Editor:
Coast Reporter, June 7, 2024, “Expand Transit Hopeful” proposed the extension of bus service from Halfmoon Bay to Egmont. Granted, it was just a wish but a suggestion that was tried before and failed. Some 10 years ago, the good people of Pender Harbour purchased a bus to provide service for Area A of the Sunshine Coast Regional District––residents from Egmont to Halfmoon Bay and on to Sechelt. Ridership was so poor that service was discontinued after a few months.
Many people who have recently immigrated to the SS Coast come from larger centres where bus service is practical and economically justifiable.
One could question whether bus service between Sechelt, Gibsons and Langdale––except perhaps to service walk on ferry passengers––can be justified economically? In 2023, bus ridership averaged about 40,000 passenger one way trips per month. One could speculate that many if not most of these riders use the bus coming and going; hence the actual number of round trips was 20,000 per month, some 700 per day. Seems to me that taxpayers are subsidizing a rather expensive service for limited ridership.
Finally, I would direct you to a report “Sunshine Coast Transit Service, SCRD, June 8, 2023,” wherein transition to electric buses is contemplated. No concern is expressed regarding higher capital costs for the buses nor any discussion of the even medium-term prospects of BC Hydro being unable to meet electricity requirements. BC Hydro was forced to purchase high-cost electricity from the U.S. in summer 2023 because they could not meet the demand. This can only become a bigger problem going forward as subsidized electric cars become more numerous.
Gordon Politeski, Sechelt
