Tag: Political advocacy

Take All the Wallet Payments! – Captive Transit User Series Part 17

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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.

Joy to the transit nerds and transit users this month! The ability to pay transit fare through debit, credit, and e-wallets have finally arrived.

Kudos to both the city government social media pages and the city council politicians promoting it heavily. Right when I started seeing the social media posts, the timing had worked out perfectly because I had two dollars or so left in my ARC card. The flashing yellow light in the ARC card scanner on the bus was a clear sign that I have to top up. But I got to try to pay up with my own payment cards instead.

Now, I know that my debit card has some strange 70% success rate. In some places where I don’t even spend a lot of money, like the café by my work building, or even when grocery shopping, sometimes it doesn’t work. So that cold morning waiting for the trusty number 2 bus to take me to downtown, I tried my debit card, hoping for it to work. And it did NOT!

So my freezing hands had to dig out my credit card right away to tap it while the bus is running so it doesn’t get late the closer it got to downtown. The detour to 107 Ave plays a role on whether I’d arrive 2 minutes or 15 minutes after the projected time from Google Maps.

I continued using my credit card for those next three workdays. Then I checked the transactions through my online banking. I was not surprised seeing a single charge in one day despite taking two trips. Looks like the ARC or ETS system tracks all trips and then determines the final charge at the end of the day, which makes sense to me. But I was confused at the amount. $5 seemed too low. But the transactions were still marked Pending, so I figured I wait.

The following week though, when I logged in again to my online banking, the fee changed to $6 per day. That sounds about right.

My ARC card is in a keychain with some bling, my house key and a sturdy plastic sleeve with my card covered with cute transit-related stickers from a local artist. Unfortunately, that very first day I was paying with my credit card instead of my ARC card, I lost the whole keychain! I was relieved that I have the other way to pay for bus fare, but I’m more upset about losing the stickers that I put on my ARC card. I also had to send my husband on an errand to have a new key for me. I have a replacement ARC card now, and I’m eagerly waiting for those amazing transit-related stickers to be available again.

One time this week, I tapped my new ARC card on the scanner in front of the bus and it flashed red with the very aggressive BEEP sound. The screen said “cannot read” as opposed to “low balance”, and as I was about to tap it again, the driver immediately said “you can pay with debit now.” The very reflexive way the driver said it made me realize, that the ability to pay with debit, credit and e-wallets is likely something that passengers have asked about so many times. Luckily for that trip, my second attempt tapping the card worked!

I gave myself a full week to try this out before I felt comfortable enough to tell my brother. He’s been waiting for this for so long. We hang out about once a month, and when it is a location near a bus stop with frequent routes, or near the WEM transit centre, he would take the bus home. At random times he had asked me for change or tickets if I had some to spare. At one point, I even gifted him an ARC card that I preloaded with money. He’s complained to me several times when he had to refill the card with money in winter, as the machine by WEM transit centre glitches a bit when it’s too cold. I know this problem very well, I’ve experienced it myself and sent a few complaints to the city through the 311 app.

He was so happy when I told him. His wallet is very compact, the type that has room for maybe a few cards and bills, not even a compartment for coins. He’s forgotten his ARC card a few times. But that won’t be an issue anymore. Then again, he just moved to a new apartment rental that is way southwest of our city ward, an area served by only a 3-digit, community bus route. It’s likely he will use the bus less frequently anyways.

But at least for him, and for anyone else who would be a very occasional user, this option will serve them well.

People just need to remember that the scanners get confused when several cards and wallets are within the scanning proximity. So it’s best to take out the card that you intend to use, instead of tapping your whole wallet to it.

And I really hope that people do tap off when leaving the bus or an LRT station.

On Christmas Eve my ARC card ran out of money again. Instead of using my credit card, I used it as an opportunity to get rid of some change from my wallet. As my coins jangled through the cash fare box, I asked for a transfer. It was a bit amusing how the driver had to set up the transfer ticket sheet, as if no one has asked them all day so far. As I held my transfer ticket on my way to Christmas Eve dinner, I’m glad to experience for myself all the digital and physical payment methods offered to passengers.

The few paper tickets I have though, they will be souvenirs I’m saving, along with all the transit-related merch, books and old bus passes I’ve collected over the years!

Who To Call for Help? You Don’t Know?! – Captive Transit User Series Part 17

Posted in Edmonton, Local Establishments, Politics, Social Issues, UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment
The inside of the regular sized Edmonton transit bus. The front area near the driver's compartment has no information or printed signage about the Transit Watch contact line.

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.

The Transit Advocacy Group Is Here! The Captive Transit User Series Part 16

Posted in Local Establishments, Politics, Social Issues, UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

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.

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!