10057 replies to this topic

[vortoozo]

This survey would be a good time to advocate for direct service to YYJ from downtown, eg on route 72.

[Victoria Watcher]

He said that B.C. Transit’s Victoria drivers earn $37.96 per hour, while those in the Cowichan Valley earn only $31.24 per hour.


https://www.timescol...google_vignette

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 23 April 2025 - 04:43 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

After myriad delays, electric transit buses are poised to start rolling on streets in Greater Victoria, though they won’t yet carry passengers.

BC Transit’s first electric buses are starting to arrive in the Victoria Regional Transit System, ferrying from Vancouver to Victoria starting at the end of April with the last of the 10 expected by fall. While the buses will be visible on city streets, BC Transit is preparing by first training employees. People can expect to see electric buses on local roads during the training period.


https://www.vicnews....e-buses-7970854

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 29 April 2025 - 03:16 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

RapidBus could be coming to Sidney as new transit hub moves forward

 

The design for the hub on Bevan and Seventh Avenue is expected to be completed by mid-2026

 

 

 

Sidney residents could soon see a new transit hub with up to five bus bays near the Mary Winspear Centre – part of a plan to deliver faster, more frequent connections from the town to the rest of the Peninsula and beyond.

 

On April 29, Town council approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with BC Transit. Though not legally binding, it signalled a significant step, showing a commitment to moving forward with the project. 

 

The decision follows months of extensive evaluation of potential locations for the transit hub. Two potential spots were considered: the Seventh Street and Bevan Avenue intersection and the Highway 17 shoulder stops.

 

 

https://www.vicnews....forward-7984442

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sidney does not need a bus hub and 5 bays.        Just like Gordon Head does not need one, Esquimalt does not need one, View Royal does not need one.

 

Buses should not have no layover whatsoever in Sidney.   They should stop, let passengers off and on, then leave.  If two buses happen to arrive at the same time, they can use one bay, the second bus waits 45 seconds.

 

Any bus that enters Sidney should just have its main stop on Beacon, between say Resthaven and Third. 

 

 

Then loop and leave.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 03 May 2025 - 03:30 AM.

[FogPub]

^My guess is they're trying to make Sidney a hub for various short "spoke" routes around the north peninsula, which makes a certain degree of sense provided we can also have fast and direct routes from downtown to both the ferry dock and the airport.

[Victoria Watcher]

^My guess is they're trying to make Sidney a hub for various short "spoke" routes around the north peninsula, which makes a certain degree of sense provided we can also have fast and direct routes from downtown to both the ferry dock and the airport.

 

There is already a multi-stall exchange in North Saanich for exactly that.  A second one is not needed.

 

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 04 May 2025 - 12:37 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Call waiting: Saanich senior upset with changes to handyDART service

Saanich senior decries reduction in handyDART service while BC Transit calls it a ‘misunderstanding’


https://www.vicnews....service-7982118





She takes it every day? WTF.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 04 May 2025 - 01:23 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Call waiting: Saanich senior upset with changes to handyDART service

Saanich senior decries reduction in handyDART service while BC Transit calls it a ‘misunderstanding’





Saanich resident Marylin Wolovick uses handyDART daily, whether it's for social outings with friends, for classes at the local pool or for important medical appointments.

Although the woman in her 70s still lives an active lifestyle, she described this accessible door-to-door transit service for people with disabilities as an essential service.

“I get tired even just walking to the public transit bus stop, so I rely on handyDART for everything,” she said. “It’s really important for my quality of life and I rely on them to access those services.”



https://www.vicnews....service-7982118


I don’t know. Maybe she uses it a bit too much?

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 05 May 2025 - 06:07 AM.

[Mike K.]

Some things never change.

I’ve been waiting for a 14 bus eastbound now for 27 minutes. I should have driven, but I thought naw, relax and enjoy the ride into town.

[lanforod]

Bus and relax are opposites, no?

[Victoria Watcher]

I’ve been waiting for a 14 bus eastbound now for 27 minutes. I should have driven, but I thought naw, relax and enjoy the ride into town.

 

You went to the bus stop 27 minutes early?  What did NextRide say?

[Victoria Watcher]

Call waiting: Saanich senior upset with changes to handyDART service

Saanich senior decries reduction in handyDART service while BC Transit calls it a ‘misunderstanding’





Saanich resident Marylin Wolovick uses handyDART daily, whether it's for social outings with friends, for classes at the local pool or for important medical appointments.

Although the woman in her 70s still lives an active lifestyle, she described this accessible door-to-door transit service for people with disabilities as an essential service.

“I get tired even just walking to the public transit bus stop, so I rely on handyDART for everything,” she said. “It’s really important for my quality of life and I rely on them to access those services.”



https://www.vicnews....service-7982118


I don’t know. Maybe she uses it a bit too much?

 

 

 

B.C. Transit said it apologizes for the information that was released by some Transdev staff to people booking rides.

 

“Unfortunately, a misunderstanding of information was communicated to some members of the public, leading to the belief that service hours were being reduced,” B.C. Transit said. “We will work to improve communication with our operating partners going forward to minimize the chance of this happening again.”

 

Kowalski is unlikely to be satisfied with that. She said the system, where users have to call in and book a ride 14 days ahead, has to change.

 

“Even when I get my ride, that means I have beat out other disabled people — it’s a degrading competition,” she said. “We’re fighting and scrambling like animals to get our rides and then other people don’t get them. They make us do that.”

 

The Victoria Regional Transit Commission is responsible for setting the service levels for the Victoria Regional Transit System for both fixed-route transit and handyDART.

 

The 2024-25 total operating budget for handyDART was $15.1 million and that has increased to $16.2million for 2025-26. That new budget includes service expansion, which is expected to hit the streets in January.

 

HandyDART has about 22,300 registered handyDART users in the Victoria Regional Transit System, but only about 3,000 active users. An active user rides the service at least once in 18 months.

 

 

https://www.timescol...w-days-10644196

[Mike K.]

That’s $5,000 per year per active user, just in operating cost, not including funding the new depot in View Royal and asset purchases.

And it sounds like the service is cumbersome for its users.

That averages $14 per day, per person. Could it be cheaper and more efficient overall to offer the service via taxi?

[Victoria Watcher]

Are you suggesting the government might be doing something inefficiently?

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 11 May 2025 - 09:07 AM.

[splashflash]

Robotaxis are technology being readied to employ to challenge the transit industry. Libertarians have been poised for this for the last decade. Even former mayor Lisa Helps expected this to occur.

Planning and regulation are captive of interest groups that are moribund, but successfully work together to run municipal governments (and provincial governments).

[FogPub]

That’s $5,000 per year per active user, just in operating cost, not including funding the new depot in View Royal and asset purchases.

And it sounds like the service is cumbersome for its users.

That averages $14 per day, per person. Could it be cheaper and more efficient overall to offer the service via taxi?

1. Are there enough taxis to handle the demand, in addition to their normal business?

2. Can taxis deal with the varying levels of disability involved and-or required equipment that has to fit in the vehicle?

3. Would the taxi companies want to touch this with a barge pole?

[Mike K.]

There appear to be issues with the current service. There is also the issue of dignity, I think. Booking weeks into the future just isn’t right.

I’m not concerned about taxi capacity. Uber can fill in the gaps, too. There will always be those who need an added level of service, but I think it’s the door service that matters most here, and not that most passengers are in wheelchairs.

[Mike K.]

“Walking school bus” initiative in BC has funding of $1.1 million.

I hope this isn’t related to the increase in school bus fees, that now necessitate kids being walked to school by the school system? The release doesn’t explore the origins of this program. From the province:

The Province of B.C. is supporting the Walking School Bus program, which provides supervised walks to schools for elementary children in select communities, helping them start their day off with fresh air and exercise.

“Walking to school offers a wonderful opportunity for students and parents to connect with their community,” said Ravi Parmar, MLA for Langford-Highlands, on behalf of Mike Farnworth, Minister of Transportation and Transit. “I’m excited to see this program expand in many parts of the province, especially in the community where I grew up. It’s rewarding to know that students in Langford and other communities in B.C. will benefit from this initiative, helping them develop healthy habits and safer ways to commute.”

In partnership with the Society for Children and Youth of BC, this program gives more communities in B.C. the chance to get their kids to school without a vehicle. The program is available to students in Langford, Sooke, Nanaimo, Esquimalt, Saanich and Central Saanich. It will expand to other areas.

Children learn safe commuting skills and build healthy habits with the Walking School Bus. The program provides paid leaders and volunteers with the essential training to safely lead a group of students to and from their homes and schools. The program will also include a Biking School Bus in some participating communities. Trained cycling leaders from HUB Cycling will bike with groups of students to and from school.

More than 350 children have participated in similar Walking School Bus programs in B.C. The program offers new communities the funding and tools needed to get their students to and from school safely.

“After a successful pilot in Metro Vancouver in partnership with the Province and TransLink, we are thrilled to be working with the Province to help more children across British Columbia develop active travel habits through our Walking School Bus program,” said Stephanie Howell, executive director, Society for Children and Youth of BC. “The program will also include bike buses led by our new partners at HUB Cycling, who we are excited to have on board. We look forward to promoting safe routes to school and independent mobility for all.”

The B.C. government has invested $1.1 million to support 15 schools in B.C. as they offer their elementary students a supervised walk to school.

[Victoria Watcher]

FFS.

[Matt R.]

A million bucks so kids can … walk to school? Isn’t walking supposed to be the free option?