File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Doug Collins

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: What’s the future of bus transportation?

Aug 25, 2024 | 6:00 AM

EVERY YEAR, a campaign comes out asking us to take the bus. Leave the car at home and take the bus. It’s easier on your nerves, it’s cheaper on your pocketbook. Wheelchair accessible buses, buses that allow you to attach a bike, all to make your trip more enjoyable and at the same time, help fight greenhouse gas emissions.

The city is always promoting the stability of the system, the benefits, and how we’re going to make our transportation problems go away.

Guess what people? The problems aren’t going away. In fact, in some areas, they’ll get a lot worse before getting better.

Recent reports from Vancouver indicate their transit system is hanging on tenterhooks. If things don’t improve, transit service is facing a cut of 45-to-50 per cent, new SkyTrain routes could be seriously delayed, many bus routes will be eliminated or service will be reduced. TransLink will be short by $600 million in the Lower Mainland if things don’t change.

And if they can’t make ends meet with that many riders at the coast, what does it say for the future in Kamloops? Costs are huge and will only get worse. Fares will go higher. And those who need the service will be denied. It’s a doom and gloom kind of situation.

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There’s still a little hope, but new strategies have to be developed and quickly, or places like Kamloops, Kelowna and many other communities will go down the same path as Vancouver. I don’t want to exaggerate the problem, but it is there, and it’s something we have to keep an eye on.

I’m Doug Collins and that’s One Man’s Opinion.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.