9623 replies to this topic

[Cats4Hire]

BC Transit says riders should brace for scheduling issues over the next few days with snow and freezing rain in the forecast.

I’m not sure where the freezing rain forecast originates from but they mentioned it.

where does snow come from too? Unless this was just a BC-wide notification which is kinda useless all I've seen on our weather forecast for the next week is rain and clouds. 

[Mike K.]

I suppose the are referring to routes that will see snow when other parts of the region see rain.

[Cats4Hire]

Wouldn't that be Sooke https://www.theweath...-columbia/sooke

or North Saanich https://www.theweath...a/north-saanich

 

Both also only report rain and clouds for the next week (used Weather Network since Environment Canada just directs both to "Victoria" although Victoria is based on the airport apparently) 

[Mike K.]

It’s a bit tricky, I guess. At 2C it could rain or snow, and there will be areas in those communities where it will snow, so they’re letting everyone know that random delays will occur. I’m sure Bear Mountain will see lots of snow, as will Triangle Mountain, Westhills, and Metchosin/Highlands.

[Cats4Hire]

 

 

Victoria – BC Transit is offering free service after 6 pm on New Year’s Eve in the Victoria Regional Transit System, following regular late evening service.

https://www.bctransi...d=1529714851922

[Spy Black]

There are more and more buses being dropped off daily schedules with every day that passes.

It's actually quite shocking if you depend on transit.

 

It almost has to be related to lack of drivers, as much as B.C. Transit won't actually say what's going on ... it can really only be nobody to drive the buses.

[Nparker]

Maybe the free buses on New Year's Eve will be a "drive yourself" scheme.

[LJ]

It’s a bit tricky, I guess. At 2C it could rain or snow, and there will be areas in those communities where it will snow, so they’re letting everyone know that random delays will occur. I’m sure Bear Mountain will see lots of snow, as will Triangle Mountain, Westhills, and Metchosin/Highlands.

A skiff at BM, mostly melted.

[Cats4Hire]

so many 28 cancellations today they couldn't even fit it in one Tweet and had to take a screenshot https://twitter.com/...548692989726730

[Nparker]

I understand the lack of available drivers is at least partially related to those who have been put on unpaid leave for refusing to show proof of COVID vaccination.

[Mike K.]

Not that many drivers were impacted, but when you’re already struggling with human resources even five fewer drivers will present a major challenge for scheduling.

[Cats4Hire]

I understand the lack of available drivers is at least partially related to those who have been put on unpaid leave for refusing to show proof of COVID vaccination.

the policy was implemented October 8, we didn't start getting more than like two trip cancellations until around Remembrance Day just over a month later and it didn't get this bad until early December two months later. I guess the current issues could be the required two shots starting November 29 but seems weird you would be willing to get one shot but not a second. I don't think the timeline really lines up though.

 

I wonder if it's just people taking end of the year time off and they don't have enough drivers able to sub in or do overtime. They don't seem to think Kelona will be better in January though so that's probably not it either. 

[Nparker]

As I said, forced vaccinations are just one contributing factor, but certainly not the only reason staffing levels are currently running low.

[Cats4Hire]

January service changes:

64 reroute to provide service to Beecher Bay and additional service to Langford Exchange

1 and 22 detours becoming permanent reroutes

2 Willows now a separate route (5 Willows/James Bay. 

4, 14, 15, 26, 39 service increase

4, 9, 26, 39, 50, 51, 61, 65 service times adjusted due to traffic delays

 

Looks like still no 16 or 76 returning. The 26 Uptown Only trips are now scheduled although they aren't running between 10 and 2

[Mike K.]

Service increase following December decrease, or actually more frequency compared to January of 2020?

And where will all of this new frequency come from if there is a driver shortage?

[Nparker]

...And where will all of this new frequency come from if there is a driver shortage?

It's an increase on paper. Expect lots of trip cancellations come January.

[Victoria Watcher]

I guess I picked a bad time to start my Omicron Express private BC Ferries connector bus.

[Cats4Hire]

It is somewhat odd pretty much every other service change they've posted for January has a decrease. Technically Victoria isn't getting any "increases" but rather reverting the schedule decrease that happened in December (and as noted not even fully, the 26 Uptown Only were running all day not just peak hours from Sept-Nov).

 

Maybe in Victoria the sudden issue is people using up their left over holidays? My dad used to do that until they started paying for any unused holidays and no idea how that works at Transit. It was getting worse from about mid-November but still manageable with only about ten-fifteen trips a day cancelled if memory serves so they were able to handle essentially the January schedule from September until early December. 

[Mike K.]

Yes, that’s a good point, Cats.

[Nparker]

...Technically Victoria isn't getting any "increases" but rather reverting the schedule decrease that happened in December ...

Classic chocolate rationing logic.