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Here's how Vancouverites plan to deal with the 3-day 'complete transit shutdown'

Vancouver Is Awesome asked its readers how the three-day full transit strike would affect them, and there were a range of comments.
Elana Shepert
Elana Shepert

Photo: VANCOUVER - September 8, 2017: A high angle view of many commercial city buses parked in the terminal station in south Vancouver, Canada on September 8, 2017 / ShutterstockPhoto: VANCOUVER – September 8, 2017: A high angle view of many commercial city buses parked in the terminal station in south Vancouver, Canada on September 8, 2017 / Shutterstock

On Wednesday, Unifor, the union representing bus operators and transit maintenance worker, announced that it would move ahead with a "complete system shutdown."

If a fair deal is not achieved, members of Unifor Locals 111 and 2200 will be on picket lines during November 27, 28, and 29. Following this, transit workers will return to their full shifts on Nov. 30 and continue providing service.

Vancouver Is Awesome asked its readers how the three-day full transit strike would affect them. There were a range of comments, and a number of people said that they'd be able to manage without bus service. With that in mind, many people say that they don't have any other options.

For people living with accessibility challenges, however, public transit is critical. Not only does the transit system allow people with disabilities to commute, but it is also important for those who rely on caretakers.

V.I.A spoke to Laurie Edberg, 53, who is an admin for a group called Friends with disabilities & their caregivers in BC,Canada on Facebook, about some of her concerns, as well as those of her friends.

Here are some of the other responses from our readers:

"During the 3 days that there is supposed to be a strike, I have school during each of those days. I take one bus to one class on each day and one of the days I have to take a bus and 2 skytrain transfers. I must also do the exact same in order to get back home ... Right when I heard about the strike I knew I would need to plan ahead to find alternate means of transportation. Luckily I have some awesome friends, and three of them have offered to either drive me to school or the skytrain. My boyfriend also offered my his car for the duration of the strike but I declined, knowing that he needs it ... My absolute last resort for getting around is walking. It takes me an hour to walk to the closest skytrain and it also takes an hour to walk to the closer campus of my school. This is not ideal for me as I have back problems and walking for that long period of time with a backpack on causes me a lot of pain. And to walk home from the skytrain or school means walking up hill the entire time and it is probably much longer than an hour."

- Carlie Graham

"I won’t personally be affected, as I can walk to work- luxury! My son goes to Van Tech and currently takes the #9 to school. He is in grade 8 and this is the first year he is traveling alone in transit. I will have to make a plan with him and show him another way to get to school. Thankfully,  as long as skytrain is running, he can take the Millennium line to Renfrew Station and walk up the hill. However, if skytrain strikes happen, he will have to walk over an hour to get to school. This makes for a long day and for many high school students it’s back breaking, as they are carrying backpacks that are full of textbooks. My son’s backpack weighs about 20lbs with all he needs for school. My husband works across town on 4th and Alma. There is no way for him take skytrain to work. He relies on the bus to get him there. We do not have driver licenses and we cannot afford $40/day in cabs to and from work. Hopefully he can find a way to carpool, but many of his co-workers live closer to work or are relying on transit themselves. Walking 2 hours or so to work, then being on his feet for 8-10 hours a shift, then walking 2 hours home is not an option. We do not currently have bicycles.

It sucks this is happening, but we whole-heartedly support transit workers that are fighting for a fair contract. The systematic greed and disregard for the workers is disgusting. My mother was a driver for 25 years- she has been capped out at her wage for about 10 years before she retired. I made more money working at a credit union in 13 years, than my mother made in her 25 year career as a driver in Vancouver. I work at a desk- I should not be making more money than someone who drives a high occupancy vehicle and is responsible for the safety of hundreds of people a day. These are skilled workers that deserve better than they are getting."

- Keely Dennis 

"A full on strike will really make life difficult for us. We live in Ladner and I work in White Rock and my daughter attends UBC. We completely rely on the bus service to get to work/school/appointments, etc. With cost of living being so high in the greater Vancouver area I can’t afford to have a car. And even if I had one, we travel in opposite directions. Car-pooling won’t really work for either of us as our schedules don’t really coincide with other people’s. I will be ok. I can work from home and just ask someone from work to drop off paperwork every week. It isn’t ideal though. My daughter is kinda screwed. She will have to bunk with a friend on campus and we won’t see her from Tuesday until Friday when her dad can go pick her up. I feel it is a bit unfair that the universities won’t give kids like her a concession due to the bus strike (none of their suggestions will work in her case as she is a couple years younger than her peers). And it is unnecessary added stress just before final exams."

- Karin Nell

"I live on the north shore and work downtown. My options are: walk to the SeaBus (assuming it's still going to be running...), or put my car back on the road and pay the insane downtown parking fees. Those of you who are all excited about having "more room for drivers without all the buses" may be in for a shock when those of us who CAN drive suddenly pull out all of our cars and start using them. At least I do have options. I feel for those who don't: people with disabilities, people who can't afford other means of transit, students who depend on it to get to school, people who live further out, etc. I was trying to be supportive of the drivers/workers but please... this is not a negotiation. This is two sides both making ultimatums and neither side is willing to make any concessions. Negotiations require both sides wanting to create a win-win. Is that happening? Not that any of us can see."

- Holly Jolly 

"I'm screwed. A 60% pay cut right before Christmas is unfair. If they do it again I'll be homeless in the new year. Unifor has just thrown my support under the bus."

- Chris McNeil 

"I work at a daycare with 6 employees. I’m the only one with a car, everyone else transits. Our daycare is in a wealthy part of the city so most of us live quite a distance away. We are trying to figure out our schedule so I can carpool people to and from work, or they will bike. If it snows, biking might not be an option. It’s really tricky. My husband is a bus driver, and strike pay is pennies. We have 3 kids, one that relies on transit to get to high school. The strike will affect us all."

- Dawn Rachelle 

"Need the transit for my doctors appointments and daily commutes. I'm a monthly pass holder and wheelchair bound whereas I am dependent on the transit service."

- Clyde Lee 

"I guess ill use my jetpack then. Its either that or riding a goat."

- Christopher Ballard 

Now in its 21st day, the strike has escalated from a uniform ban to an overtime ban for bus operators, and will proceed with a full system shutdown on Nov. 27 for three days.