TRANSIT WINDSOR

• What types of recommendations do youth have for Transit Windsor?
• What types of programs/ideas do you have to make recommendations to Transit Windsor?
• What solutions do you have on making Transit Windsor more Youth Friendly?

YOUTH TOWN HALL INPUT:

The following are items were brought forward at the Youth Town Hall event held at Devonshire Mall on August 24th, 2006.

• Expand bus routes
• As compared to other cities, bus is still cheaper
• More frequency
• People need to use it more
• If we have venues outside downtown area, should have bus shuttles for teens
• More accessibility (information)
• Have easy to find route information online (E-trip planner)
• Cost is high for bus passes (student discounts)
• More routes would bring in more students
• A youth sitting on Transit Windsor board as a representative for the Youth (Member of MYAC)
• How do bus drivers treat teens? (very mean towards teens, not happy, strict on teens)
• seating is uncomfortable, cramped spaces
• shorter more direct route
• Closer bus stops
• Busses need to run later in the night
• Reduced fare for university and college students
• Incorporate bus pass in student $50.00 registration fee in September to make it cheaper (similar to UPASS)
• More buses to University and College
• Create a subsidized fixed yearly cost for high school students
• Drivers should be respectful of teens but teens need to be respectful back
• More transfer points
• One standard bus price for all citizens
• Children under 5 should be free
• Lower costs for youth who use bus everyday for school

REPORT ON TRANSIT WINDSOR

Public transit provides one of the main transportation services for youth in particular. Many who are unable to afford the cost of car payments and insurance or have not reached the legal age to drive rely heavily on the transit system to get to where they need to go – malls, school, work, friends, etc. Moreover, it would be incumbent upon Windsor City Council to endorse a policy that supports public transit and promotes improvements to our local environment from the reduction of emissions resulting from reduced dependency from automobile use. What better way to change the culture of dependency than with the Youth of our community. Encouraging public transit with youth will be the catalyst of cultural change toward increased ridership for public transit.

Currently, the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Committee (MYAC) has identified a major concern in terms of youth being represented and having input on Transit Windsor issues as identified through our consultations with youth.

Many riders have experienced positive and negative experiences with Transit Windsor but the goal to improve customer service and usability should be a priority.

Transit Windsor has shown strong support in MYAC’s endeavors and has demonstrated that a partnership can be made to not only improve transit services but to allow youth more involvement within Transit Windsor internally.

In the MYAC’s ‘sequel’ town hall held in August of 2006, Transit Windsor comments included:

• More buses to University and College
• Create a subsidized fixed yearly cost for youth (see new recommendation to support cost effective Youth pass)
• Drivers should be respectful of teens but teens need to be respectful in return
• More transfer points
• A youth sitting on Transit Windsor board as a representative for the Youth (Member of MYAC)
• More points can be found on www.windsoryouth.com

The general consensus from the ‘sequel’ was that youth are looking for more input into the services offered by Transit Windsor by having a youth representative sitting on their board. Currently a way for youth to get involved does not exist. More frequency, later buses, an easy trip planner online, and more transfer points seem to be some of the mentioned highlights. The respectfulness toward teens needs to be improved by bus drivers; however the same respect by youth toward bus drivers must exist as well.

An open forum was held at City Hall on September 28th and was attended by Transit Windsor’s General Manager, Director of Operations, and Manager of Operations. There were approximately 40 young adults in attendance. The youth raised some very interesting issues surrounding their use of public transportation. Some key points they discussed were:

• The need for public transportation to Tecumseh and other regional communities
• A more enhanced and user friendly website and interactive trip planning features
• High school extras, especially with the new service to St. Joseph’s High School
• The need for later service on feeder routes on Friday and Saturday evenings
• It was suggested that a representative from every high school and post secondary school meet and report to the Transit Board on a quarterly basis. There was also a question as to the process of having a youth representative on the Transit Board

The forum allowed Transit officials to become more aware of the needs of youth who use the system and in turn allowed Transit Windsor an opportunity to share with them the challenges that Transit has in providing services to the City.

In several follow up consultations with Transit Windsor, they have offered their assistance in the action of improving service and having youth more involved internally in their operations.

Throughout this, we recommend with the ongoing existence of the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Committee and the continued support of Transit Windsor, that the following recommendations be acted upon:

RECOMMENDED that Transit Windsor hold annual or semi-annual youth user groups in which youth will have an opportunity to provide input alongside Transit Windsor officials on the service and usability of Transit Windsor.

RECOMMENDED that MYAC create a Transit Windsor webpage accessible through www.windsoryouth.com that would offer news related to students, quick links, how to make a compliment/complaint, and official updates on what MYAC is doing in partnership with Transit Windsor.

RECOMMENDED that MYAC and Transit Windsor work together to seek Provincial and Federal assisted funding concepts for a reduced-cost Youth supported pass to encourage ridership growth and promote the environmental benefits of public transit among this large target user group.

RECOMMENDED that MYAC appoint a member of non-voting status to the Transit Windsor Board of Directors.

RECOMMENDED that MYAC, in conjunction with Transit Windsor and local high school parliaments, designate a student who will act as an official Transit Windsor Representative to relay news to students, establish a designated Transit Windsor board/area accessible by students to promote a positive image of Transit Windsor and alternative transportation, and to provide feedback to Transit Windsor services.

RECOMMENDED that Transit Windsor make a technological improvement to their website to provide greater customer service access to such leading innovative technology such as online trip planning.

RECOMMENDED that MYAC hold an event or partner with existing community agencies to promote Transit Windsor and alternative transportation methods to youth across the city.

With a successful collaboration of youth, the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Committee, school boards and Transit Windsor, we can begin to foster major improvements in service, as well as sense of community pride in our transit service.

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