take the LRT more frequently, I eventually trained my eyes on where the emergency buttons and alarm strings to ask for help are located. I’m too short to reach the alarm strings – but that’s a different subject altogether. Also, on a 25- minute trip which is typical for my travels, there had been the rare occasion when the same automated robot voice that announce the next LRT stop would also talk about Transit Watch, the phone number where people can call or text if they feel unsafe.

But unfortunately, for those who take the buses, this information is definitely hard to find. On top of the fact that Transit Watch is actual full 10-digit phone number instead of the 3-digit ones like 911 or 311, so it’s not something that people will instinctively remember and dial. I mean, even I don’t know the full number in my mind, but I had saved it as a contact on my phone. In my experience, upon entering a bus, 75% of the time I don’t see any posters about Transit Watch at all. When it does, the posters are in different parts of the overhead compartment for the posters.

In my typical 30- 45 minute bus trip, I don’t hear a single robot-voice announcement about Transit Watch as well. Back in 2023, Edmonton Transit Service had a marketing campaign encouraging people to take one of six potential actions when they see harassment while taking public transit. These posters were in many of the buses but not as much these days. Although I was relived to see it a dozen times so far this year.

Inside an Edmonton transit bus, with a poster about Transit Watch 780-442-4900.

In transit stations, not all of them have a PA system to blast audio announcements. In the places that do, one of which is the South Campus LRT station, I have heard a few robot-voice announcements for different topics, including bus delays, scheduling changes, and even encouraging participation on Stuff A Bus. I have heard a handful of times about Transit Watch. But how about other locations? Sure, it is a temporary station, but I think it’s important to have more visible signs and reminders at West Edmonton Mall transit station for example. It truly would be nice to have a consistent approach in every transit station.

I have taken bus trips with the smaller community buses as well, and I don’t recall seeing a poster about Transit Watch. It’s been a few months since I have taken an On-Demand buses which are much smaller, and I know there’s no space there for paid advertisement or even a small bulletin board. Perhaps a decal or sticker somewhere prominent can be strategically placed somewhere. Or maybe even a QR code that’s quite popular these days.

The inside of the smaller-sized Edmonton Transit bus, the shuttle bus along Jasper Place Transit Centre. There is no poster for the Transit Watch number because there's no good space to put one.

Consistency builds trust. I think if there’s more consistency in communicating that 1 – harassment is not okay , 2 – reporting unsafe situations when taking transit is truly worth the effort, 3 – the contact number is repeated often enough while people are taking transit that they might eventually memorize it, and 4 – that the person who reported can see the resolution, perhaps people could be more understanding about unpleasant situations about taking transit. I agree with what the City officials had said that majority of public transit trips happen successfully, on time and no issues. But for the times when it does, people need to trust the system for reporting and the response to it. This starts with knowing when and how to report.

By: Giselle General

This is part of an ongoing series of posts discussion issues I personally encounter while taking public transit in Edmonton. Links to other posts will be added on an ongoing basis:

The name Edmonton Transit Riders (ETR) sounded very much like the city group where I volunteered for six years, the Edmonton Transit Service Advisory Board (ETSAB). But they are different and once I heard about ETR, I’m very happy that they exist.

Over many years I have observed different ways that people use their voice to advocate for improvements in our public transit system. There are people like me that use our personal social media platform sharing our own individual experiences and opinions. There are people who create anonymized accounts with a group name to build an impression it is part of a collective of thoughts who care about a common goal. There are people who join established organizations or groups to share their time, energy and insights in a formalized way within the city government’s system – I’m talking about ETSAB here. And there’s ETR, the external organization who wanted to combine the power of being a formalized group willing to mobilize in a wide range of ways to make public transit better.

A selfie of Giselle and Danielle Witte, board chair of ETR, in front of the under-construction Meadowlark LRT Station.

Sometime in the fall, Danielle Witte, the board Chair of ETR contacted me for a meeting to learn more about what I mentioned above, how current groups have been giving feedback to improve public transit. I offered a unique kind of meeting – a walking meeting where we discussed his questions and I gave him a tour of the West Edmonton LRT construction sites from future West Edmonton Mall to the future Meadowlark Station. I told him how excited I was for the group, and that ETR, ETSAB and the actual public transit city employees for ETS have a lot of positive opportunities to work with each other.

On October 20, the group hosted a official launch party which included an announcement with speeches, and then a private tour of the Blatchford LRT station that is not yet open to the public where the attendees can connect and chat with each other. It was nice to see the current board chair of ETSAB, actual representatives from ETS, city politicians, and other people enthusiastic about transit.

Giselle taking a selfie in front of the Edmonton LRT Blatchford station, during a private tour as part of the Edmonton Transit Riders launch.

Interestingly enough, I remembered a discussion about the Blatchford station during an ETSAB meeting, and see the station still not being used was a reminder that our recommendations to city staff sometimes get implemented. It does make an impact.

In some ways, the word hype feels superficial, but with what ETR is doing, I think building hype about public transit is not only just a good thing, it is an excellent thing that is very much needed. There’s a lingering disdain from everyday people about public transit, combined with an undercurrent of classism and car culture. I’ve said countless times, people complain about hiccups on public transit too quickly and harshly but if those experiences are tied to their driving experience, people are more forgiving.

When I was chatting with the ETR volunteers and board of directors, I was amazed that they were planning to go to Ottawa for a conference about transit. There’s a lot of flexibility they have that made me wish I had something similar when I was with ETSAB. Then again, ETSAB is a part of the city and funded by taxpayer money, so I understand the limitations that where in place. It is nice though that ETSAB board members get a chance to attend the Canadian Urban Transit Association fall conference every year.

Front view of the Blatchford LRT station. Crowds of people are by the platforms observing the space.

One thing I really appreciate is that both organizations seem to have a relationship with the staff of the city’s transit system. Everyone seem to have a well-known common ground of sharing the desire to actually make public transit better.

In future years I eagerly look forward to seeing more of what ETR does. I subscribed to their e-newsletter and social media accounts and they are a lot more public with their advocacy which is fantastic. They had several media interviews, organized an automated e-petition to speak about the low-income transit programs, and had plans to advocate to the provincial and federal orders of government. It’s quite remarkable. Once the actual transit department launches their merchandise line I bet that the ETR supporters would be the first in line to buy or market these items ala influencer style – yes that includes me.

Looking back at the LRT launch for the Valley Line East last November 2023, it is nice to join along a group of fellow transit nerds. If I am lucky enough to be the next city councillor of my area of the city on the west end, I’ll be thrilled to organize the official launch or tour of the LRT along with them! The warm drinks, train-themed cake and ceremonial scissors would be on me – unless someone beats me to it which is very possible!