We need more buses between Island communities
This article was originally posted in the Times Colonist and written by Todd Litman, Director of BIT.
Here’s an old joke: A confused driver asks an old farmer standing by the roadside, “How do I get to Sunnydale?” The farmer ponders a moment and replies, “Son, I’m afraid you can’t get there from here.”
That’s funny because we know that motorists can reach virtually any village, town or city, but it is no joke for public transit users who often cannot get where they need to go.
In a typical community, 20% to 40% of travellers cannot, should not or prefer not to drive due to age, disability, lack of a vehicle or driver’s licence, impairment or the stress of driving on busy highways.
During the holidays, many non-drivers want to visit families, friends and vacation destinations on Vancouver Island but cannot.
The government promised to solve this problem; the NDP/Green governance agreement signed after the last election committed the province to “implement frequent, reliable and affordable regional transit on key interregional routes on Vancouver Island,” but has failed to act. It’s time to hold provincial officials accountable.
Let me describe the problems we face. The No. 66 bus that connects Victoria and Duncan makes only four daily trips, all scheduled for Duncan commuters to Victoria.
There are no reverse commute, evening or Sunday trips, and it costs $10 each way, three times a local fare.
The No. 70 route connecting Duncan and Nanaimo is a little better; it makes seven daily trips with $5 fares.
Public transit travel from Victoria to Campbell River requires seven transfers, each with separate fares and limited schedules, so the trip takes at least four days, and there are no connections to other Island communities, including Port Alberni, Ucluelet and Tofino, Gold River or Port Hardy.
There isn’t even a map showing how to travel around Vancouver Island by public transit.
In contrast, the No. 61 route connecting Victoria and Sooke has 43 daily departures with $3 one-way fares. It carries 22% of peak-period passenger trips on that corridor, demonstrating that many travellers will ride buses if service is frequent and affordable.
Private buses provide limited and expensive connections that may be suitable for wealthy adult tourists but not travellers with limited budgets, tight schedules, disabilities or children.
For example, Island Link offers five daily trips between Victoria and Nanaimo with $45 one-way fares. It does not even stop in Duncan.
Its small vans cannot carry children under 9, pets (even in cages), wheelchairs, bicycles or surfboards. Many of its stops are unprotected.
Inadequate transit service is unfair and harmful to non-drivers and rural communities. It means that many people cannot visit loved ones during the holidays. It forces drivers to chauffeur non-drivers around the Island.
It limits tourism. It forces Island Health to spend millions of dollars on expensive taxis to transport rural patients to routine medical treatments.
It increases traffic problems: if the Malahat highway achieved the transit ridership share as currently exists between Victoria and Sooke, congestion, roadway costs, crashes and pollution emissions would decline about 20%.
Non-drivers deserve a fair share of provincial infrastructure investments. British Columbia governments spend about $1,000 annually per capita on roadways and about $400 on local transit services, but less than $5 on interregional bus services.
Many long-distance travellers would choose buses if services are convenient and affordable. We don’t need more funding, just smarter spending. The Ministry of Transportation plans to spend $162 million to expand the Malahat highway through Goldstream Park, despite protests by First Nations and environmental groups who recommend investing in frequent and affordable transit instead. That’s a more cost-effective and beneficial approach.
Who needs intercommunity bus connections? Workers with long-distance commutes. University students who want to visit their families. Car-free tourists. Rural businesses that want more customers.
People with disabilities, families with children, bicycle tourists and surfers travelling without a car. Rural residents accessing health care, sports and cultural events.
In other words, virtually everyone at some points in their lives. If you agree, please ask your MLA to fulfil their promise for frequent and affordable bus connections between Vancouver Island communities.