10062 replies to this topic

[Vin]

Yes

Thank you! That makes things a lot simpler.

[FogPub]

Anyone got any idea why the 11 and 14 routes were running so far off schedule this afternoon?  As in, half an hour plus between #14 buses when it's supposed to be every 12 minutes or so.

 

I doubt it's the return of Uvic, as when I was up there to day it seemed very quiet for the first week of class.

[Mike K.]

It was traffic congestion in the Saanich/UVic areas. Transit was a mess yesterday, from what I’ve heard, and the schedules were not being maintained on a lot of routes.

[Intercontinental]

Anyone got any idea why the 11 and 14 routes were running so far off schedule this afternoon?  As in, half an hour plus between #14 buses when it's supposed to be every 12 minutes or so.

 

I doubt it's the return of Uvic, as when I was up there to day it seemed very quiet for the first week of class.

Downtown is a gong-show too with lane-closures and construction. I cannot imagine any buses that go through downtown at rush hour are on schedule. 

[Victoria Watcher]

Seattle Times:



Drug smoke wafts through transit but not at toxic levels, UW study says

Airborne fentanyl residues were found in a quarter of Seattle and Portland light-rail transit vehicles tested this spring, according to a University of Washington study. Health officials point out that the amounts were too low to be a risk to riders.

[Nparker]

Just one more reason to avoid public transit.

[Victoria Watcher]

Hey! It’s fentanyl, but below lethal levels.

[Ismo07]

Hey! It’s fentanyl, but below lethal levels.

 

That was always the intended use...

[Matt R.]

Hey! It’s fentanyl, but below lethal levels.

So are we talking recreational levels?

[Victoria Watcher]

So are we talking recreational levels?

 

 

Bus drivers who have spoken with KOMO News this year reported getting sick after inhaling fentanyl smoke from drug users.

 

Public Health King County has previously downplayed the risks of second-hand fentanyl smoke. At a press briefing Thursday morning, health department director Dr. Faisal Kahn said the findings from the UW study found the public health risk of drug exposure on transit is "negligible."

 

"The signs and symptoms that different colleagues have talked about are very valid, I do not negate that," Kahn said.

 

 

https://abc3340.com/...unty-complaints

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 07 September 2023 - 07:20 PM.

[Matt R.]

Weren’t they telling us just a couple of years ago that the tiniest grain was basically instantly fatal? Whatever happened with that?

What would Aastra say about all this.

[Victoria Watcher]

CBC 2016:

 

 

 

 

A grain of sand: Why fentanyl is so deadly

 

 

https://www.cbc.ca/n...eadly-1.3760244

[Matt R.]

You just gotta trust the experts I guess.

[Mike K.]

That’s always been my biggest fear, coming in contact with the stuff.

I can’t believe something so strong, and detectable aboard buses, is considered a non-issue now.

[Victoria Watcher]

That’s always been my biggest fear, coming in contact with the stuff.

I can’t believe something so strong, and detectable aboard buses, is considered a non-issue now.

 

I'm sure that the news is good for transit ridership.

[Victoria Watcher]

San Francisco:

 

 

 

 

BART ridership is around 40% of pre-pandemic levels, according to Allison. However, they're not alone with a slow recovery, as ridership across most Bay Area transit operators isn't roaring back.

 

https://www.cbsnews....onth-kicks-off/

[Mike K.]

Bc Transit back to pre-pandemic ridership levels:

After more than three years of reduced ridership due to COVID-19, BC Transit has seen steady increases and is now experiencing a province-wide return to pre-pandemic ridership levels.

“BC Transit is one of the first agencies in North America to reach this ridership recovery milestone following the pandemic and BC Transit staff deserve a huge amount of credit for all their hard work and dedication in difficult and uncertain circumstances,” said Rob Fleming, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “Our government provided emergency funding to help our transit providers through the COVID-19 pandemic and avoid any service or transit staff cuts. This investment is now paying a big dividend for public transit as ridership numbers bounce back and keep expanding. Our commitment, then and now, is to continue to provide robust, affordable and convenient transit options for people.”

COVID-19 had a major impact on public transportation throughout the world, and BC Transit saw ridership drop to as low as 20% of pre-pandemic numbers in spring 2020. But since the peak of the pandemic, ridership has steadily increased as people resumed taking transit.

“This is a huge accomplishment, and we thank all our customers for their ongoing support of public transit,” said Erinn Pinkerton, President and Chief Executive Officer for BC Transit. “I’m also grateful for the dedication of our drivers, mechanics and all other transit employees who have worked tirelessly to provide an essential service for our customers. We also share this milestone with our operating and local government partners who have worked with us and showed their ongoing commitment to providing safe and reliable public transportation.”

BC Transit has consistently seen ridership at 100% of pre-pandemic levels throughout September in the 57 transit systems we serve. For example, there was a total of 226,764 riders from September 11 to 15, a five-day work week. Over that same corresponding work week in 2019, the organization had 226,106 riders.

Some BC Transit systems, such as the Central Fraser Valley, Chilliwack, and the Comox Valley, have seen ridership come back even stronger at more than 120% of pre-pandemic numbers.

The safety of customers and employees is BC Transit’s top priority. The organization has followed the guidance of the Provincial Health Officer (PHO) and WorkSafeBC with policy decisions throughout the pandemic and will continue to do so.



Financial support for public transit throughout the pandemic has played an important role in our ridership recovery success. BC Transit and our local government partners benefitted from $116.4 million in funding provided under the Canada-BC Safe Restart Agreement.

BC Transit has also developed several initiatives to improve the customer experience and reliability. This includes:


Expansion of our NextRide technology to now include 42 transit systems.
Improved real-time data collection to better measure ridership and optimize routes and schedules.
Implementation of Umo, our electronic fare system that will allow for cashless payments in 30 transit systems once complete.

The full return of ridership demonstrates the importance of public transportation in British Columbia, its role in providing important connections for people and allowing them to travel throughout their communities safely, affordably and sustainably.

[Ismo07]

Bc Transit back to pre-pandemic ridership levels:
 

 

 

Surprising to hear this...

[GaryOak]

$13.2 million for rapid bus lanes on the west shore.

https://www.cheknews...-shore-1170862/

[lanforod]

Surprising to hear this...

 

It's only true in hard numbers, not in per capita numbers. The population of BC has increased a lot in 4 years too.