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Freeloaders welcome

Squamish will have free weekend bus rides this summer
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There’s no such thing as a free lunch, but, at least for this summer, there will be free rides.

Squamish council unanimously voted in favour of having free bus service on weekends and statutory holidays for this summer, from June 16 to Sept. 2.

This free service will apply to all routes and all riders.

The District is hoping once riders get a taste of the transit system, they might become regular paying customers.

“A lot of businesses use freebies as an entry,” said Chris Wyckham, the District’s director of engineering.

“What if we got people used to being on the buses on the weekend?”

Taxpayers need not worry about a hidden bill down the road, as the Sea to Sky Gondola will be signing the cheque for this program.

BC Transit estimated the lost fare revenue would add up to about $13,500. The Gondola has volunteered to pay that amount.

It’s not the first time the Gondola has worked with the District on transit, as it has been buying fare passes for its employees and securing deals that would allow gondola pass holders to ride the Route 5 bus for free.

BC Transit also estimated that the District already has enough vehicles to accommodate the predicted increase in ridership, so no extra cash will be put forward to add more buses during those weekends.

Coun. Chris Pettingill asked if there was a budget to market the free ridership program.

“That can sometimes be a stumbling block,” Pettingill said.

Wyckham replied that since the District was planning on advertising the Route 5 parks service this summer, publicity for the free service can piggyback on that budget too.

Coun. John French wondered if the municipality has the means to deal with a possible explosion in popularity that exceeds expectations.

“I hope we have that problem,” said Wyckham. “Right now, what BC Transit did was basically estimate the increase in ridership. And through their estimation and their experience, they believe with very low weekend ridership we have today, it will just fill up the empty buses.”

“I think we want to drive the culture that uses a bus, and this goes a long way towards that,” Coun. Doug Race said.

“I am hoping our citizens take advantage of this,” said Mayor Karen Elliott, adding that many special events are taking place on the summer weekends.

“To not drive downtown to all these great events but actually take the bus. It will make our downtown much more pedestrian-friendly and walkable.”

 

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