We鈥檙e never going to get every single resident of the Lower Mainland out of their personal cars.
But as we continue to grow, bounded as we are between mountains, rivers, ocean, and the 49th parallel, increasing density means we need more people walking, cycling, and taking SkyTrain instead of using cars. If we don鈥檛, we鈥檒l wind up with perpetual traffic jams. We can鈥檛 widen every road and bridge and build our way out of the problem.
SkyTrain and other rapid transit solutions will be a big part of reducing our dependence on the car. But SkyTrain can鈥檛 carry the entire weight.
The workhorse of transit for the next century, in 91原创 and across the region, is going to continue to be the humble bus.
Buses can鈥檛 haul as many people as SkyTrains. They don鈥檛 give passengers a scenic ride like the SeaBus (or the old Haney ferry). They don鈥檛 have what passes for glamour in the world of mass transit. But they鈥檙e incredibly flexible. Routes can shift and be added at relatively low cost. Smaller buses can serve lower-density areas. HandyDART can help those with mobility issues.
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes planned for 91原创, Maple Ridge, Surrey, Burnaby, and the North Shore would allow buses to move faster than regular traffic at rush hour, down high-volume routes, at a far lower cost than SkyTrain, and senior governments would do well to fund them as soon as possible.
Getting a finalized plan for cheap, frequent bus service to underserved areas 鈥� like Gloucester Industrial Estates 鈥� would help people who need jobs and can鈥檛 afford a car. Get enough buses and planners can cut parking lot requirements, freeing up more land for actual job-creating development.
Making buses frequent, reliable, comfortable, clean, and cheap all at once is a tall order. But it鈥檚 the key to better transit in the long term.
鈥� M.C.
