Comments: U-Pass: the only time students haven't been screwed in 5 years

I tried, but it didn't like my browser.

I will try again now or from the department computers (where I voted in the GSS elections earlier today; the U-Pass referendum didn't open until 5pm). I find it a bit hard to believe that it wouldn't work on Windows IE or Firefox, but had no problems on Unix Firefox.

Posted by warcode at January 31, 2005 09:14 PM

Okay, it is done.

I noticed a TESTJG entry as something I am not able to vote for, which I take as an indicator that there were technical difficulties earlier.

I also like how the short name for the big item you metnioned is "Continuing the U-Pass Referendum", which is of course something I don't support.

Posted by warcode at January 31, 2005 09:20 PM

What is this, communism?

Let the market decide! People who commute in their Honda Civics from their parents' home in New West should not have to subsidize bus passes for the rest of you pikers.

I vote No. Oh wait, I have no vote.

Posted by evan at February 1, 2005 11:35 AM

If the babies who commute from their mommy's house every day vote it down, so be it. The problem is that the online-only voting system discourages votes. People don't see voting stations, so many (most?) don't even know what's going on. They have to log in to the Student Service Centre and find the webvote link (hidden waaaay down in the bottom left corner), and click through a bunch of stuff. There's no paper trail either, so I could be voting Bush for AMS president for all I know.

Posted by tim at February 1, 2005 09:26 PM

I don't know if online voting really affects the turnout; I think it ends up being low either way.

Which is partly why the fire hydrant lost a Board of Governors seat by only 6 votes in the recent AMS elections.

Posted by warcode at February 1, 2005 11:00 PM

We tried to get something similar passed at U of A, but the city didn't end up agreeing. But even though I WALK to school/work I still voted yes because I wanted to reduce campus traffic in general. At the moment it's actually cheaper to drive and park at uni than it is to get a bus pass every month if you don't have to pay for insurance on your car.

Posted by cassie at February 5, 2005 07:31 PM

I'll be damned. The U-Pass votes passed with plenty of room to spare. Turns out UBC has some intelligent students after all.

http://www.ams.ubc.ca/elections/

1. Keep the U-Pass by increasing the price?
YES votes: 19,192
NO votes: 1,513

2. Extend the U-Pass to the summer?
YES votes: 17,729
NO votes: 1,724

Posted by tim at February 9, 2005 11:47 AM

So you have it until the summer and paying $2 more a month for it. Is this something you're going to have to vote on every semester or is the SU looking to make it more permanent? (ie. cost and duration)

Posted by cassie at February 10, 2005 06:37 PM

The Yes vote on the referendum locks in the price for 3 years and holds Translink (the bus company) to various increases in service over that time. See http://www.upass.ubc.ca/ for more info.

Posted by tim at February 10, 2005 10:45 PM

mkdaam poiuyt http://ghjklaiuyhqfeec.com/

Posted by Pierce at April 3, 2005 10:21 AM
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