Editor:
I understand that people want the ferries to be on time, I get that. I used to commute and had to come home and pick up my daughter at the very end of her after-school program, straight off the ferry. I was highly motivated to be on time. Today I tried to take 10:50 ferry, but it pulled away with space still available in it. Is this the way to save time now?
I missed a funeral today because I didn’t get on the boat. I was the first car stopped. Could I have been even earlier to the terminal? Sure, I could have. Do I have to reserve every time I need to take the ferry? Seriously?
The car in front of me got on and I could have rolled on right after it a few seconds later but was cut off due to time constraints. Behind me were several folks waiting to go. Is this actual policy now? Who makes that decision at the time?
I think this is ridiculous. Fill the boat, get people moving. If we are burning fossil fuels to get across Howe Sound, at least make them count as much as possible.
Make the schedule realistic including actually filling the ferry. I had a passenger in my vehicle who could not risk missing the ferry, and could bus to work, so he jumped out and walked on just in case. And was he shocked to see the ferry pull away with empty spaces on board. Staff confirmed that there were valid vehicle spaces left open.
I complained to the nice folks in the admin building, had a big cry, and will try to get to my memorial reception. Don’t try to improve on-time performance at the cost of leaving folks behind who just need to get places.
Stephanie Grindon, Gibsons
