Immediate effects aside, some HRM councillors are expressing concern about the impact a prolonged transit strike will have on long-term ridership numbers.

The union representing more than 700 transit workers took to the picket lines early Thursday morning.

That means the 96,000 people who use transit in HRM now has to make alternate plans. Bedford Coun. Tim Outhit said it could be awhile for those people to warm back up to public transit after the strike.

“I’m concerned about long-term and short-term effects of this, but particularly in the long term,” he said. “It will be extremely hard on the drivers, who will be on strike pay, and, of course, Metro Transit, who will lose ridership.”

Dartmouth East Coun. Darren Fisher said the strike will be “God-awful” and an “absolutely nightmare” on his constituents.

“I’ve got so many residents that have absolutely no other option but a bus,” he said. “Taxis are not an option for a great many of our residents … so many people who don’t have family members who have cars that can give them a lift.”

Coun. Sue Uteck, who represents Halifax’s south end, is concerned about how her district will handle the higher demand for parking.

“I’m trying to find every available parking spot in the south end that can withstand people parking, double parking, neighbours parking,” she said on Wednesday night, when the strike seemed imminent.
Uteck also wasn’t overly sympathetic to the union’s concerns.

“We’re just trying our shifts more in line with any other transit union in the country. And they don’t want it.”