Photo by Whitehorse Star
City bus ridership has rebounded
The number of passengers riding city transit is back to where it was pre-COVID-19, minus the tourist traffic, city council was informed by administration at its meeting Monday.
The number of passengers riding city transit is back to where it was pre-COVID-19, minus the tourist traffic, city council was informed by administration at its meeting Monday.
During discussions about the quarterly reports presented to council, Coun. Jocelyn Curteanu asked about the numbers and whether the city has retained any ridership restrictions.
City manager Linda Rapp said the city is no longer restricting the number of passengers getting on, noting the numbers include students riding the buses.
Jeff O’Farrell, the city’s director of community and recreational services, said the restriction on passenger numbers was both implemented and removed under the guidance of the Yukon’s chief medical officer of health.
“Our ridership levels are back to normal, minus any numbers we do see related to tourism,” he said.
Masks are still mandatory.
The quarterly report notes the transit department continues the work on the plan to modernize routes and schedules.
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Comments (13)
Up 4 Down 2
Juniper Jackson on Feb 11, 2021 at 10:53 am
Mick: Thanks for the reply. And you are quite right, just because I've never seen it doesn't mean it didn't happen. School kids I assume at 3: but riders, none the less. I don't mean to imply that we don't need transit. We do. But, I think the City pads the numbers. Other posters have suggested smaller buses. That might be a viable solution, and run the bigger buses at full bus periods or rent out the big buses for special events?
Up 4 Down 1
Max Mack on Feb 11, 2021 at 9:54 am
@Mick
One would expect the buses to be full at key times. Especially after CoW got a sweetheart deal from GY that essentially gave bus passes to every student in Whitehorse, to "promote" public transit and pump up ridership numbers. So, yeah, full buses in the morning rush and after school gets out makes sense.
How about the rest of the day? How about if we take away that enormous gift from GY?
Up 3 Down 0
Brent on Feb 10, 2021 at 1:09 am
Any functional transit system would be a 1000% improvement over what we've had to suffer through so far.
Up 3 Down 5
Mick on Feb 9, 2021 at 4:58 pm
June
Try hopping on the bus out of Riverdale at 3 on a weekday. Or the bus out of Copper Ridge any weekday morning. Or PC any morning. Full. Even turning riders away.
Full buses are common place. Just because you don’t see or experience them doesn’t mean they don’t exist.
PS. The world isn’t flat
Up 4 Down 4
Anie on Feb 9, 2021 at 2:46 pm
Smaller buses make little sense. Maintenance would not be any cheaper. Capital costs would be higher - more buses would be needed to cover peak periods and they would sit idle part of the day. Those additional buses would need part time drivers for peak periods. More buses mean more oil changes. Three batteries cost more than 2 batteries. Think about it. Ask the city to explain the per vehicle cost, manpower, consumables, and maintenance. In the end, smaller buses are not economical.
Up 20 Down 2
Juniper Jackson on Feb 8, 2021 at 1:26 pm
Yeah..I'm not so sure i believe that. I have never, not one time, seen a full bus. And in order to achieve pre covid numbers, if those were even correct, they'd have to be packed right up. That would be.. 6 foot spacing.. uh huh. Did the City hire for 'creativity;?
Up 12 Down 5
JSmonk on Feb 8, 2021 at 12:34 pm
Really our bus routes, scheduling and quality of services are lacking in comparison to any functional municipal public transportation comparisons you can find. We should demand better of ourselves. If our current liberal government, and liberal city mayor are so keen on there socialist agenda it is COMPLETELY unreasonable that they have not figured out public transportation.
Up 19 Down 2
Nathan Living on Feb 7, 2021 at 2:17 pm
We need new leadership and a functional bus service.
Up 23 Down 9
Yukoner on Feb 7, 2021 at 10:37 am
So no social distancing.. pretty similar to CGC on a Saturday afternoon which is packed with people, must be the Yukon wide bubble. Cases may be at zero now but the City is dropping the ball as that will not last.
Up 28 Down 3
Bingo on Feb 6, 2021 at 2:41 pm
Still an albatross. There is no need to have buses of this magnitude going around with 4 people, on a good day. They could easily use something smaller with far less O and M. Doesn't anybody is procurement care?
Up 18 Down 4
Wilf Carter on Feb 6, 2021 at 9:22 am
Yes in cold weather wait until it warms up.
Up 22 Down 2
Are you still including free ridership for students? on Feb 5, 2021 at 5:08 pm
Still a 98% loss endeavor?
I know we need public transit. I wholeheartedly support it. Just it's a complete loss.
Up 29 Down 4
Jake on Feb 5, 2021 at 4:23 pm
From one back to two.