There has been one call to the RCMP, many confused tourists, and plenty of moments of frustration with locals who do not follow the rules of etiquette in the ferry line-up, says flagger Jewal Maxwell, who has been working on Sundays and holidays throughout the summer to ensure cars load safely onto the ferry in Snug Cove.
“The worst day I’ve seen when it came to overloads was August 8, the Tuesday after the long-weekend,” says Maxwell. “Starting from 8:30 there were overloads all the way up to the General Store. Then in the line up for the 11:30 ferry, there was a small space above the cross-hatches close to the bottom of the line-up where I put pylons, so a small car wouldn’t sneak in. Then, this big Brinks truck pulls in and parks right on the cross-hatches. I told the driver that he had to move, but he refused claiming that he had priority to load. I argued with him but he still refused, and eventually, at the urging of Sue Schloegl, called the RCMP and they ordered him to the back of the line-up.”
Maxwell says that people parking in the cross-hatched area is a consistent problem.
“As one driver I spoke with said, where in the world can you park in cross-hatched areas?” She asks, “I’ve had to talk to a number of locals about this, especially in the areas near the General Store.”
As for tourist, Maxwell says that despite the signs, many are still confused about how to “zipper” into a single lane from the two-lane loading area behind village square.
“Tourists also don’t seem to understand that it is single-lane loading everywhere beyond that point,” she says. “And I get a lot of people asking me where to buy their return tickets.”
Maxwell points to better speeding enforcement for the 7:30 am ferry, more communication from BC Ferries about additional sailings and delays, as well as some enforcement for rule-breakers as things that could help make loading the ferry easier during busy summer days.
“Overall I have to say I really like this job,” she says. “People come up to me to say thank you, so I feel like I’m doing something that makes a positive impact.”
