A Submission from Jennifer Sinclair, co-founder of the community, not-for-profit group Meetings on the Bus
This June 3rd to June 9th is Commuter Challenge week, a national event that promotes friendly competition among organizations and cities to see who can get the highest percentage of people out of their single occupancy cars and into healthier, more sustainable modes of transportation, like transit, walking, cycling and carpooling. 
Local not-for-profit organizations and groups, including Meetings on the Bus, Niagara Prosperity Community Committee, Bridges Community Health Centre, Port Cares and Niagara Falls Community Health Centre have come together to promote the commuter challenge in Niagara.
The challenge encourages people to carpool, walk or cycle, but local promoters have another agenda: they are making an extra push for people to ride Regional Transit the week of June 4th.
Niagara Regional Transit system was launched last fall. Buses can now be seen moving people along the QEW and Hwy 406 connecting some of Niagara’s municipalities for 6.00 a fare for adults and 5.00 for seniors and students. Ten ride cards are $45 for adults and $40 for seniors and students. Adults can also purchase monthly bus passes for $160 and seniors and students pay $130.
According to Jennifer Sinclair, co-founder of Meetings on the Bus, a group of citizens concerned with increasing ridership, “The new regional bus is a vehicle for connecting people, services and businesses in the Niagara Region. It is fundamental to the economic success of Niagara.”
Rhonda Barron, Health Promoter for Bridges Community Health Centre and one of the promoters of Commuter Challenge and Regional Transit, says, “The bus from Fort Erie to Niagara Falls can be a life line giving people access to employment and educational opportunities.” But she says, “The bus isn’t just for people without a car.” Benefits of riding the bus include saving money on car maintenance, insurance,
gas and parking, in addition to a transit tax credit, reducing the grind of the daily drive and burning a few calories on the way to and from your stop.
Promoters of the Commuter Challenge are encouraging people to get out of their cars the week of June 4th and think about the bus as an alternative to the car when walking and biking are not viable options.
“We are just so conditioned to getting in our car, yet our car culture is the reason why so many things have gone awry in our environment,” says Sinclair. She challenges us to put our community on the map for the highest percentage of commuters during the Challenge and keep the buses moving across Niagara.
Individuals and/or workplaces interested in participating can register for Commuter Challenge online at http://commuterchallenge.ca/blog/ .
You can learn more about the ‘Meetings on the Bus’ initiative by visiting http://meetingsonthebus.eventbrite.com/ .
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