Fare Hikes Hurt Working-Class Transit Users

DSOV Statement on TransLink Fare Hikes – July 2025

The Democratic Socialists of Vancouver (DSOV) oppose TransLink’s decision to raise transit fares starting July 1, 2025. Public transit is a public good. Fare hikes place a greater burden on working-class people, students, seniors, disabled riders, and low-income communities—many of whom rely on transit daily and are already facing rising costs of living.

Instead of making it more expensive to get to work, school, and health care, we need a fully funded, fare-free transit system paid for by progressive taxation. Transportation is essential infrastructure and should be publicly funded, not treated like a private service.

We reject the framing that fare increases are a necessary evil in order to avoid additional service cuts; working class people should not be made to bear even more of the burden of society’s underinvestment in vital public services like transit.

We stand in solidarity with all those calling for fare justice. We demand that TransLink cancel the fare increase and work toward a transit system that is accessible, equitable, and climate-resilient—for everyone.