Recently I inquired about when the bus stop might be moved to the new Save-On-Foods store, as it had been so conveniently located in front of the old store.
I was dismayed to learn that the service will be soon relocated to the highway.
As you are no doubt aware, the Parksville/French Creek area is heavily populated with seniors, many with decreased mobility issues and many without cars. As a haven for retirement, shouldn’t steps be taken to ensure the ease and safety of transportation for these folks as they go about their business?
B.C. Transit provides a wonderful service. Kneeling buses, polite and friendly drivers, on-time schedules, etc. make it easy to be a senior in this area but it seems this move is throwing an obstacle in our path.
I personally shop at Save-on-Foods for groceries and prescriptions. Soon it will be necessary to disembark from the bus on the highway and cross a busy parking lot (uphill, which is difficult for many of us). It seems to me that this is a hazard for both pedestrians and drivers and I hope it can be avoided. Will this decision be reconsidered and allow the buses to remain on site?
I am fairly mobile with my walker and enjoy shopping at the stores on that site. If the bus is banned as has been suggested, then I might have to shop in a safer location.
I know there are many other seniors as well as young families with baby strollers, folks in motorized wheelchairs and scooters who use Bus No. 88 and I wonder if they are aware of the plans at Wembley Mall. It is not just myself who will be inconvenienced.
I sincerely hope that, if the decision to ban the buses is correct, reconsideration be given to this issue.
Roberta TaylorParksville