Dear Editor,

I recently used B.C. transit while my family was visiting, to go to the BC Lions game. We travelled from Maple Ridge to BC Place stadium.

I have heard that you need exact change, so we figured out what the cost would be. It was $20 even, so off we went.

To our surprise, the driver could not take bills, so we rode for free. That actually makes me sick, as one week prior, my son and his friend were denied access to the bus because they didn't have exact change.

Twelve years old, they were stuck in Port Coquitlam, and live in Maple Ridge. I had to go and pick them up.

I was not impressed.

I'm shocked. All we ever hear is how hard-done-by TransLink is, and how it isn't making enough money, blah blah blah!

They need the technology to accept money, if they expect to make money.

I live in an area where there is no access to transit, so I have never been a fan of it, as it is not accessible to all citizens, particularly those who really need it. If you live near town, you don't need transit as much as those who do not live near town, yet we only cover those who live close to town.

Now I hear that the park-and-ride lots will be charged for parking. Talk about deterring everyone from taking transit or carpooling.

If you want to make transit work efficiently, start with accepting money from people who actually want to pay.

And if you can't deny access to people without exact change, don't pick and choose who you will let on and who you will leave crying on the sidewalk.

Carly Marchand-Jones, Maple Ridge