It's Day 2 of the London Transit Strike and the leaching of my car has just begun. That being said, I've taken on the role this week of being a "nice guy" to help out roommates and friends get to class. The roads do seem a bit busier, but that being said, I'm yet to run into any real issues while commuting.
I think the initial worry stemmed from Toronto/GTA kids who knew the pain of a city wide transit strike. That being said, they know it in a city that relies on commuting with roughly 1.7 million more people. The deadlock and agony associated with Toronto Transit strikes is nowhere close to being seen here in London.
Not to mention, that most students are making more environmental choices. Captain Planet is having a field day, as students car pool, bike, rollerblade and walk to school. The heavy diesel pumped out daily by the LTC is starting to clear from the air as the strike continues.
Union authorities and the city seem to be moving slowly towards an agreement. However, Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco-Best was unimpressed Sunday with LTC demands. The city quickly rejected the LTC's demand for a 20% pay increase.
"Right now everything is in a holding pattern," LTC manager Larry Ducharme said.
"The sides have been at it for a long time. Maybe we need to take a break and assess our options." said Ducharme.
How is the strike affecting you so far? Have you seen any Toronto-esque jam ups? What's your walk like to get to school and how are you getting around the city? The cabs must be having a field day. In addition, although the University is trying to get the bus system back up and running, they're making huge profit off of paid parking. There are incentives for all parties to keep this strike going it seems. How long though before the true cost start to show up?
Another interesting question is where the $0.52 per student per day that the LTC starts paying UWO will actually go. It works out to something like $15,000 per day if the USC holds onto it.
ReplyDeleteNo one is complaining too much yet because the weather is still relatively nice. Wait until the brutal London winter hits and we'll see an outrage.
ReplyDeleteThe arguments brought up around the van system that has been set up are also raising some concern. I personally love the quote by Marjorie Ratcliffe, a member of the UWO Faculty Association, "It's a perfectly lovely sunny day, and there's no reason why people can't be walking, or biking. I don't think there's any need for this van system to have been set up."
So it's sunny all the time? Even after a night class? I guess she's trying to say that public transit isn't needed at all.