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Updated as strike continues
Staff - February 1, 2012
Last updated: February 14, 3:19 p.m.
ATU Local 508, comprised of transit workers including bus operators, ferry crews, fleet mechanics, and others, officially went on strike as of 1:35 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2. All bus and ferry service has ceased in HRM.
On February 14, the union voted in favour of entering binding arbitration. If the city agrees, this could bring an end to the strike. However, for now, the strike continues.
Visit the Metro Transite website for the latest updates to transit riders in general.
Read also: Dalhousie braces for transit strike
Below are some of the accommodations and contingencies the university will be making as a result of the transit strike.
Ride Sharing / Carpooling
The following are some of the ways that you can find Dalhousie community members offering or looking for drives:
- MyDal Classifieds: Located under the “services” tab. You can post requests for rides or offers to carpool by using the “Rides” category.
- HRM Smart Trip: Allows Dalhousie students and employees to search postal codes to find other Dal people as well as ride-seekers from other Halifax organizations to travel with.
- Facebook: Join the Dalhousie ride sharing group.
- Twitter: Use the hashtag #DalRides, which you can search at the link.
Parking
- Revision, Feb. 7: The Hancock parking lot (corner of Oxford/Coburg) will return to regular parking as of Wednesday, Feb. 8 for drivers with a general parking pass. Security Services reports that it was underused as a "carpool lot," with no more than 10 or 12 vehicles parking there during the peak morning period.
- Drivers with a reserved pass to the Dunn lot will be able to trade those passes between vehicles during the strike so they can join with other drivers and carpool.
- While most of Dalhousie’s reserved parking lots are at or near capacity, there are still spots available at Fenwick Towers that can be purchased at a prorated price for the remainder of the parking year (until September). Contact Security at 494-6400 for more information.
Classes and teaching
- All classes, labs and tutorials will continue during the strike
- If your ability to attend classes or midterms will be seriously impacted by the transit strike, consult your individual professor or instructor as soon as possible.
- Faculty and instructors are being encouraged to consider a wide range of contingencies for the strike, depending on their particular class situation. These might include adjustments to attendance or participation policies, or exploring online exercises, class delivery or office hours.
- Deans are developing contingency plans in the event of a prolonged strike. Faculties will post this information on their websites.
Employees
- The university is suggesting that units explore practices for alternative work arrangements, where appropriate, as we expect there may be increased road traffic during normal work hours.
- These include adjusted hours of work, compressed work weeks, and working from home where feasible. Employees who are interested in exploring these options should discuss them with their manager.
U-Pass
- The university will be working with Metro Transit to manage the reimbursement process in the event of a prolonged disruption of transit service.
Emergencies
- The university is looking into purchasing or renting cots that could be used for students and employees stranded in case of a major winter storm.
- Should a storm be forecast, take extra precautions
Readers Say
February 1, 2012 1:17 PM
February 1, 2012 2:21 PM
February 1, 2012 8:03 PM
February 1, 2012 8:12 PM
February 1, 2012 8:54 PM
February 1, 2012 8:57 PM
February 1, 2012 9:20 PM
February 1, 2012 9:48 PM
February 2, 2012 12:00 AM
February 2, 2012 12:16 AM
February 2, 2012 2:49 AM
They refuse to develop sustainable, more ecological and neighborhood communities rather than the present model of allocating work in one area of the city, living is in another and shopping yet another part of the city.
It is in this poorly planned city that is contributing to the hardship of metro transit strike. If the city designed truly uptodate parameters of developing communities where people live, work and shop in their own smaller communities.
A new planning development means less traffic on the roads, lower carbon emission and help lower crime.
In ending, both the mayor, city hall and their minions have made this strike far worse for commuters. PETTER KELLY HAS GOT TO GO!
February 2, 2012 8:17 AM
February 2, 2012 8:59 AM
Yes, carpooling is mighty feelgood, but it doesn't solve the problem students inevitably have to face.
February 2, 2012 9:22 AM
February 2, 2012 9:33 AM
People who live this far away will be hard-pressed to find someone a) who has a car and b) who will be willing/able to take a lot of people with them. It seems to me that the number of people needing rides to Dal will vastly exceed those able to provide them.
I'm also quite disappointed that Dal is using this as an opportunity to make more money by selling parking passes. We need flexibility, not more fees.
February 2, 2012 9:40 AM
Also, if they are going to truly make this a carpool lot, why do you need a parking pass at all? This implies that it is now the responsibility of parking pass holders to pay $250, AND drive others in order to park in the lot. This is not how the system works. I give you my money, you give me a parking pass, if there is a parking spot available, I park my car.
I see the university is working on refunds for bus passes. Well how about parking passes? People who are not carpooling 2 others to the school have just lost another hundred parking spots.
Yes, I know this is all in an effort to help get students to school. I am completely fine with that, no argument, it is a good idea. The methodology they are using is flawed. They are putting the burden on parking pass holders. If this strike continues for any length of time, they need to refund a semesters worth of parking pass fees, and let anyone who is carpooling park in that lot. It is the only fair way. This will also allow students who have a car but could not afford a parking pass get to school (and bring others with them) and use all available parking spaces. With the parking problem here at this school it makes me cringe to see empty spaces at 9:45 in the morning which could easily be filled by the dozens of cars I see circling the side streets looking for parking right now, many of which (like myself this morning) have 1 extra passenger not the required 2.
February 2, 2012 10:03 AM
Transit workers go on strike and all of a sudden Dalhousie owes everyone a favour? We're University students, not third graders! Let's be adults and let responsibility lie where it belongs. If you have a problem with the circumstance, complain to the cause of it (transit union), not to a helpless bystander trying to help you out (Dal).
Like many of you, I rely on public transit, so I'm walking to school today which will take me over an hour. Do I wish I could take a bus? Yes. Do I think Dalhousie should somehow compensate me for this? No. Will I write a formal letter to the transit union? Probably not, but that's just because I like the exercise. Should people who have a major problem with this write to the union? Absolutely!
To the staff at Dalhousie, I applaud you in your efforts, and I apologize on behalf of all students that can't manage to find their own way to school and (for some bizarre reason) are putting the blame on you.
February 2, 2012 10:07 AM
February 2, 2012 10:09 AM
February 2, 2012 10:43 AM
Though I applaud your response, and you are correct in several ways, Dalhousie and metro transit do have some obligation to compensate students when students are paying for a service they no longer get. Bus passes are purchased by all full time students whether they want to or not. This is a fee above and beyond tuition. If they are no longer able to use this service, someone needs to refund the fee. This may not be the sole responsibility of Dalhousie, but they need to orchestrate a deal with metro transit. This is the same sort of thing as if a professor decided to cancel a course and issuing no refund to the students. Surely you would demand a refund then.
As for other people like "Increasingly Frustrate Graduate Student" they too wish for compensation, but for a different reason. The terms and conditions upon which they purchased their parking passes have all of the sudden changed. As he/she states, they have now lost a further hundred parking spaces after having parking already reduced by the implementation of the reserved Dunn parking lot earlier this year, in addition to 2 other issues which he/she doesn't mention including the removal of the oceanography parking lot (to build a new wing on the LSC) and 12 spots given to NRC during the construction process. I can see why so many parking pass holders would be furious with this most recent change. I too would most likely demand compensation.
As for walking. This is a good alternative if you are within walking distance. Though in your case Matthew, I would hardly consider an hour long walk within walking distance especially when temperatures drop to -15 which they will do. Your position on this issue perplexes me.
I also completely agree with Teri. Family safety takes priority over getting strangers to school.
Also, "No Parking" yes this is indeed the case. You still need a general parking pass to use the carpool lot.
February 2, 2012 10:53 AM
Were the university to have any sense they would have looked for ways to increase capacity, not limit it. The Dunn lot, access to which was spectacularly mismanaged in the Fall, is as full as it ever has been since September: maybe 80%. Give the first 50 car-poolers a one-day pass to that lot if they show up with at least three people in the car (no university permit required), and ditto the Fenwick lot. Put some bags over the parking meters to expand day parking...
February 2, 2012 11:00 AM
February 2, 2012 11:39 AM
BAD IDEA.
February 2, 2012 1:46 PM
February 2, 2012 3:00 PM
Our goal with the parking changes, specifically the Hancock lot, is to encourage those who drive to Dal regularly to find more passengers to bring to campus, alleviating traffic congestion and helping those stranded by the strike. We're unfortunately not in a position to offer parking space directly to transit users, due to our limited capacity, but we can support Dal's drivers in helping their fellow students and employees.
We know that these solutions will not be ideal for everyone. For example, we have drivers who bring children into the city, or who carpool with employees from other organizations in Halifax and therefore wouldn't be able to park in the Hancock lot during the morning hours when it's carpool only. Unfortunately, a transit strike presents no perfect solutions - only small steps we can take to try and alleviate some of the strain on our community caused by the difficult circumstances.
How effective were these measures today? About 50 per cent of the Hancock lot was filled today by carpoolers. Our hope is that after the long weekend, if the strike is ongoing, that lot will fill as more members of our community start making connections to carpool. But we'll be monitoring the situation closely: if the carpool lot is not achieving our goals, we'll modify the policy or drop it altogether and return the lot to the way it was before the strike.
My thanks to the Dal community for its patience under the circumstances, and like you, I'm hopeful for a swift resolution to this work stoppage.
February 2, 2012 3:28 PM
February 2, 2012 3:53 PM
I understand if people want reimbursement for the cost of their bus pass (and if the strike goes on long enough, I will want the same). However, that will happen after the strike is over at which point we can figure out if it comes from Dal or the union. Until that point, let's ease up on Dalhousie and not hold them responsible for the union's actions. Yes, reserving a parking lot for carpool only is questionable, but as of yet, no one has offered a better plan.
Also, I doubt many people consider an hour long walk (6-ish km?) to be outside of "walking distance"... And if they do?... Yikes...
Samantha,
I'm glad someone else sees it the way I do!
To everyone,
Just out of curiosity: How many students who used to rely on transit are now driving to school? I would think that the majority of these people either don't have a vehicle or have left it un-insured (as is my case), and therefore, requiring a parking pass wouldn't effect them. I think the general idea is that transit folks hook up with students who already drive to class and use the carpool lot. Am I incorrect here?
February 2, 2012 5:36 PM
Let's see: people with kids to drop off at one or more schools not always on a direct line to work; people with mobility or health issues; people who will struggle to meet other commitments if they add 1-2 hours on to their commute; people who find 2 hours carrying heavy bags or expensive equipment in heavy sleet or snow unacceptable; people who don't want to push their babies or toddlers in strollers for two hours through heavy sleet or snow; people whose families have medical issues that mean they may need to reach them quickly; people with medical appointments before or after work ... Yikes indeed, whatever is wrong with these people!
February 3, 2012 9:28 AM
It may take some creative shifting of funds, but maybe it could happen?
February 3, 2012 9:36 AM
Electronic assignments, labs, and exams should be fully endorsed by all faculty as well. Students shouldn't have to speak up and put them selves in the spotlight, it should just be provided given the circumstances.
I don't want a couple bucks back on my U-Pass fee, i want to be able to study without spending hours arranging rides around work and class schedules.
February 3, 2012 11:11 AM
Well said! I guess I should consider myself lucky that an hour walk to school is acceptable for me. I humbly conceit defeat.
However, that sentence was an aside from the original topic, and my point still stands. All those people that might be in the situations you have described above should be taking their issues to the transit union and NOT the school.
February 3, 2012 12:59 PM
February 4, 2012 7:47 AM
February 5, 2012 2:17 AM
February 5, 2012 11:35 AM
Also - a designated carpool parking lot with discounted pass rates, might be something to look into as part of a sustainability plan for future years.
February 5, 2012 2:35 PM
February 5, 2012 8:34 PM
February 6, 2012 9:06 PM
Since Dalhousie's only "help" is through a carpooling lot which I can't access because neither I nor my friends own parking passes (as we were all previously using the transit system to get to university from Cole Harbour), the 3 of us are stuck hoping that we'll be able to find parking spaces without being late for class...
February 7, 2012 2:22 AM
February 7, 2012 3:29 PM
February 10, 2012 8:36 AM
February 28, 2012 3:26 PM
February 29, 2012 12:42 AM
March 4, 2012 10:16 AM
March 6, 2012 3:28 PM
March 8, 2012 1:14 PM
cheap bikes can be found on kijiji.ca, ideal bikes on barrington, or nauss bikes (agricola?)
Have an old bike but don't want to pay to get it fixed?
check out bike again or the dalhousie bike center to get you bike fixed for free!
March 20, 2012 12:47 AM