Imagine if you could give back some time to a low-income working mom who must commute 2-3 hours every day, leaving little time to spend with her young children. Perhaps you can give the gift of increased mobility to an older gentleman who thrives by getting together every couple of days with his pals at bridge club.

If you vote yes to the half-per cent increase to the PST in the transit plebiscite, you’ll be doing just that.

Increased transit service will help low-income working families and seniors. Here’s how:

High housing costs mean lower-income families are on the move from Vancouver and inner Metro Vancouver to outer Metro Vancouver. For many, this means being further from work or school locations, resulting in longer commuting times and increased transportation costs. This has been called “the suburbanization of poverty” by UBC professor and urban geographer, David Ley.

For families with children, low-wage earners often must work more than full-time hours by taking on several jobs, or shift work, to earn enough to support their families. Low-wage earners are heavy transit users: 32 per cent of trips made by low-income earners are by transit, more than double the regional average of 14 per cent.

With fewer transportation options, the end result is that parents are facing time poverty, with less time to spend with their children and less time to participate in community life outside work.

Why is this important? Because when parents do better, their children do better. A child’s well-being and chance of success depends in large part on the environment in which they are raised; the love, attention and care they receive from their parents/caregivers; the extent of stimulation they receive every day, and their nutrition.

That extra half-per cent sales tax will result in new and more rapid transit service, 11 new B-Line rapid bus routes, a 25-per-cent overall increase in bus service across the region and an 80-per-cent increase in night bus service. The faster and more frequent transit options this plan delivers will save low-income workers 20-30 minutes each day on their commute, giving them more quality time with their families. This investment today will show returns in the future by giving kids the best possible start in life.

Here’s another vulnerable group to consider: seniors.

For seniors, there are many barriers to moving around. Many people have mobility limitations as they grow older. Statistics show more than half of people over age 75 have a problem simply walking. Older people often lose their driver’s license. As is the case with low-income earners, for the elderly living in municipalities such as Surrey, travel distances are often greater. A better transit system gives seniors more freedom and mobility.

Aside from the over-all 25-per-cent increase in transit service, the half-per cent tax increase would provide a 30-per-cent increase in HandyDart services, helping among others, seniors with mobility issues. Not only that, the tax would allow for transit stations and bus loops to be improved with accessibility features such as more entrances and exits, and additional elevators and escalators.

Why is this important? In the Lower Mainland, about one in four seniors lives alone. With limited transportation options, seniors risk becoming shut-ins and socially isolated.