The public transportation in Qualicum Beach is a laugh — virtually non existent.
Qualicum Beach, Parksville, French Creek and surrounding areas have a population of about 25,000? Maybe 30,000? We have four buses a day.
My daughter moved to Whitehorse, Yukon — population 25,000.
They have buses running all day, every day, at hourly intervals. Every half hour during rush hour. She tells me that she can get almost anywhere in Whitehorse at her convenience. She doesn’t use her car.
Why can’t we have the same service?
There are a lot of us seniors who, at some point, will not want to drive any more. We face moving back to Vancouver or Victoria in order to have real bus service. Both cities are very expensive with regard to housing. Those that choose to remain must move to senior apartments like The Gardens to be close to town amenities. Getting to Nanaimo or elsewhere becomes a problem.
This is something we are faced with even though we would prefer to stay in our own homes and have our real gardens to enjoy.
I will probably move to Vancouver when the time comes.
Getting anywhere at night here is impossible with no buses.
Some neighborhoods are virtually impossible to get to with the current buses. Lots of walking required! Again, not everyone can do that.
Car pooling or van pooling is not an option for the retired. That may work for rush hour working needs but not for pleasure (clubs, library, recreation) or shopping trips that one wants to do at our convenience! And, I don’t want to become someone else’s taxi service. Nor do I want to depend on someone else’s time to drive me around when I finally hang up my keys.
Joyce Geoffroy, Qualicum Beach