The Editor:
Re: People in B.C. want bus service deemed an essential service (Jan. 24, 2024)
The problem is that there are not enough articulated or double-decker buses.
So, some busy routes prior to COVID-19 use standard buses when they should use articulated buses.
One good example is route 49 (articulated buses) vs. route 25 (standard buses).
The ridership per kilometre is almost the same, but the cost per passenger is much higher on route 25.
So, lots of money was wasted on driver's wages and extra buses.
Similarly, all RapidBus routes use only articulated buses. At least on the R3, this is a waste as there are not enough passengers to warrant articulated buses for many many years (Route 701 duplicates most of route R3).
I calculated that the waste on route R3 is at least $1 million per year, that money could be used on other bus routes especially on Route 791 to Braid Station in New Westminster.
- Nathan Davidowicz, Vancouver
