MLA Kevin Arseno didn’t pack enough snacks for his 24-hour transition to work.
The comically tangled and recorded commute to work – costing $ 250 for the meager 170 kilometers – was aimed at proving the provincial government’s point: public transport, such as New Brunswick, does not prioritize affordable and efficient transportation.
The unexpectedly long journey meant that the Green Party’s MLA had to rely on dried apples brought from his valet between vending machines or rest stops.
“We bit them a few times, although I guess you can call it a scam because I didn’t have to have a cameraman with me,” said Arseno, who represents Kent North.
“But no, it was mostly, you know, eating or in a small restaurant near the train station in vending machines.”
Everyone on board
The resulting video shows the many stops Arseno had to make.
Carrying hand luggage on wheels and with a bag slung over his shoulder, Arseno walked eight miles from his home in Rodgersville to the village train station. The first time he did so, last Monday, he missed the Via Rail because he had to book a ticket to Moncton at least three hours in advance.
He did not allow this to hinder his plans. The next train was on Wednesday, but it went to Miramichi, not Moncton.
I sent a message from Rogersville to Fredericton using our public transport services. See you in advance:
—
I tried to get from Rodgersville to Fredericton using our current public transportation services. Here is a short tip: pic.twitter.com/dZTCg2Bg4v
– @ KevinArseneauNB
And so on Wednesday he boarded this train, which took him to his first destination. He then took the Miramichi Transit bus to a hotel room and waited until the next morning for another bus to take him to Moncton. He then waited two hours for another bus to take him to his final destination, Fredericton.
A last bus trip left him close to the legislature.
He arrived exhausted on Thursday.
“You realize very, very quickly that this doesn’t make sense,” he said.
Arseno said the plan is to put in a scenario where his car is damaged and he has to rely on public transport to get to the legislature in Fredericton. It also minimizes walking, because not everyone can, but an effective system will be available to them.
“I was trying not to take it for granted – I wasn’t trying to be just like, ‘Oh, you know, I could go here,'” he said. “I tried to use every little bit of public transportation to get to where I was going.”
‘Iit would be much faster if I just ride a bike “
He said that after the trip he calculated the most effective way to make the trip. It would take him nine hours without delay or error to travel from Rodgersville to Fredericton. He could cover that distance in eight hours and cover it in two.
“It would be much faster to just ride a bike,” he said.
Arseno stopped in Miramichi and took a bus to Moncton. (Kevin Arseno / Twitter)
He could take a taxi, but it would cost more than $ 400.
And if he wanted to make it to work on time and stay in Fredericton all week, the schedule meant he would get three hours at home each week.
“It doesn’t work for real life situations. It doesn’t work and it’s not available.”
There is no one solution
Arseno said there was no single solution to the transport problems in New Brunswick.
It is unlikely that a train will connect any part or a bus. He said the decision includes all current systems, municipal, private and provincial, to talk and work with each other.
This, in addition to increasing services on all fronts, is likely to serve people better while being more accessible to the environment.
“Bus routes that unite communities must be part of the solution,” he said. “Car sharing must be part of the solution. Car sharing should be part of the solution. At the same time, there must be some investment in public transport systems, but also the removal of barriers that stop various different forms of public transport. “
Arseno told his audience on social media that it took a total of 24 hours to get from Rodgersville to Fredericton. (Kevin Arseno / Twitter)
During the question period on Tuesday, Arseno challenged other MLAs to use public transport to get to work, and said it would probably not be pleasant.
Trying to respond to criticism from the opposition, Prime Minister Blaine Higgs said the population is what is driving the change in public transport.
“Maybe if our population growth continues at its current rate, we will get there in the pockets of our province,” he said.
He said it was true that the province was in “unexplored territory” with high inflation and gas prices, but “we will continue to meet the challenge of those who need it most.”
“That doesn’t mean you can be everything to everyone, but you have to be something to someone who really needs it.”
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