Dear Editor,
We are part of Metro Vancouver but with over 1300 conventional buses TransLink won’t provide even one for Bowen Islanders to commute directly downtown.
The organization refuses to fully explain prioritizing customers from non-TransLink communities (Nanaimo and Sechelt for example) who don’t pay into their system with tax dollars. Nanaimo passengers tend to be infrequent TransLink customers while the Bowen rider is more likely a regular commuter.
In a letter to me, a TransLink official stated that Bowen’s “unique development patterns and hilly topography make it difficult to meet the transportation needs of the island.” I find this quite strange. These particular geographical challenges make getting around Bowen on foot or by bicycle almost impossible. Even the main roads lack shoulders.
Translink suggests residents of Bowen start hitchhiking – sighting Bowen Lift as an alternative. Bowen Lift has near zero usage and no guarantees, anyways. Bowen Lift has not been forthcoming with statistics on usage, which I’ve requested. Many women are, understandably, hesitant to use it.
Surely TransLink is not suggesting residents should be picking up individual vehicles to drive themselves to their destination? Is this not the exact thing TransLink is mandated to alleviate? We should realize Bowen Lift is being used as justification for substandard service and may be funnelling funding away from better transit.
I would like to invite other Bowen Islanders to please write TransLink to express your own concerns with its lack of regular service.
Thank you,
Andrew Pietrow
