The people of Haliburton County are being challenged by the Rural Transportation Options group.
RTO is looking for county residents to understand the realities that come from living without a car in this rural area.
The group is calling on drivers to follow a four-step process as part of what they call “the Transportation Challenge”.
According to Tina Jackson, of the transportation task force, the goal of the challenge is to raise awareness and shift perspectives in relation to talking about the need for some more transportation options.
Jackson says “while there are costs involved in providing public transportation services, there are also costs involved in not, and we hope to better illuminate this with this exercise. When you think about it, at any time, our ability to drive may be taken away, be it through financial or legal difficulties or a change in our health. What would be the effect on you, your family, your employer, your community if you no longer had a driver’s licence? I am inviting you to take this journey and share your reflections.”
To get involved in the challenge, Jackson says step one is for one week in March, track every trip you make in your car and take note of the kilometres that you’ve travelled each trip.
Step two has drivers reflecting on the trips they’ve taken, keeping in mind the costs attached to if you had to take a taxi. Jackson details that a taxi averages to $2 a kilometre. Jackson says the second part of this step is to ask yourself if you were relying on that taxi could you afford to go as far as you did? Were there things you would have to say no to because you couldn’t afford the commute?
Step three is simply sharing your experience online. Jackson encourages people to share the results of the challenge and their thoughts and use the #HaliTransitChallenge or tweet at @GetAroundHalCty
Jackson says if you are not on social media, you can fill out a survey by clicking here.
The fourth step is to challenge those around you to do the same by tagging them online and including this link www.transportationhaliburtoncounty.ca/challenge