Code of Conduct
What is Movement?
Movement: Metro Vancouver Transit Riders is a non-profit that represents our region’s one million transit riders. Transit riders have often been left out of the conversation, and Movement is here to speak up for faster, more reliable, more abundant transit. We’re focused on bus routes where riders are left behind by full buses, day after day, primarily in Surrey and South Vancouver, as well as the urgent need for bus lanes that cost almost nothing but massively improve commutes for hundreds of thousands of people.
Movement organizes on the unceded, ancestral territories of many Indigenous peoples, including 10 local First Nations: q́ićəý̓(Katzie), q́ʷɑ:ńƛ̓əń (Kwantlen), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), máthxwi (Matsqui), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), qiq éyt (Qayqayt), se’mya’me (Semiahmoo), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), scəẃaθən məsteyəxʷ (Tsawwassen) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh).
We are a broad coalition of transit riders. Each of us has a diverse range of experiences and opinions.
What are Movement’s Goals?
Movement works to make transit better for everyone. We aspire to make transit safe, convenient, accessible, abundant and reliable. We call for infrastructure improvements that support the needs of people riding transit in every part of their journey, from the lead-up to boarding, and right up to their destination. We promote the sheer size of transit riders in the region, where 1-in-3 residents in Metro Vancouver use transit once a week.
Public transit is the solution to multiple crises. Let’s build strong coalitions.
We build strong relationships and trust with community organizations, elected officials across the political spectrum, the media, labour unions and transit riders across the region, while remaining non-partisan and leaning on our allies to mobilize action.
Public transit can be a lifeline for people who need it most, and improved transit can also unlock more housing and employment opportunities for non-drivers.
Movement is advocating for public transit in Metro Vancouver to be:
Accessible
Mobility should be dignified and convenient for people of all ages and abilities, socio-economic backgrounds, disabilities, etc. Visible and invisible disabilities impact the transit riders’ experience.
Comfortable
Public transit should be safe and welcoming for everyone regardless of gender expression, sexual orientation, race, etc. Infrastructure outside of transit, for example the absence of sidewalks, contributes to riders’ experiences. Movement wants to ensure safety and comfort throughout the entire transit experience, while onboard transit vehicles, and while getting from transit vehicles to destinations. Transit should be clean and crowding should not reach uncomfortable or unsafe levels. Transit operators and riders should never have to suffer from abuse or harassment.
Convenient
Transit riders deserve transit that arrives regularly, when they expect it. Reliable, frequent transit service and a connected active transportation network encourages mode shift from single-occupant vehicles to sustainable transportation.
Our road space is limited and we support making better, more efficient use the space without road widening. We want to improve the movement of goods and services.
Equitable
Transit access needs to be equitable, because some parts of the region rely on transit but don’t have good service, or any service. We advocate for better transit in communities like Surrey and South Vancouver that are currently underserved by transit.
Certain groups, like shift workers, low-income people, racialized people, and women, face unique challenges when using transit. There might not be transit available when they start or end a shift, they may not be able to afford transit, and they may be the victim of hate or harassment. We advocate for transit solutions that address these unique problems, that often have the added benefit of making the system better for everyone.
People should never be at a disadvantage because they do not own a car or do not have the ability to drive.
Discourse is great,
and so is respect
As an organization, we maintain our power by focusing on being the voice of transit riders. Our goal is to get politicians to bring forward policy that materially benefits transit riders. We will meet with politicians of any stripe.
We do not endorse individual candidates or political parties.
We do not tell transit riders to vote a particular way. During election times, this is especially important. We do not know the results of an election, so remaining non-partisan during an election means that we maintain healthy communication and relationships with politicians taking office.
What we can do is put together report cards or pledges to demonstrate which candidates are in support of specific policies that benefit transit riders. This is not an endorsement, but information provided to inform voters who are interested in transit-forward policy. We can also provide educational material to inform transit riders of the importance of elections on the quality of their transit experience, and how leaders’ decision-making generally affects transit.
We do not discuss religion. We do not discuss geopolitical issues.
We do not discuss the political positions of parties and politicians beyond transportation and relevant land use policies.
We share our opinions, respectfully.
There is no reason to put down others or engage in unhealthy or toxic behaviour around personal interests and beliefs relevant to transportation and land use. We engage in healthy discussion, freely sharing ideas.
Harassment and discrimination will absolutely not be tolerated.
At Movement, we discuss public transportation and closely-related issues in Metro Vancouver.
The importance of being respectful
As the largest group representing the needs of transit riders across the Metro Vancouver region, we need to ensure we are respectful, inclusive and make a lasting, positive impression.
Respectful behaviour is not only important to our reputation and achieving our external goals, it is also crucial to maintaining a safe, inclusive and welcoming atmosphere for our volunteers and supporters.
Respect is also very important and relevant to context. For example, at volunteer and committee meetings, we can discuss ideas more freely, while at events open to the public we must behave respectfully to the event organizers and others in attendance, not speaking out of turn or sharing personal opinions outside of Movement’s scope.
Showing up respectfully is crucial to winning the support and trust of the community and decision-makers.
How to be respectful
Treat others with respect
We have a variety of opinions and won’t always agree with one another, and that’s ok! We can disagree and still be respectful when engaging with our fellow Movement volunteers and staff, and with the public.
- A respectful conversation gives people time and space to express their opinions without interruption or being invalidated or dismissed
- Assume good intentions from others, and take pause to reframe assumptions and examine biases
- Be mindful of how much you and those around you are speaking or taking up space in any communication format, and if you find yourself dominating the conversation, please give room for others
- We need to reserve criticism for systems, organizations, and ideas and refrain from personal attacks or comments
Being respectful of diversity
Our volunteers, supporters and allies are of different backgrounds, ages, abilities. We all deserve equal respect, and we should make a firm effort to be inclusive and support diverse groups.
As an organization, we engage in opportunities to learn from and learn about diverse groups, disability, neurodiversity, gender diversity, and First Nations, Inuit and Metis (FNIM) communities. These learnings inform our advocacy.
Being respectful of visible and invisible disabilities
We serve a diverse community of transit riders, including many who have impairments or disabilities that may be physical, mental, psychological, sensory or a combination of factors either temporary, intermittent or ongoing.
Recognizing that not all disabilities are the same, decision-makers can often assume that disability is simply wheelchair access while leaving out the needs of deaf, hard of hearing, blind and partially sighted individuals, and various other impairments and disabilities.
Being respectful of neurodiversity
We recognize the importance of ensuring that everyone feels comfortable and respected, including people who are on the Autism spectrum. We want to create an inclusive environment that empowers people on the spectrum to participate.
We recognize that some individuals, both on and off the Autism spectrum, have sensory differences, difficulty understanding social cues, or may not always behave in ways expected of them. We have a zero tolerance for bullying or hate speech of any kind, including bullying or hate targeted towards people on the Autism spectrum.
If one’s behaviour is intentionally or unintentionally in contravention of this code of conduct, we are willing to work with the individual to understand how we can ensure a comfortable and respectful environment. If the behaviour continues we may ask the person committing the offending behaviour to not attend future events or engage with Movement.
Being respectful of gender diversity
We recognize the importance of ensuring everyone feels comfortable and respected regardless of gender. Some individuals are Two-spirit, Transgender, Non-Binary and other Gender Diverse (2STNBGD).
We have a zero tolerance for bullying, hate speech including intentional misgendering or use of slurs towards those who are transgender, transitioning, non-binary or gender diverse.
Taking meaningful action towards truth and reconciliation, engaging with First Nations, Inuit and Metis (FNIM) communities
We recognize the unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples in so-called Metro Vancouver. Colonization and infrastructure projects have caused harm with impacts still ongoing today, like how railways were used to sever communities in an attempt to erase culture and connections to the land.
We have a zero tolerance policy towards discrimination of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religious identity, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, family status, immigration status, genetic characteristics, or disability.
We have a zero tolerance policy towards harassment. Harassment is any unwanted, unwelcome, or offensive conduct, comments, or actions that degrade, humiliate, or intimidate a person. This could look like repeatedly messaging someone, or it could be one harmful incident.
Forgiveness and Consequences
We will make an effort to handle issues with warnings or a series of warnings, but this may not always be the case
When behaviour not in accordance with the Movement Code of Conduct arises, staff need to address it. There may be certain behaviours repeated, done in spite of past warnings or where the contravention was extreme in nature.
Movement staff have the sole discretion to ask that the person committing the offending behaviour; not attend future events, not identify themselves as a representative of Movement, and not interact with some or all of Movement staff, volunteers, donors, etc.
If you have questions or suggestions about the code of conduct, or you would like to bring to our attention behaviour that breaks the code, please reach out to Nav or Michelle.