Recommendations for a public transport ordinance in Calgary

A city committee has approved a series of recommendations that could lead to improved public safety on Calgary Transit.

Several changes to the city's existing traffic ordinances were unanimously approved at a Community Development Committee meeting on Thursday.

A document presented to the committee said the changes were the result of collaboration with public transit officials and 800 Calgary Transit operators.

“Through this engagement, common transit behavior problems were identified, the effectiveness of existing tools was assessed, gaps were identified, and the foundation was laid for the development of recommended solutions,” it said.

“Safe and respectful public transport will help us attract passengers.”

The recommendations include new rules on loitering in train stations, the use of fake or altered IDs and behavior on trains and platforms.

The changes to loitering consist of adding a definition to limit “subjective interpretation” of the concept while giving traffic officers the tools they need to appropriately manage the behavior.

The committee added that it did not want to create the impression that it was targeting Calgary's vulnerable population.

“The primary purpose of public transit is to get Calgary residents to their destinations. It does not include amenities for longer use.”

The statutory amendments also include a provision to prevent “destination use”, i.e. cases in which passengers pay a fare to board and cannot get off anywhere.

Calgary Transit says it regularly works with partners to provide support services to at-risk individuals.

Other changes proposed by the committee include giving police officers more power to ask for identification from teenage passengers. Officials said there were people who evade fares by pretending to be 12 years old or younger.

Another change concerns the lifting of the restriction on taking bicycles on trains.

Under the new regulations, public transit users are allowed to take their bikes with them at any time. Calgary Transit will put up signs for these guests and designate special bike areas.