I write to you today as I know that there are many Victorians feeling much like I do. I hear comments from people at bus stops and also boarding the bus. We feel B.C. Transit has become greedy. OK, I’m sure they have some higher expenses to maintain our busses and keep them fuelled, but for golly sakes, we as the riders have the right to go about our costly lives as well!
I have epilepsy and have not been able to drive or work for the last year and a half. I must use the bus to get my daily errands done. I don’t ride enough in a week to warrant a monthly pass, but I do buy bus tickets regularly.
I rode from Victoria General Hospital to downtown and received one of the new bus transfers from the driver. I went about my errands throughout the city to find I could only use my new transfer once. One-way travel only! I was so angry that I had to use three bus tickets in 1.5 hours of travel. I used to be able to get three or four quick errands done and be home within my transfer expiry time. This cost me twice my regular cost and I was very disappointed with my bus service for the first time and felt let down by B.C. Transit.
I don’t get any savings for disability as I can walk, don’t need a wheelchair or an escort which is fine but did they have to triple my cost for a couple of quick doctors appointments, and a couple of store errands?
Does B.C. Transit want more people to ride the bus or not? Maybe they think more auto traffic is better.
Goldie Cox
Victoria