Join The Rider Rebellion

By DOMENICK RAFTER

Fares are going up, service is being cut or scaled back, and no one is really sure how to fix it – or if the people in charge even want to.

In response to the rising furor over the financial crisis at the MTA, Transportation Alternatives, a non-profit organization boasting more than 8,000 members that promotes public transit, walking and bicycling in New York City, is starting a campaign called Rider Rebellion, aimed at moving straphangers to pressure public officials to fix the MTA.

Transportation Alternatives is hoping to have Queens Subway riders join its Rider Rebellion.
Tribune Photo by Ira Cohen

Rider Rebellion has released a proposed Transit Rider’s Bill of Rights, aimed at channeling public frustration into a list of certain demands, which include reliable, affordable and efficient transit; accurate, readily available information; clear announcements; well lit, clean, maintained and safe facilities; handicapped access; helpful and courteous services; prioritization of funds for operation, maintenance and improvement of the system; and more transparent lines of communication between the MTA and riders.

The bill of rights also calls for fare hikes to be used as a last resort, and at least one worker and one rider to be installed as voting members of the MTA Board of Directors.

Already, the group’s Facebook page has over 1,000 fans and the campaign is going across the city to Community Board meetings to spread its message.

At a meeting of Community Board 5, Mo Kinberg, policy and outreach manager for Transportation Alternatives, asked members of the board to endorse Rider Rebellion.

“We want to put the public back in New York City Public Transit,” she said.

At the meeting, Kinberg took questions on Transportation Alternative’s positions on issues like privatization of the MTA, which Kinberg said cost force fares higher because a privatized MTA would need to raise more revenue than they do now to make a profit.

For more information on the Rider Rebellion campaign, visit riderrebellion.org.

Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 125.