465 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

what is official bct policy for coverage by population or do they have one?  or does the transit board here decide that?  what is their policy?

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 19 May 2020 - 01:31 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

John Wilson, CEO of Wilson’s Transportation Group, indicated there might be interest from a smaller operator in Port Hardy, but did not provide details. He said any potential new operator could use the terminal in Campbell River for pick-ups and drop-offs.

 

Travis Wilson said the annual ridership between Port Hardy and Campbell River during 2019 was 4,068 passengers.

 

“As a private business that is not subsidized, it is not feasible to operate this route averaging only five passengers per day,” said Wilson, noting the length of the route and the operating costs “far outweigh the revenue prospects.”

 

He told the board revenue on the route during the 12 months of 2019 was $255,714, while expenses were $429,075. He stressed the loss does not factor in any amortization of vehicles or any management costs.

 

 

https://www.timescol...ited-1.24140300

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 24 May 2020 - 05:36 AM.

[vortoozo]

Also Victoria Watcher, I did not mean to call you pathetic, I was calling the system pathetic.It's an Important difference, but I worded it poorly. Sorry it came off as rude, I assure you it wasn't my intent. At least aside from my first snarky line which was not the best approach on my part. It's just not a system working for everyone when we can be a wealthy province yet have so many people barely surviving. We have a low unemployment rate, yet poverty? I mean that could be urban housing costs creating the gap moreso than rural transportation, but clearly something's wrong. Also a running a bus isn't wealth redistribution, it's transportation infrastructure.

 

Victoria Watcher doesn't care about society. Victoria Watcher cares about Victoria Watcher.

[Mike K.]

Sounds like we might need a new approach to rural bus routes. Does Wilson’s operate one of their massive buses up north? Why not use a small van running only between CR and PH?

Why not organize a Saturday Shopping Day for north Island residents? There’s got to be far more that can be done here.

[Victoria Watcher]

how about a service with volunteer drivers.

not that different than meals on wheels or the cancer patient service.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 24 May 2020 - 09:15 AM.

[kxl]

how about a service with volunteer drivers.
not that different than meals on wheels or the cancer patient service.

LF: Volunteer drivers. Must supply own vehicle. Good customer service skills an asset Must be comfortable driving 500 km each day.

[Victoria Watcher]

operation red nose on new years   drivers drive drunks home all night.

 

yes you also pay them a km allowance.

 

yes it's 500km round trip.  maybe each volunteer does it once a month.  more if they like.  hundreds of people make the trip solo each week now.  maybe a few can take passengers.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 24 May 2020 - 11:37 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Wilson’s, which operates the B.C. Ferries Connector bus service between downtown Victoria and downtown Vancouver, the Tofino Bus Company, Gray Line Sightseeing and charter services, has parked 95 per cent of its bus fleet and laid off more than 200 employees.

 

 

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Wilson is re-starting portions of his business this week. The sightseeing buses that run hop-on-hop-off tours and the coaches to Butchart Gardens will start on Friday, with the B.C. Ferries Connector service scheduled to start July 10.

 

 

“I don’t expect anywhere near regular revenue. I’d just be happy with 30 per cent given the situation,” he said.

 

https://www.timescol...-say-1.24163578

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 02 July 2020 - 09:23 AM.

[johnk2]

how about a service with volunteer drivers.

not that different than meals on wheels or the cancer patient service.

Driving a van or bus loaded with people is quite different IMO. A regular DL will suffice for delivering meals on wheels. Carrying people is a different proposition. And how about the insurance costs?

[Victoria Watcher]

what are the additional insurance costs when you drive your next door neighbour to the airport?

yes drivers wound need to be trained. during the 1994 commonwealth games hundreds of volunteers drove transport shuttle vans. jazz fest does same.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 02 July 2020 - 10:15 AM.

[johnk2]

what are the additional insurance costs when you drive your next door neighbour to the airport?

yes drivers wound need to be trained. during the 1994 commonwealth games hundreds of volunteers drove transport shuttle vans. jazz fest does same.

they drove around town. highway driving with a vanload is something else.

[Victoria Watcher]

nothing that can’t be overcome with training.

somehow places like the gulf islands manage to exist or even thrive with no transit service. even though lots of people there do not drive.

i’m just suggesting a possible alternative to massive government subsidies.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 02 July 2020 - 11:31 AM.

[Casual Kev]

nothing that can’t be overcome with training.

somehow places like the gulf islands manage to exist or even thrive with no transit service. even though lots of people there do not drive.

i’m just suggesting a possible alternative to massive government subsidies.

 

They have BC Ferries, though.

[Victoria Watcher]

A Vancouver Island bus company says it is ready to resume service.

 

Wilson’s Group, which operates a number of bus services said in a press release that it plans to resume its BC Ferries Connector, Vancouver Island Connector, Tofino Bus services starting July 17.

 

__________________

 

 

All three services will be offering weekend travel, with the potential of additional weekday runs being added later this summer, according to Wilson’s.

 

 

 

https://www.cheknews...vellers-683693/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 16 July 2020 - 03:35 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

https://bcfconnector...-before-you-go/

 

[Brantastic]

The thought of a bus service to Port Renfrew sounds dreamy. Lack of access to wilderness areas is about the only thing I miss about having a car, but if I could bus to Port Renfrew and spend the day at Botanical Beach, that would be so amazing.

[Victoria Watcher]

The thought of a bus service to Port Renfrew sounds dreamy. Lack of access to wilderness areas is about the only thing I miss about having a car, but if I could bus to Port Renfrew and spend the day at Botanical Beach, that would be so amazing.

 

there has been one for decades.

 

https://trailbus.com/faq/

 

 

 

tripadvisor reviews are not very good.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 22 July 2020 - 04:45 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

The inter-city B.C. bus companies that carried on and expanded after Greyhound pulled out of Western Canada say they aren’t likely to make it through the COVID-19 pandemic without help from the B.C. and federal government.

 

“The motor coach industry across B.C. is down a minimum 95 per cent in gross revenue since March 1, 2020 and doesn’t expect a return to anything more than 50 per cent revenues in 2021,” said John Wilson, president of Victoria-based Wilson’s Transportation Oct. 29.

 

Wilson’s is part of a newly formed B.C. Motor Coach Coalition, along with its subsidiary Tofino Bus, Bluestar Coachlines of Kelowna, Charter Bus Lines and Quick Coachlines based in Delta, Nanaimo-based Vancouver Island Coach Lines, Northern Spirit Transportation out of Prince George, International Stage Lines of Richmond, Kamloops-based Canada West Coachlines, CVS Tours of Victoria and Perimeter Transportation serving Vancouver, Whistler and Squamish.

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.vicnews....rvive-covid-19/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 30 October 2020 - 03:01 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

The new B.C. Motor Coach Coalition is calling for federal and provincial support as members fear they may be forced to close due to “devastating losses” amid the pandemic.

 

Grants and interest-free loans from senior governments are necessary to keep the sector alive, John Wilson, president and chief executive of Wilson’s Transportation in Victoria, said Thursday.

____________________________

Wilson said his own company has just 40 to 50 employees working, about 25 per cent of the usual workforce. The company’s gross revenues fell 95 per cent at the start of the pandemic, although that moved to an 80 per cent loss and is now about 90 per cent.

 

The company’s operations include the B.C. Ferries Connector between Victoria and Vancouver, the Vancouver Island Connector between Victoria and Campbell River, and the Tofino Bus Company. All are at reduced service levels. Its Gray Line hop-on, hop-off double-decker service only runs on Saturdays instead of seven days a week.

Wilson’s Capital City Station on Douglas Street is now closed. “It has been devastating,” Wilson said.

 

https://www.timescol...ents-1.24230230

[Victoria Watcher]

After six months without service, the wheels on the bus will finally go ‘round from Port Hardy to Campbell River, with stops in Port McNeill and Woss.

 

Waivin’ Flags will host the first run Tuesday, Nov. 10, leaving Port Hardy at 7 a.m., returning from Campbell River at 3:30 p.m. The local company was approved by the Passenger Transportation Board in September, but it’s taken time to get the bus licences and online booking system in order.

 

The same day schedule is an improvement over the previous service, owner Paige Quansah said, because it allows passengers to avoid staying overnight in Campbell.

 

Ticket prices have increased to $100 from the $67 Tofino Bus Service (also called Vancouver Island Connector) used to charge. Quansah has been in talks with local community partners, and no one has complained so far. There will be group rates for families, as well as seniors’ discounts, she said, and people travelling for medical services will often qualify for a travel voucher.

 

Tofino Bus Service cancelled their service of the northern route in May because it was hemorrhaging money. At the time, they said rural bus service would not be viable as a business without government subsidies.

 

 

https://www.vicnews....campbell-river/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 06 November 2020 - 08:30 PM.