Starting Monday January 5, there’s a new boat in town. The Queen of Capilano is heading to the the Esquimalt Drydocking Company for an upgrade. The process is scheduled to take four months, during whch time the Bowen Queen will be making the trip between Horseshoe Bay and Snug Cove. With the capacity for approximately 15 fewer vehicles, there exists the potential for some major overloads, particularly during commuter runs. To assist Bowen Islanders in coping with this situation, the Municipality has released the following survival guide:
If you can avoid taking the ferry during rush hours for the next four months, you don’t need to read this guide.
If you walk on the ferry and aren’t going downtown, you don’t need to read this.
If you usually drive on the ferry at 6:30, 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, and maybe even 10:30, you need to read this.
Start thinking now about how you can avoid the uncertainty and frustration of being caught in ferry overloads. You’ll be glad you did.
Walk on the ferry instead of driving if you can possibly do so. To make it possible, the following mitigation strategies are being put in place by BC Ferries and the municipality:
- FREE PARKING in Snug Cove in the parking lot next to the General Store (in front of the baseball field).
- REDUCED-FEE PARKING in Horseshoe Bay (HSB) in the BCF lot for $100 a month or surface parking for $10 for 24 hours. (See www.bcferries.com/files/AboutBCFprojects/BCF_Park_QCap_Nov14.PDF)
-SUPER-EXPRESS BUS to downtown Vancouver. Driver Peter King says you can get from Bowen to downtown Vancouver in 42 minutes for $4. Tickets must be purchased in advance at the General Store. (See www.bcferries.com/about/projects/queen-of-capilano-mlu.html)
Other mitigation strategies include:
-ADDITIONAL SAILINGS on Sunday mornings and Wednesdays (for the duration of the MLU) and on Thursdays and Fridays (early March to the end of the MLU). (See www.bcferries.com/schedules/mainland/biva-current.php?scheduleSelect=sch01051501.html)
-ASSURED LOADING for High-Occupancy Vehicles (4 people or more) on peak afternoon sailings from Horseshoe Bay.
(See www.bcferries.com/about/projects/queen-of-capilano-mlu.html)
- MEDICAL PREFERRED LOADING for appointments, treatments, or surgery. Contact the municipality during business hours, or the Caring Circle at 604-947-9100 or [email protected]
- BOWEN LIFT for ride-sharing.
(See www.bowenlift.com or www.facebook.com/groups/bowenislandrideshare/)
Don’t block the road. If the ferry line-up isfull when you arrive, please leave and return after the ferry has loaded. Any car sticking out from the end of the line-up and blocking traffic on Grafton Road will be ticketed.
