WettCoast
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Post by WettCoast on Feb 13, 2020 18:46:07 GMT -8
I suspect that BC Ferries has a really good idea of how many Texadians are transferring from the NIP to the Comox vessel currently, and are allotting very close to the correct space for the stops at Blubber Bay. Space can also be re-allocated if demand exceeds expectations. BCFS ought to consider adding Texada to the reservations system on the same basis as they do for the Southern Gulf Islands. Then they will know exactly how much car deck space to reserve for the Texada stop. |
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Post by Kahn_C on Feb 13, 2020 20:12:54 GMT -8
I suspect that BC Ferries has a really good idea of how many Texadians are transferring from the NIP to the Comox vessel currently, and are allotting very close to the correct space for the stops at Blubber Bay. Space can also be re-allocated if demand exceeds expectations. BCFS ought to consider adding Texada to the reservations system on the same basis as they do for the Southern Gulf Islands. Then they will know exactly how much car deck space to reserve for the Texada stop. This would be the smart thing to do. The general consensus on Texada is that although BCF upper management is supportive of the pilot, groups closer to the front lines are opposed to it and have structured it to fail. BCF should have the numbers from the previous times that direct Texada-Comox traffic occurred, it was well in advance of 10 cars per trip and at those times it was going more than 2 days a week, so they've either lost that data or are just ignoring it. BCF doesn't have a current method to track Texada-PR-Comox traffic, they just count it all as PR-Comox. The reason those days and sailings were chosen for the pilot is due to the normally low traffic on them, so BCF shouldn't be too concerned about deck space issues. I've attached a traffic summary that was prepared as part of the pilot proposal. It's for using 2018 traffic stats for October because that was the previous proposed pilot start month. Route 17 October 2018 Highlighted Stops.pdf (152.51 KB) |
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Feb 13, 2020 20:22:04 GMT -8
BCFS ought to consider adding Texada to the reservations system on the same basis as they do for the Southern Gulf Islands. Then they will know exactly how much car deck space to reserve for the Texada stop. This would be the smart thing to do. The general consensus on Texada is that although BCF upper management is supportive of the pilot, groups closer to the front lines are opposed to it and have structured it to fail. BCF should have the numbers from the previous times that direct Texada-Comox traffic occurred, it was well in advance of 10 cars per trip and at those times it was going more than 2 days a week, so they've either lost that data or are just ignoring it. BCF doesn't have a current method to track Texada-PR-Comox traffic, they just count it all as PR-Comox. The reason those days and sailings were chosen for the pilot is due to the normally low traffic on them, so BCF shouldn't be too concerned about deck space issues. I've attached a traffic summary that was prepared as part of the pilot proposal. It's for using 2018 traffic stats for October because that was the previous proposed pilot start month. As a former islander (Hornby) I know that the 'general consensus' is that BC Ferries is an ogre, always opposed to the needs of the communities. Misplaced animosity, in my opinion. This is a pilot project, and it can be adjusted as things go along. My understanding is that Powell River and Texada have a need to access medical specialists and services in the Courtenay/Comox area, so I was a little surprised that Saturday was included in the schedule. Maybe that's for shopping. I predict that this schedule will be expanded as the needs become clear. |
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Feb 13, 2020 20:43:35 GMT -8
I kinda wants to see how it plays out before BC Ferries starts missing with it. I would hope they would allow more vehicles on vessels before adding sailing to others days.
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Feb 17, 2020 11:41:43 GMT -8
In an email reply to a Texada resident, posted on the Texada facebook page, a BC Ferries rep contradicted the news release, and said that depending on deck space, more than ten cars might be loaded for the Comox-Texada leg. She also indicated that this project may be adjusted as they see how things are playing out. Good that they're giving it two years- that's a proper trial period.
I'm a bit curious about the payment method leaving Texada- get on board, and pay the ship's cashier. Honour system?
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Post by Kahn_C on Feb 17, 2020 12:20:34 GMT -8
Hopefully within the 2 years BCF finds a way to update their reservation system(s) so they can go to prepaid reservations for the Texada-Comox 'route' and see a good chunk of the problems that'll pop up vanish. It's good to see BCF is as confused as everyone else, it's almost like it's been a while since they added a new route or something...  |
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Feb 17, 2020 12:41:17 GMT -8
It's good to see BCF is as confused as everyone else, it's almost like it's been a while since they added a new route or something... That bad thing because there ones who made and need to sail the route? |
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Post by Curtis on Feb 17, 2020 13:34:52 GMT -8
I'm a bit curious about the payment method leaving Texada- get on board, and pay the ship's cashier. Honour system? Interesting they chose that way to do it. I'd have thought they would do fare collection similar to how it's done at Gravelly Bay with a crew member walking around with a portable payment device. Since they went with a more 'honour system' approach instead of say charging a higher 'return' fare at Little River I could see someone trying to cheat the system. One way I could see them getting past the fare evaders is by having passengers present their proof of payment from Blubber Bay while paying for their return at Little River. If they fail to present their proof of payment they'd pay either the regular Route 17 fare or a combined Route 17/18 fare. That might not be convenient for any non-locals that go the Little River-Blubber Bay way, (unless they did the 'proof of payment' thing I just suggested the opposite way too) but this service is more for the convenience of Texada residents than it is for tourists.
If you ask me though, I don't see this service lasting longer than the trial period unless some kind of compromise can be reached. One 'what-if' scenario I've been thinking about is having the Route 17 vessel stop in at Texada in the morning and the Route 18 vessel making a round trip to Little River during the evening. Another scenario they could try is having the Route 18 vessel do a round trip to Little River early in the morning and then have the Route 17 vessel stop in at Blubber Bay on the first sailing to Westview to load commuters and students. Hmm, perhaps I should try making a mock-up schedule for this?
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Post by Curtis on Feb 18, 2020 15:01:33 GMT -8
Hmm, perhaps I should try making a mock-up schedule for this?
Now it might not be perfect, I'm giving my best guess on what the crossing times are based off the service speeds of the Island and Salish Class vessels. (It's more accurate than the BC Ferries schedule page IMO) I also tried not to increase the amount work hours for crew too drastically. I've labelled them as "Off Peak" and "Peak" cause those are the times of year I felt these schedules would work best.
I've split this into 2 scenarios: The "Off Peak" sees the Route 17 vessel stop at Texada during the morning while the Route 18 vessel does an evening trip to Little River. I feel this is the best option for either the off-season or year-round as it doesn't disrupt the morning commute from Texada and it only alters the morning schedule on Route 17.
The "Peak" has the Route 18 vessel do a morning and an evening trip to Little River while the first Route 17 round trip does a pick-up and drop-off at Blubber Bay during the morning to make up for the lost Route 18 trip. As the name suggests, this works better as a Summer service as it only disrupts the first round trip on Route 17 and would only set Texada commuters back half-an-hour in the morning compared to the current schedule. The 2 dedicated round trips to Texada I feel could also encourage tourists on Vancouver Island to make a day-trip over to Texada not having to transfer at Westview.
Overall, that's just my thoughts on the matter. Like I said yesterday, the actual trial probably won't last. To do this would probably require a serious rearranging of the vehicle staging area at Blubber Bay so Westview bound vehicles aren't blocking the Little River ones and vice-versa. Even then, I feel Powell River residents still wouldn't be happy with the stop at Blubber Bay. Likewise with Texada residents and the lost Route 18 round trips. Can't please everyone I suppose.
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Feb 18, 2020 21:48:57 GMT -8
Good concept, Curtis... that's something that might work. I'm going to go a step further, for the sake of argument.
The current government, and the current BC Ferries management have shown that they're open to a broad rethink of ferry services. Who would have thought, ten years ago, that there was a chance of two vessels serving both Quadra and Gabriola?
I know that Powell River has long argued that the Comox ferry should be based at Westview, since it serves Powell River interests. I suppose that one factor against that happening is the fact that Westview has only one berth, serving two routes. The Comox ferry homeporting there would impact Texada. Given the current and future growth of the Powell River and Comox Valley areas, BC Ferries probably needs to think about a second berth, which would allow homeporting as well as mitigating scheduling. I would think there would be advantages to having all crewing for Saltery Bay and Westview in the Powell River area. It would also allow for two morning trips for Powell River residents to get to medical appointments and whatever else they need in the Courtenay area.
The schedule is currently loose enough, with a long afternoon layover at Comox, that one additional stop at Texada each way shouldn't be an issue. In the long run, I think things have to change from the way they've essentially been since the Comox Queen arrived in 1964.
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Post by Jessica on Mar 13, 2020 20:59:38 GMT -8
News about BC Ferries trying to get Transport Canada to make Transport Canada temporarily let people be on the lower closed vehicle deck to prevent spread of the Coronavirus. globalnews.ca/news/6672650/coronavirus-bc-ferries-passengers-in-cars/ I find it interesting because if you think that you will be put onto Deck 4 if you have a reservation and you arrive on time, that wasn't the case for me going back on the family day weekend. We arrived on time and we booked a reservation and we were still put onto deck 2 with no explanation. |
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Post by Mike C on Mar 14, 2020 16:52:06 GMT -8
I find it interesting because if you think that you will be put onto Deck 4 if you have a reservation and you arrive on time, that wasn't the case for me going back on the family day weekend. We arrived on time and we booked a reservation and we were still put onto deck 2 with no explanation. Speaking from my own experience, I don’t think this is an uncommon thing. Reservation space on the ship is allocated based on the available space on that sailing. I’ve had about a 50/50 split with reservations being on Deck 4 or 2. Having a reservation does not guarantee you will be placed in a particular spot on the ship. Generally, if you want to be on Deck 4, you can request it at the booth and they’ll try to accommodate you, but no guarantees. |
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Mar 14, 2020 17:08:33 GMT -8
Route 1 had the additional sailing canceled on March 15, and 16. Coastal Celebration, Spirit of British Columbia and Spirit of Vancouver Island has had pacific buffet closed temporary to help stop spread of COVID-19. www.bcferries.com/bcfservicenotice?id=7298 |
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Post by Jessica on Mar 15, 2020 10:24:13 GMT -8
I find it interesting because if you think that you will be put onto Deck 4 if you have a reservation and you arrive on time, that wasn't the case for me going back on the family day weekend. We arrived on time and we booked a reservation and we were still put onto deck 2 with no explanation. Speaking from my own experience, I don’t think this is an uncommon thing. Reservation space on the ship is allocated based on the available space on that sailing. I’ve had about a 50/50 split with reservations being on Deck 4 or 2. Having a reservation does not guarantee you will be placed in a particular spot on the ship. Generally, if you want to be on Deck 4, you can request it at the booth and they’ll try to accommodate you, but no guarantees. I guess I have just been extremely lucky when we've had a reservation then because every other time before when we had a reservation, we were put on deck 4. Even without a reservation we have been put on deck 4 before. |
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Post by yak on Mar 15, 2020 19:27:33 GMT -8
Speaking from my own experience, I don’t think this is an uncommon thing. Reservation space on the ship is allocated based on the available space on that sailing. I’ve had about a 50/50 split with reservations being on Deck 4 or 2. Having a reservation does not guarantee you will be placed in a particular spot on the ship. Generally, if you want to be on Deck 4, you can request it at the booth and they’ll try to accommodate you, but no guarantees. I guess I have just been extremely lucky when we've had a reservation then because every other time before when we had a reservation, we were put on deck 4. Even without a reservation we have been put on deck 4 before. From experience as a loader I can say that Mike C is correct. The priority is a quick and efficient load. It is nice to accommodate reservations in "preferable" locations but it falls below those other two priorities (as long as they make it on the boat). An example would be on a Salish Class vessel during a heavy load with limited time in the dock. In that situation it is generally best to start with the lower car deck as it will save about 5 minutes of loading. Do we load reservations first, as they will end up on the lower deck and have to leave their cars? Do we load reservations later to ensure they are on the upper deck? I've had passengers in the latter category complain since they reserved (partially) to be loaded early and get in the line for hamburgers. It isn't necessarily cut-and-dry and that's why you see variation. My personal philosophy has been that an on-time departure is a customer service even if some reservations end up "downstairs". |
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Post by hwy19man on Apr 26, 2020 4:15:33 GMT -8
duplicate post, my error.
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Post by hwy19man on May 11, 2020 3:14:16 GMT -8
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Post by hwy19man on Jun 9, 2020 6:10:15 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jun 9, 2020 7:56:42 GMT -8
I follow the Hornby Island community news and happenings closely, and it's apparent to me how much the commmunity volunteers work hard to sustain their community. Doug Chinnery is a prime example, as fire chief. To have BC Ferries delay telling the FAC for 90 days about an already-decided service-cut is very disrespectful to the hard working community leaders, and to the entire community. The service-cut itself is harmful, but the way it was done was so poor. I like the conclusion that the resigned FAC members stated: That the FAC is a sham. |
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Post by Kahn_C on Jun 9, 2020 8:35:00 GMT -8
The FAC process has been a sham for a while now. The stated intent was good when it started, but BCF wields them as a shield to accountability and to create a false perception that meaningful consultation exists (but most FAC members don't realize that). As a slightly less than casual observer of FACs, it seems that BCF is trying to hide that fact less and less in recent years.
Props to the Hornby/Denman members for speaking up and taking some action.
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Jun 9, 2020 16:14:31 GMT -8
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Post by hwy19man on Jun 11, 2020 4:29:08 GMT -8
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Post by paddlehardercafe on Jun 15, 2020 12:14:33 GMT -8
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Post by hwy19man on Jun 15, 2020 12:35:58 GMT -8
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Post by Starsteward on Jun 15, 2020 15:47:47 GMT -8
Very tragic news indeed. I believe this will be the first fatality at Deas Marine Pacific in a very, very long time. Undoubtedly there will be a full scale investigation by many government agencies to determine how this unfortunate incident occurred, perhaps being able to prevent such an accident from happening again in the future. |
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