I have taken Greyhound buses in all four directions from Prince George many times. As a visually impaired adult, I will never be able to drive but I love to travel. Like everyone else, I value my independence and part of that means being able to make safe transportation choices when I travel, without having to beg for rides from friends. If Greyhound is allowed to eliminate the only transportation option people like me have, it will have economic and safety impacts.
A few facts: the Northern Health bus is only for medical appointments and doesn't run every day. The B.C. Transit bus only operates on Highway 16 between Prince George and Smithers three days a week and requires an overnight in Burns Lake. This is not equivalent to Greyhound. Via Rail doesn't run every day and trains are usually hours late due to the freight trains. Air travel is possible into some Northern B.C. communities but certainly not all.
Greyhound has chosen to reduce service on Northern B.C. routes in recent years. This results in long layover times and lack of choice in travel. Depots are usually closed overnight, forcing passengers to wait for buses on dark street corners, even in the middle of winter. Greyhound service is also problematic for wheelchair users who have to book days in advance for an accessible bus which may or may not appear on the date requested. Greyhound's inadequate service is likely why ridership is down, as people with choice will not bother with them.
Without transportation, safety is a problem for the many who do not drive, whether for reasons of age, disability, poverty, environmental choice or winter conditions. Smaller communities need transportation to encourage job growth. Students need transportation. Tourists need transportation. Our growing seniors population needs an alternative to driving.
So what are the solutions? I honestly don't care who runs the transportation services in Northern B.C., as long as there are frequent, safe, and convenient options. This could include combining the Northern Health bus with regular passenger travel, increasing the frequency of B.C. Transit buses, allowing Greyhound to use smaller buses, or forcing Greyhound to continue the service as is with an understanding that this offsets the monopoly they have on more profitable routes elsewhere.
I call on leaders from all levels of government and all community members to help create a solution.
Heather Lamb, Prince George
