18 replies to this topic

[Powerforward]

 

VICTORIA — Not that many years ago, Pacific Coach Lines had buses on every B.C. Ferries sailing between Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen. Now, ridership has dropped so low that the company is seeking permission to provide as few as three round trips daily on the route.

PCL, which is licensed to provide five round trips a day between Labour Day and the end of June, has applied to B.C.’s Passenger Transportation Board for permission to amend its minimum route frequency due to a 40 per cent decline in riders between 2010 and 2013.

 

http://www.vancouver...1978/story.html

[dasmo]

As opposed to trying to improve their service? I mean it's not really cheaper if you travel with a family nor is it more convenient... It's a crappy product about to get crappier. I don't get it???

[North Shore]

Well, I used to be a fairly frequent PCL user, but with changes to the public transit services at both ends of the ferry, and the cost of the PCL trip, it began to make more sense to just use the transit bus.  Besides that, my sons were/are going through the 'trains' stage so going on the skytrain is a treat for them..

[D.L.]

The busses have complimentary wi-fi. That's great!

[tedward]

The busses have complimentary wi-fi. That's great!

 

Is it more reliable than the crap wifi onboard the ferries? I stopped trying to use their wifi and adding it to the bus service would not induce me to pay the premium versus transit.

[concorde]

With the age of smartphones and the ability to hot spot to your laptop, offering free wifi isn't a major thing for me

[sebberry]

I'm a little surprised that ridership has dropped so much.

 

Personally I'd rather have one vehicle from start to finish, or to at least get me as close as possible to where I'm going.  I don't like trying to figure out transit systems.

[jonny]

I'm a little surprised that ridership has dropped so much.

 

Personally I'd rather have one vehicle from start to finish, or to at least get me as close as possible to where I'm going.  I don't like trying to figure out transit systems.

 

Plus when you take PCL you don't need to deal with your luggage so much and you know you'll get a guaranteed seat. I'm also surprised PCL hasn't done better.

[aastra]

I use public transit heavily during the week so I enjoy the opportunity to not use it when I'm going back and forth. The PCL ride is quieter and much more comfortable so you can read or listen to music, etc.

 

HOWEVER:

 

- it's getting crazy expensive now

- reduced service

- the online booking cuts off two hours prior to departure for reasons unknown (but you can still call in even after online booking is unavailable)

- who are we kidding? It's still a bus, so you still have to deal with inconsiderate/inane fellow passengers.

 

...and most importantly, a cheap floatplane flight costs about the same but saves you hours, not to mention a ton of ferry-related aggravation.

 

My most recent Harbour Air flight this summer was $63 after all taxes and BS.

My most recent PCL trip this summer was $58.75 after all taxes and BS.

 

I'd say a quick and pleasant $99 plane ride still beats a $60 multi-hour slog on the ferry/highways any day of the week.

 

PCL needs to have surprise $39 sales or multi-pack deals for regular travelers, etc. Somebody put VHF on the case.

 

 

$58.

[Baro]

Woah how are you getting the sea plane so cheap?

[aastra]

Just stay sharp and you'll find the deals. My three flights in 2014, after all taxes and BS:

 

January: $65

July: $63

August: $63

[aastra]

There's no way a $60 bus ride has a chance against that. And the thing is, I enjoy the floatplane trip. So I need to take that into consideration, too. It's not a slog. It's enjoyable. Isn't any sightseeing flight around here worth at least a $15 discount by default? Plus you're enjoying a complimentary coffee and whatever else at the terminal.

 

In 2012 I had that Easter egg fare for $49 after all taxes and BS. As far as I'm concerned, a sub-$50 flight is essentially free. Sometimes you see killer whales. How much is that worth? Circling over a bunch of killer whales off of Oak Bay?

 

I don't know, I'm finding it tough to sympathize with PCL these days. I also notice that each of my flights in 2014 has been cheaper than my cheapest flight in 2013.

Edited by aastra, 23 September 2014 - 11:30 AM.

[Mike K.]

The only saving grace for services like PCL will be YVR or individual airlines that want to woo YYJ'ers to YVR. Imagine if your flight came with a "free" PCL connection. Lots of people would be all over that.

[AllseeingEye]

 

I use public transit heavily during the week so I enjoy the opportunity to not use it when I'm going back and forth. The PCL ride is quieter and much more comfortable so you can read or listen to music, etc.

 

HOWEVER:

 

- it's getting crazy expensive now

- reduced service

- the online booking cuts off two hours prior to departure for reasons unknown (but you can still call in even after online booking is unavailable)

- who are we kidding? It's still a bus, so you still have to deal with inconsiderate/inane fellow passengers.

 

...and most importantly, a cheap floatplane flight costs about the same but saves you hours, not to mention a ton of ferry-related aggravation.

 

My most recent Harbour Air flight this summer was $63 after all taxes and BS.

My most recent PCL trip this summer was $58.75 after all taxes and BS.

 

I'd say a quick and pleasant $99 plane ride still beats a $60 multi-hour slog on the ferry/highways any day of the week.

 

PCL needs to have surprise $39 sales or multi-pack deals for regular travelers, etc. Somebody put VHF on the case.

 

 

$58.

 

Perhaps that all said PCL should really focus on marketing to seniors who a) are an expanding demographic, and b) generally have the time and c) likely for the most part could care less about wi-fi or other technology conveniences and d) may not find ducking into small planes and being squeezed cattle-like into the seats particularly convenient due to physical and medical limitations?

 

Were I to take a bus to YVR, which I last did in the late 90's when living there and having to come back to the rock when my car was in the shop, I also would prefer PCL simply because of the hassle of transfers etc. I did the public transit route once on a lark - BC Transit to Swartz Bay, BCF, caught the Translink bus to Ladner Exchange, changed buses there for the run to downtown. By the time the packed Ladner connector bus completed all the stops into the city I think was some rear-end numbing figure like 4+ hours which doubly blows if have to stand for all or a good portion of the trip as I did. No thanks to that option ever again.

[vicernie]

I use a scooter so I have to call PCL well in advance to see if they have an accessible bus available. honestly, a trip on public transportation from downtown to downtown works for me. and now that my recent travelling companion converted me to the ferry buffet, the trip is almost enjoyable.

[Mike K.]

I dunno, most seniors are pretty cheap. They'll scoff at whatever rate PCL throws at them.

[theboss]

I use the PCL about half of the time I come back from Vancouver.

 

It's different for myself as they have a student rate for around $40 dollars all in. I wish the WiFi was a bit stronger, but it's worth paying the extra money to deal with less people and a more relaxing ride home. 

[Mr_E_Squirrel]

 

 

Were I to take a bus to YVR, which I last did in the late 90's when living there and having to come back to the rock when my car was in the shop, I also would prefer PCL simply because of the hassle of transfers etc. I did the public transit route once on a lark - BC Transit to Swartz Bay, BCF, caught the Translink bus to Ladner Exchange, changed buses there for the run to downtown. By the time the packed Ladner connector bus completed all the stops into the city I think was some rear-end numbing figure like 4+ hours which doubly blows if have to stand for all or a good portion of the trip as I did. No thanks to that option ever again.

It is much simpler now, Bus from ferry terminal to River rock casino and Hop on the Sky train there... I used to take the PCL until the Skytrain Canada line was put in.

[Baro]

Other than the transit connection from the ferry to the Canada line sometimes being over-crowded or late, it's perfect.  If they could just do a slightly better job managing capacity, or make the express bus more express, it would be golden.  Or just keep building the Canada line until it's at the ferry, and we'll build a matching system our end.