HOWEVER...
Today I'm writing my letter. It was mentioned today in one of the letters that there is no city transit available to the Silver Star Foothills. There is a committee now, that is currently focussing on getting transit to run up there. The writer knew that when she bought her house, city transit didn't run up there. In fact I can pretty much guess that ALL RESIDENTS OF THE FOOTHILLS knew that when they bought up there. No different than all the people who bought homes in Parker Cove understand that the bus doesn't run out there either. No different than the person who buys a house near a busy railway crossing knows that the trains blow that bloody horn THREE FRICKING TIMES at every crossing. Now I agree that 'green' methods of transportation are definitely desireable in this day and age but come on... And here's my rant: You are living in an upper scale neighborhood in Vernon. Would you SERIOUSLY take the bus to the grocery store if it was available to you? Are you willing to spend 45 minutes en route to the Superstore? Are you willing to spend another half hour waiting with bags upon bags of groceries IN THE RAIN/SNOW/HEAT for the next bus to take your righteous arse home? I doubt it. 100%. I've been on the bus. I know. There are many people in our community that have no choice but to take the bus. They take their babies to the Dr on the bus...they get their groceries, get to their jobs, get their children to daycare on the bus. Listen, if you demand transit go to your neighborhood because it's 'pretty cool for the environment', you will undoubtedly be taking away from another route in Vernon. A route that people depend on for their livelihood. Last year we lost our local bus stop due to restructuring - they added a route in an area where more people needed the service and I'm ok with that.
You want to make a difference? Buy a hybrid car. Carpool downtown. Only drive your car every third day or...? But please - don't try and take away from those who need.
Hi Dena
ReplyDeleteAs you know I do not live in the upscale area. I do think they should extend the bus up further. I see many people that walk up that road with groceries. What I would like to rant about is the way they repaired the road. I never expected that the road would become one filled with speed bumps. It's hard on cars and I feel every bump. It's dangerous in the winter as u catch your tires on the bumps and u slide. Lol. That's my rant.
I believe that the bus service should be available to everyone. Growing up in the BX, (especially as tweens/teens) we often wished that the bus came up our way, even to just get us to and from the mall or downtown. Now, I also live in a place where there is no bus service. Would it be handy now and again? Sure, but I don't think enough ppl would use it in order to make it worth their while. That is where I see your point. Like you said, why don't these ppl set up a community carpool? Or help a neighbour out who you know doesn't drive etc. by offering to pick something up for them, or offer to drive them to town yourself? Like me, they knew there was no bus service when they bought their homes - they shouldn't suddenly expect it now.
ReplyDeleteOne other thing to consider is that these are city buses and the only reason that the Foothills is in the city limits is because the city wanted the tax money. Greedy buggers. Have you ever seen on a map the city limits lines how they're around Silver Star Road from Butcher Boys all the way up to the Foothills but nowhere else in between. What a joke!
ReplyDeleteFuck 'em!
ReplyDelete