That's A Wrap

When I first started researching the city of Kelowna’s public transportation plan I expected to find that the city was simply doing just enough to keep current riders happy. What I actually found was surprising, the city is trying to implement a number of initiatives which are expected to increase rider-ship including, rapid express bus lines along major routes, time reducing measures, a “branch and trunk” approach which ties the suburbs into major bus routes, and increasing the number of busses giving passengers more flexibility. I must give credit where credit is due so I say to the city of Kelowna bravo for at least attempting to get people out of their cars and onto the bus, however, this is not enough. The city has been talking a big game in and around the university with seminars and workshops which focus on Kelowna’s push to become a sustainable city. So why has the city taken such a passive role when it comes to reducing the number of drivers on the road? I am definitely not an expert on the subject but it seems like common sense that if someone wants to send a message you do it by way of their pocket books. On my last entry I talked about what effect a toll on the bridge may do to increase rider-ship from the Westside, now I ask why the school has not increased their rates for a parking pass. Currently for a full year of parking at the school it costs ninety dollars, if it were any cheaper it would be practically free, if the school were to double their current rates it would still be relatively cheap. Originally I hail from southern Ontario and at most schools back home you are looking at between five hundred and eight hundred dollars for a yearly parking pass. If people do not think that these outrageous rates for parking deter a large number of the schools population from driving they are sorely mistaken. There are a number of things the city could be doing to more aggressively reduce the number of private autos on the road but instead they pump millions into road projects which actually increase the number of private cars. The battle between the car and public transit is beginning to get a little more even but if the city expects to create a sustainable city out of Kelowna a more aggressive road will need to be taken.