9626 replies to this topic

[Cats4Hire]

 

 

In terms of a sub-regional impact on the transit system, the Saanich Peninsula (comprised of North and Central Saanich, and Sidney) saw the largest overall ridership drop for the period between March and July, landing at a 72.1% reduction compared to the same period last year.

not really surprising. Particularly in that period I wouldn't be surprised if 72.1% of people on 70/72/75 are tourists. While we did still have some I think it was mostly limited to Canadians which would lower it quite a bit. Westshore doing the best also makes sense since I can't think of any tourist related stuff out there except maybe Wildplay and the Casino (not sure how many bus to the later) so it wouldn't be affected as much by lack of tourists only losing the workforce that was able to work from home. 

[Mike K.]

The peninsula also has the highest ratio of cars:person so more people took advantage of alternatives, for sure. The tourist angle makes sense as well.

[Cats4Hire]

Does anyone know why any route that uses the Island Highway is listed as being on detour right now? Actually clicking on the routes they seem normal and I don't see any detour alert on BC Transit's site. Just one for the 30 that had it go on Glanford for a block first trip of the day for some reason. 

 

Edit: nevermind it's routes that use Goldstream (I didn't scroll far enough and just assumed) The line gets dotted right at Goldstream/Jacklin but still looks like the normal route. 

Edited by Cats4Hire, 10 September 2020 - 06:38 AM.

[Mike K.]

Yup just drove the OIH and it was smooth sailing.

[LJ]

not really surprising. Particularly in that period I wouldn't be surprised if 72.1% of people on 70/72/75 are tourists. 

Really, you think tourists take regular transit busses? I can see hop on/off busses, and subways in big cities but not busses.

 

I don't know anyone that has ever taken a regular city bus as a tourist.

[Mike K.]

The routes to and from the ferry are full of them.

[Cats4Hire]

Really, you think tourists take regular transit busses? I can see hop on/off busses, and subways in big cities but not busses.

 

I don't know anyone that has ever taken a regular city bus as a tourist.

Well there's a reason 70/72/75 are boosted (typically) in the summer. In early May when tourists are arriving and 75 is interlined with 30/31 still I see constant tourists and a huge increase in people over even the week before that are looking at maps and in large groups speaking various languages. Do you think everyone taxis everywhere when they stay here? That's pretty expensive compared to $5 for the full day.

[LJ]

^No but I think the cruise ship people are taking charter busses not transit. The people taking the bus to the ferry would be locals not so much tourists.

 

I have not taken a city bus in any city anywhere that I have travelled to. If I am going to be a day or two I will rent a car, my GPS can tell me how to get where I want to go.

[Cats4Hire]

^No but I think the cruise ship people are taking charter busses not transit. The people taking the bus to the ferry would be locals not so much tourists.

 

I have not taken a city bus in any city anywhere that I have travelled to. If I am going to be a day or two I will rent a car, my GPS can tell me how to get where I want to go.

nest July (or the next July after COVID) stand at Royal Oak Exchange where the 75 to Saanichton/72 to Swartz Bay stop (or in late afternoon the downtown directions) and both buses are standing room only with you standing near the driver. I don't think that's entirely locals. 

I always assumed it's people that fly in to either Victoria or Vancouver (ferry over if the later) and taxi from airport to hotel but bus around during their stay. I just know I go the whole year without seeing any Italian groups on 31-75 routes then suddenly in May I see them almost everyday. 

[Mike K.]

^No but I think the cruise ship people are taking charter busses not transit. The people taking the bus to the ferry would be locals not so much tourists.

I have not taken a city bus in any city anywhere that I have travelled to. If I am going to be a day or two I will rent a car, my GPS can tell me how to get where I want to go.

Huge numbers of tourists take the Swartz Bay busses.

[kxl]

BC Transit does advertise in visitor’s guides (Travel Sidney to Sooke for $5).
I’ve also seen a card that shows popular tourist destinations on a map and the bus route that takes them there (14 to Craigdarroch, 28 to Mount Doug, 75 to Butchart, etc.)

[Nparker]

As kxl suggests, the #75 used to be filled with tourists going out to the Butchart Gardens in the summer. It's been years since I have ridden this route with any regularity, so I have no idea if this is still the case (in a normal tourist season) or not.

[jasmineshinga]

Some pretty limited travel experience there LJ. I have travelled and used transit worldwide. Germany and Europe generally were great. New Zealand had a bizarre fare system. USA has issues and the occasional taxi had to rescue me when I stayed up too late, but even LA and Anaheim have local transit for schlepping to Disney.

No one uses transit as a tourist, pfft, that's just ignorant.

[North Shore]

After about a year of commuting toand from Vancouver on a regular basis, here are some observations:

 

Expand the compass card system to include Victoria, Nanaimo, and Sunshine Coast...there are enough people commuting from those areas to make an expansion of the system worthwhile.  As it now stands, people travelling to/from Vancouver need 3 different types of payment.

 

Install a ticket vending machine at Swartz Bay.  If you're not prepared with cash at Swartz (becoming increasingly common nowadays) then you're in a spot.

 

Install a covered shelter at Swartz.  Standing and waiting for 10 minutes in the pouring rain, (as we will soon be doing) is really no fun whatsoever.  Sometimes the drivers relent, and leave their machines open, more often that not, they do no, though...

[Victoria Watcher]

the whole experience needs a workover.

there certainly should be a way to pay one fare right through.

but I wonder if their Wilson’s contract precludes fixing it.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 11 September 2020 - 10:19 AM.

[Cats4Hire]

In one of the commission meetings documents they mentioned adding payment options via debit/credit and your phone I think targeted for 2021. Since this is Transit we're talking about 2023 is probably the next time we'll get any progress on that and 2025 when it starts slowly rolling out.

[Brantastic]

^No but I think the cruise ship people are taking charter busses not transit. The people taking the bus to the ferry would be locals not so much tourists.

 

I have not taken a city bus in any city anywhere that I have travelled to. If I am going to be a day or two I will rent a car, my GPS can tell me how to get where I want to go.

As someone who took the 75 to work at the Butchart Gardens everyday, it was very heavily used by tourists. Locals also make good use of it for things like the Butchart Gardens fireworks which didn't happen this year.

I've taken public transit in just about every city I visit. Amsterdam has customer service/tourist info desks on all of their trams.

[LJ]

No one uses transit as a tourist, pfft, that's just ignorant.

OK, I will change that just for you. Nobody I know uses transit as a tourist.

[Matt R.]

Really, you think tourists take regular transit busses? I can see hop on/off busses, and subways in big cities but not busses.
 
I don't know anyone that has ever taken a regular city bus as a tourist.

Huh? Tourists take public transit all the time.

Matt.

[Victoria Watcher]

our double-deckers and a day pass (or however it works now) is the best tourist value we have here.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 12 September 2020 - 03:21 AM.