Transit stations in Ottawa were built to be inhospitable so that 'the wrong people' don't linger. We think transit stations can be community hubs, even sanctuaries for our neighbours with nowhere else to go. We should want people to want to be in our transit spaces.

DYK: OC Transpo's Special Constables Program is only on its third five-year term. The current term ends on July 31st, 2023. Now is the time to imagine how we can build real safety on public transit in Ottawa. Before the program becomes any more entrenched.

If you think fare enforcement is just regular OC Transpo staff in nice golf shirts checking if you tapped your Presto card, think again. By Amilcar's own admission Special Constables (i.e. transit police) have been doing this 'work'.

It's Jamie Sam Hersh The challenge is to not assume that everyone who "jumps the turnstile" (as they say) is a scofflaw fare evader but rather a fellow transit rider who just needs to get somewhere and can't afford the fare.

PSA: If you see a fellow OC Transpo rider get on without paying, no you didn't.

PSA: City Council is more guilty of evading responsibility to fund transit than any rider who jumps the turnstile.

P.S. We wrote a whole report about this with our friends at Vivic Research. Read it here: vivicresearch.ca/work/police-fr…

That's a big yikes from us, bro. That's public space you're talking about. Those are your neighbours you're talking about. Can't really think of anything more anti-social than coldly stating your desire to subject your poor transit riders to violent enforcement.

You think excluding people who cannot afford $3.75 will reduce the prevalence of antisocial or violent behaviour. This suggests *strongly* that you think poor people are more likely to engage in antisocial or violent behaviour. If that's not what you meant, please do explain.

The article cites councillor Shawn Menard who questions if fare enforcement is cost-effective. Fines are paid to the province, so OC Transpo won't get any money back. The trade-off is scaring enough riders who can pay into paying in the hopes it covers the cost of enforcement.

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Oh my god, they are actually doing it. No one asked for this. It doesn't help anything. Someone is going to get arrested or worse simply because they can't afford $3.75. This is not a sustainable way to do society.

Notice their uniforms too. Does no one remember how maybe a decade ago this job was done by a single person in a golf shirt and shorts? Now, they are virtually indistinguishable from cops.

Bold of them to offer this sort of free transit on the same day they beef up fare enforcement. Spent $200 on a concert? Cool, here's some free transit. Live on $200 a month? Walk, peasant.