Summer U-Pass for Carleton students?

Posted by The Gridlock on Dec 2, 2014 in Third Edition | Comments Off on Summer U-Pass for Carleton students?

By Shannon Moore

 

Carleton students could soon be getting their summer bus rides on the cheap.

The university’s student associations and administration are considering the summer U-Pass option as they re-negotiate their contract with OC Transpo. Their current agreement is up for renewal this academic year.

“We’ve had our first meeting with OC Transpo and we’re starting to re-negotiate,” said Maddy Porter, the vice-president of student issues at the Carleton University Students’ Association.

“We’re in the process of asking if it’s a possibility, how much it would cost, and how many students would actually benefit,” she said. “We’re fighting for it, because students have approached us saying that it’s a really good idea.”

Students currently pay $376.00 for the U-Pass, which is included in their student fees and allows them to travel on OC Transpo from September to April. When the school year ends, students who are enrolled in summer classes are required to pay for a full-price monthly pass, costing $100.75 per month.

There is a discounted “student” monthly pass costing $80.25 per month, but it is only available to students between the ages of 13 and 19.

“I think that the summer U-Pass is a great idea,” said Carleton graduate student Mary Ritchie. “I’ve spent three or four summers now in Ottawa as a student, and haven’t had a discounted bus pass.”

“We have to pay full price rates and it costs way more money than students can afford,” she said.

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Kaitlin Milroy is a vice-president for CUPE 4600, a union that supports teaching assistants and contract workers on Carleton’s campus. She said the school has a responsibility to provide affordable options to students, considering the high cost of the regular monthly pass.

“Ottawa has some of the most expensive transit in Canada,” she said. “Good transit systems need public investment, not greater individual-per-ride costs. These can be prohibitive and cut deeply into the pockets of those who depend on accessible transit the most.”

As for the summer U-Pass, she suggested providing students with different options based on their individual needs.

“A 12-month pass is an excellent idea. In fact, I think there should be two options for students: semester passes and year passes, and they should all be cheaper than they are now,” she said.

Porter could not provide information as to the potential cost of the summer U-Pass, or confirm whether or not it would be included in the annual fees that Carleton students pay.

However, some students are stressing the importance of an opt-out alternative for those who do not travel to campus during the summer months.

“I would love a U-Pass during the summer,” said Carleton graduate student Emilie Hurst. “Maybe an optional one, though, because I know that a lot of people aren’t here during the summer, and couldn’t actually take advantage of it.”

While the current objective is to extend U-Pass coverage for students enrolled in summer classes, Porter doesn’t discount the possibility of also making it available to students who are living in Ottawa but not enrolled during the summer months.

“Right now, we’re looking at students who are enrolled in classes, because we don’t know how many students stay in the city,” she said. “But if there were enough students that came to us and said they want one, even if they aren’t going to school, then we would fight for that too.”

“We’re the ones that advocate on behalf of it. We want to make sure that everyone has it,” she said.

Algonquin College students recently voted in favour of implementing the U-Pass on their campus. That contract provides students with a full-year pass.