6319 replies to this topic

[Ismo07]

Yes I’ve heard a variety of answers.

They come to work and do busy work, or go home and get paid out of their time bank, or not at all. That’s pretty lame.

 

Not much else to do?  Like when the big snow happens if our team make it in we find something for them to do.  Kind of have to...

[Matt R.]

Imagine showing up for work as normal and they tell you you’re scrubbing walls instead of your usual job because someone called in sick. Again.

Not too good for morale I would think.

[Victoria Watcher]

An while I'm at it.  Why in the world would BCF not take a minor risk in getting just one or two passenger-only - slightly faster ferries - for route #1 and/or route #2?

 

It seems insane to me that a massive ferry made to take 400 cars also takes all the walk-ons every cross.

 

A walk-on ferry surely can turn about 15 minutes faster than the car ferries too. 1.25 hours to cross, 15 minutes to turn.

 

1 ferry:

 

7am > 8:15am

8:30 > 9:45

10 > 11:15

 

etc.

 

bold is Swartz Bay.

 

2 ferries:

 

7am > 8:15am

8:30 > 9:45

10 > 11:15

 

 

 

Your ferry ticket/pass includes transit both sides.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 10 February 2023 - 01:20 PM.

[vortoozo]

Why introduce significant new cost for no or very little new revenue?

Walk on space is almost never at capacity.

They'd still be running the existing vessels for vehicles.

[Victoria Watcher]

Because it’s a public good. Sometimes that’s more important.

Convenience, comfort, reliability.

Things as taxpayers we deserve.

It also would not be significantly more cost. Per passenger, the ships would be 175% lighter. And quicker, and more fuel efficient.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 10 February 2023 - 05:54 PM.

[Matt R.]

Smaller lighter ships would be even more prone to weather related cancellations, no?

[Victoria Watcher]

Smaller lighter ships would be even more prone to weather related cancellations, no?

Perhaps. But not significantly. Foils cruise above wave action.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 10 February 2023 - 06:33 PM.

[LJ]

We tried fast ferries, remember?

[Victoria Watcher]

We tried fast ferries, remember?

We tried them with no access to BCF docks. We have to run these from the closest points.

[Sparky]

We tried them with no access to BCF docks. We have to run these from the closest points.

The fastcat ferries ran between Departure Bay in Nanaimo and Horseshoe Bay on the mainland. No?

[Victoria Watcher]

The fastcat ferries ran between Departure Bay in Nanaimo and Horseshoe Bay on the mainland. No?

 

They took cars.  Not a perfect comparison.

[Sparky]

Ok, I couldn’t see where you were going with that.

I can get access to the financial statements for Harbour Lynx if you want. They operated passenger only between Nanaimo and Vancouver.

Spoiler alert….they went broke.

[Victoria Watcher]

Ok, I couldn’t see where you were going with that.

I can get access to the financial statements for Harbour Lynx if you want. They operated passenger only between Nanaimo and Vancouver.

Spoiler alert….they went broke.

Yes, it was much more expensive than the car ferry.

My plan has the passenger ferry price the same as the car ferry. If it suffers a bit of a cost loss, so be it. It’s for the convenience of the taxpayer. But with services and docks and all the overhead already in place, I can’t see it losing too much money.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 11 February 2023 - 08:11 AM.

[Barrrister]

Famous last words regarding government services. I cant see it losing too much money. Always easy when it is other peoples money.

[Victoria Watcher]

My plan is a little bit faster. Promotes transit use at both sides, and might keep a few more cars off the road, and might reduce parking congestion at terminals. It’s a big win. And the boats cost a fraction of the cost of RORO ferries.

[Barrrister]

You fund and open the company we will all watch it with interest. Get some morning coffee first.

[Victoria Watcher]

You fund and open the company we will all watch it with interest. Get some morning coffee first.

 

BCF will run it.  A separate company not required.  It uses the same terminal staff and infrastructure.  They just have to buy two more little boats.

[Matt R.]

And what's the point again?  What problem are you trying to fix?  Walk on walk off works very well as is, $18 or something, and rarely if ever are they too full to take walk on passengers. Public transit on the other side is mint, and if you don't like that then get an Uber or take a taxi.  Sometimes if there is a group of us, a crowded bus kind of sucks so we'll take an Uber to Bridgeport and get the skytrain into town.  People still like to complain, but transit has improved greatly in Vancouver in the last 10 years.

 

And now that the Seawest lounge is open again, there is a great quiet spot to sit on the ferry.

[Matt R.]

BCF will run it.  A separate company not required.  It uses the same terminal staff and infrastructure.  They just have to buy two more little boats.

 

Is there a minimum tonnage required to cross the strait?

[Victoria Watcher]

And what's the point again?  What problem are you trying to fix?  

 

Faster crossing.  Faster boarding/unboarding and turn-around.  More frequent trips.  ie. it will be between the odd hour sailings in winter.  So the consumers have more CHOICE.  Relieve some pressure on streets and parking facilities, promote transit use both sides.  Get some cars of the road, use less fossil fuel.

 

 

I'm fixing lots of issues and mostly making it BETTER for us that pay for the damn system.

 

The reason we do not have every-hour sailing in the winter is the demand for cars is not high enough.  We have huge ferries sitting idle.  No point running those big ferries 25% full.  BUT my little ferries can go 25% or 75% full, not much matter.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 11 February 2023 - 11:12 AM.