Why I'm considering ditching the metropass...

Every year it is getting harder and harder to see transiting as a more affordable option. I mean, it is still cheaper compared to the costs of maintaining and owning a car (something I'll broach upon later) but lately the savings seems to be less and less every year to the point that if just for the convenience, a personal vehicle doesn't sound like such a bum deal in comparison now.

So recently the TTC announced that as of March 1st, the price of fares is going up again. It's a yearly tradition for this system it seems. And while the $3 cash fee will remain the same, tokens are going up 10 cents. And yes, while children under 12 are now getting on free, I don't have children in which could benefit from this change. Rather, I'm one of the people being slammed because I buy a metropass.

Half of the commuters that use the TTC regularly are metropass users. They range from teenagers to post-secondary students all the way to young and old professionals. The added convenience as well as the tax credit adds to the encouragement to make use of these cards.

Now the metropass for adults (not students or seniors who get their own discount) is currently $133.75, or the equivalent to 49 tokens. (and 44 cash fares) This means there and back again, you need to make around 24 trips. So basically it's worth it if you ride the subway five times a week (per regular work week) in a four week month plus nine more single trips here and there. And given that every week I am guaranteed to make at least one more trip it's worth it for me to pay the full price, but only barely.

But with the metropass hike to $141.50, suddenly the cost of this convenience is 51 tokens. (or
47 cash fares) And yes, while that's only two extra tokens compared to as of old, how many of us makes 25 there and back trips in a month? How many of us uses the bus on all but five or six days in a month?

If the currently priced metropass was barely worth it for me making a guaranteed extra trip, what about those that only uses it to get downtown to work on weekdays? Basically you're paying 11 tokens a month for just convenience now. As far as dollar values are concerned, 11 tokens is about $30 people are whittling down the drain just for convenience.

I don't think the tax credit from using a metropass can get me back the $30 I could potentially waste each month just for owning a TTC metropass. And tokens at least carry over their value over time when you don't use the total by month. But if you don't have the required rides by the end of whatever month you own the metropass, that's it, you're out of the money.

Which is why I say now, thank GOD I don't pay full price for a TTC metropass.

Nope, I don't pay full price for a card. I actually get a discount I work for a company that offers VIP metropasses to their employees. How much less? Around $15 less. Add in my parents wanting to subsidize and I pay $100 of actual money for my cards every month. Which is actually brilliant value for my ride.

Still, my roommate does purchase his own metropass, and this is something I will bring up with him when next we get to sit down and talk. Because in some ways, this price is no longer worth the convenience for him as a five day a week guy.

And if that's how I'm feeling as a non-full price user, how about all of those that do use it?

Sorry (not sorry) TTC. But stop making some of your amenities into luxuries and maybe I wouldn't be itching to drive a bloody car instead.

Me and everyone else even really.