The Editor:
Re: Letter: The new generation needs to respect tax paid public services (Dec. 22, 2024)
I agree with the contributor that bus drivers deserve our respect. Their work is grossly undervalued in our society, perhaps because public transit is a public service.
The transit system is essential for the functioning of the city and is not necessarily driven by profit motives.
That said, I write this letter to provide some context regarding the students the contributor observed entering the bus through the back door.
In all likelihood, these students possessed monthly transit passes. I can say this with confidence because post-secondary institutions charge students for a TransLink pass, called a "U-Pass," as part of their tuition fees.
For example, at SFU, students enroled in at least one in-person class or three credits with tuition fees over $680 are charged a fee of $184 for their U-Pass, regardless of whether they need one or not.
While I understand the frustration of seeing individuals not visibly tapping their cards, it is important to note that the majority of students have already paid for unlimited transit access through their tuition.
This may explain why some students do not tap their cards when boarding through the back door of the bus.
- Angela Dukic, Burnaby
