Paying for the bus

I struggle for words to sum up the feeling I get when I am waiting for the bus with my last 2.85 and a homeless person cuts the line and walks on for free. I feel cheated that I go to work to earn money, and often deliberate whether to take the bus and go hungry, or buy food and walk home.

22 Comments

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MDD

Aug 11, 2017 at 12:02am

I agree with you, I don't think anyone super wealthy uses transit, and it sucks to say goodbye to your money for mediocre service, and then watch freeloaders jump on.

Me too, Buddy

Aug 11, 2017 at 12:09am

I know exactly what you mean. I also struggle financially and use transit. For years, I've watched these jerks, who are not really broke or homeless, get on the bus without paying the fare. It comes from a sense of entitlement. They just don't give a shit. It makes me angry every single time. You don't get used to it. Somehow, they have money for beer, cigarettes, a new pair of Nike shoes and the latest smartphone, but they can't pay the fare? They can't load a compass card for when they need to take the bus?
And the drivers don't give a shit. They let people sneak onto the back of the bus, bring open food to eat, whatever.
There's not much you can do about it though, short of posting transit security on every bus which, of course, is impossible.

What a trio

Aug 11, 2017 at 3:51am

Of fucking losers! Get a real job and find something important to complain about

you are a piece of shit

Aug 11, 2017 at 9:21am

To blame a homeless person for anything, Scumbag!

It shows how well our school system works, blame the people that have no
responsibility for your situation.

Don't blame the rich assholes that don't pay you enough, don't blame your own lazy self for not finding a better paying job.

No.

Blame the impoverished.

Fuck you asshole! I hope a bus runs you over.

@ you are a piece of shit

Aug 11, 2017 at 11:14am

"Don't blame the rich assholes that don't pay you enough, don't blame your own lazy self for not finding a better paying job."

Wanna talk about the people who don't pay *anything*? And are you seriously poverty shaming someone for maintaining their dignity in spite of adversity or their own poverty? This person is *paying* for the bus with their limited resources instead of slamming smack and demanding free housing and free heroin.

Your comment is so shot-through with contradictions it boggles the mind.

busses don

Aug 11, 2017 at 11:45am

the war with bus fares is not with the freeloaders, it is with the govt. our 2.85 is not anything useful for transit services, just a token. I think an all over bus pass at a cheaper rate would o over better, more like 30$ a month than 100$. the transit is never going to make money, its not a money making enterprise, it's a mode of transportation that benefits everything else in the city. plus people with low income usually have their bus pass covered. I think this is one of those things where we have middle classes and bussers and poorer people are bein pitted against eachother, when if you have a problem affording food and a bus pass, as many of us do, it is not your fault or the free loaders fault, it is an issue with people who are supposed to work on having manageable price points and aren't doing it.

Anonymous

Aug 11, 2017 at 11:52am

It's not just homeless people, often it's people I see regularly, going to work.
People are catching on that you don't have to pay. I've asked bus drivers about it and they say they can't do anything, the mandate is "customer service and being on time". I saw a bus driver react and chase a guy off a bus when he was punched in the head by a repeat offender, and he was suspended without pay for 3 days.
I can give sworn testimony regarding this.
Bus drivers need extra protection: IE an assistant or security. Too bad fat cats execs have to be overpaid so their operations suffer.

@@

Aug 11, 2017 at 11:54am

You worthless, unthinking, arrogant c*nt

Homeless people want free housing and heroine huh?

I'm homeless, I don't want free housing, I want a job.

I don't use or abuse drugs or alcohol like you doubtless do.

Your intolerance for the impoverished is ridiculous and i hope you find find yourself in my situation dealing with the assholes like you (but I'd prefer if you got hit by a bus too asshole)

Nothing...

Aug 11, 2017 at 12:08pm

... is stopping you from doing the same. Just ask "can I get a ride?" You don't need to explain why. Their procedure isn't to say "he looks like he works, call the cops," anyone who walks on, they have a button that they can press which mostly logs the situation---and maybe you get a ticket, but I bet you'd get, like, 1 ticket a year, spend more on fares.

Vancouver is really becoming a nasty place as all of the natives leave and these weirdos who think working is "dignified" move in. Work is something you do if you have to, and if you've found a way to live without working, party on.

Nobody but yourself is preventing you from shooting heroin and becoming one of "those people" if you think it is such a hot ticket. If you enjoy being a "mature responsible adult," fine, but if it's all about you avoiding being one of "those people" because you've got internalized sin/guilt/etc. then I guess that sucks for you.

Mitch

Aug 11, 2017 at 2:31pm

Don't you realize how lucky you are to be able to work like a slave so you other "work shy" people can be supported by you.....talk about ungrateful...sheesh!

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