Editor's note: This is a letter to Squamish Council and B.C. Transit. It was copied to The Chief for publication.Before July 15, B.C. Transit is required to submit a draft comprehensive report to Squamish Council on ways to improve service on the Squamish Commuter and Squamish Transit.
Obviously promotion, marketing and advertising will take a central position. The practice of putting printed schedules on the bus, for people interested in tracking them down, doesn't work. Let's try newspaper ads, posters in popular shopping locations and bus times printed at the bus stops.
Municipal facilities, such as the Seniors Centre, library and Brennan Park should schedule as many events as possible to coincide with bus schedules. Event schedules should publicize their transit accessibility.
Downtown buses currently stop at Chieftain Centre to let you walk the rest of the way to the library, post office or municipal hall. Perhaps buses could actually go through downtown before stopping at Chieftain Centre. A bus stop might be added across from the post office. New routes probably wouldn't require Valleycliffe residents to take two buses to go almost anywhere.
Since transit is sometimes used for shopping or getting to work, buses might turn from Mamquam Road to go behind Canadian Tire with stops near the theatre and the already existing, but unused, bus shelter near London Drugs. Other simple changes exist in other parts of town.
The Squamish Commuter will never succeed with $600,000 buses which are used an average of three to four hours per day. Less expensive buses exist and they could also be used to supplement Squamish Transit.
Lift-equipped buses built on truck chassis make up a large part of the transportation industry. Many buses of this type already travel between Vancouver and Whistler every day. They can also travel between Squamish and Whistler or, better yet, Pemberton and Squamish. Squamish can take a leadership role in introducing a regional transit service.
Low-floor buses provide much quicker access and are important where large numbers of people board and exit at every stop. When you pick up passengers in one town, travel 50 km and let them out in another town, the added cost isn't justified.
Halifax Transit introduced commuter transit from surrounding communities with lift-equipped buses. An extensive case study on their website couldn't justify the added expense of low-floor buses.
The Squamish Commuter schedules and route need some changes. As long as there is a 10-hour gap between arrival in Whistler and departure for Squamish, people will choose to drive. Many people from Whistler want to shop at Wal-Mart. Reroute the bus the extra two blocks. Other merchants should also be advertising on the bus. Shoppers only go the places they've heard of.
To add your thoughts to the list, visit Pemberton Whistler Squamish Bus on Facebook. Let's help make public transit a reality in the Sea to Sky Corridor.Murray GambleSquamish
