Transportation in the BC (and especially the GVRD) has become a very hot topic over the past couple of years, partly with the introduction of the BC Liberals Gateway program, desperately needed improvements to the Sea to Sky Highway and the Kicking Horse Pass, the Canada Line and a number of other initiatives designed to improve a largely neglected transportation infrastructure. Complicating matters, there seems to be almost as many opinions about how to fix the problem as there are transportation choices but very few seem to look at the whole picture. In the end, whether you drive, take the bus, ride a bike or walk, we are all somehow impacted by a growing population and a long outdated transportation infrastructure. This said, it appears as though Translink and an aging bus fleet seem to be the focus of the latest conversation on transportation in Vancouver and the GVRD...

More buses...

One solution being offered up by organizations like SPEC and the Bus Riders Union is to increase the number of buses in the area by as much as 20%. This isn't a bad idea although one might argue that a significant increase in buses will only increase congestion unless some serious road upgrades are made at the same time. Of course the counter-argument would be that more buses will decrease the number of cars on the road meaning less congestion however, Jan Efting of the Bus Riders Union raises some speculation on this point in her column in the Friday 22 Jun Province. In her opinion piece Ms. Efting points out that in 2006 bus riders were left to wait at stops 10 extra minutes, 19 000 times, as full buses passed by. She goes on to say that there are 500 fewer buses running during the rush hour than what were promised (imply necessary) by Translink in 2000.

While I don't necessarily dispute Jan Efting's claim I can't help but wonder if this means that the proposed 20% more buses will be just enough to take up the current slack in the system or whether this includes room for new riders? Long line-ups at the bus stop will do very little to encourage more people to take the bus meaning that 20% more buses may in fact do little to decrease congestion on the streets. More buses, without rapid transit (as the Bus Riders Union seem to favour) is not the answer!

...lower fares!

This is the all important second half of the war cry of the Bus Riders Union, and why not? Don't we all relish the thought of getting something for nothing? Recently Translink announced that it would seek fare increases of about 12%, or $0.25 per trip on buses, skytrain and the Seabus. To most of the population, including many of us that take the bus this seems reasonable, after all if we expect an increase in any kind of service there should be some expectation that someone has to pay for it. Shouldn't we?

Not if you are a member of the Bus Riders Union or for that matter the BC NDP. Despite the rising price of commodities (like fuel), the expanded maintenance costs of an expanded fleet, extra staff and the initial cost of new buses, these groups feel it unfair that the end user of Translink's services, the bus rider's actually pay any part of an increase in service. Translink has made plans to increase its current fleet by adding 400 buses at an approximate cost of $500 000 for each bus (assuming they are standard 40 pax diesels) and to replace 228 aging trolley buses with new low floor models that cost significantly more. The 20% increase in buses proposed by SPEC comes with a price tag of about $170 million, either way a lot of money and since most of us know that nothing really comes free this would mean that any increase in Translink's services would be placed squarely on the shoulders of the taxpayer.

Thank goodness for calmer heads at Translink and for a BC government that understands that there is a limit to how far a tax dollar can stretch. In the end we will all have to pay for a part of these increases and, as tough is it may be for some, bus riders must be prepared to pay their share as well.