BC Transit sticks with decision to temporarily move Mall Bus Stop
By Nelson Daily Staff
The bus stop, recently relocated to the west side of the Chahko Mika Mall, is going to remain in place, at least temporarily, said a BC Transit media spokesperson Friday.
Mike Russell, Media and Public Relations Advisor for BC Transit, said “safety” is the primary reason for the relocation.
“Due to safety concerns identified by BC Transit and the City of Nelson, the previous bus stop location, just outside Save-On Foods, could not continue in its current format,” Russell explained in a media release.
The Chahko Mika Mall bus stop used to be located near the entrance to Save-On-Foods.
Nelson Transit and Arrow/Slocan Lakes buses would navigate through the parking lot heading both east and west to pickup and drop off passengers.
When upgrades we made to the Mall Parking lot, the stop was moved to its current location next to the WalMart Garden Centre at the west end of the mall.
The move has caused outrage with some of the regular transit riders.
In a letter to The Nelson Daily, Jill Wilson of Nelson said, “its definitely a dangerous and unsafe place for a permanent stop.”
Wilson added the new stop is a congested area next to WalMart’s Garden Centre; the stop is near an icy stretch of sidewalk outside WalMart as well as there’s poor lighting for riders waiting in the evening hours for the bus.
“All the regular riders I have overheard and talked to want the stop to go back to Save On (Foods),” Wilson wrote in the letter.
“The people in the mall office want the stop moved back to Save On. Save On wants the stop moved back to Save On.”
“Even some of the employees of the mall itself want the stop moved back,” she added.
Transit rider Karen Rymal was upset of the move and the lack of communication to riders from BC Transit before the decision was made.
“I am a regular transit user and I am upset with the moving of the bus stop at the mall, which we were never informed about it until after the fact,” Rymal said.
“I feel that the bus stop that got moved to the side entrance of Wal-Mart is unsafe.”
Wilson suggested move the stop back to Save On Foods and have buses turn right at the start of mall parking lot and turn left to go down the front of the mall over the speed bumps.
“It went that way years ago and there were never any problems,” Wilson said.
“Going that way also eliminates the “lollipop” the bus is having to do now and would likely take about the same amount of time.”
However, Russell said BC Transit, in conjunction with Nelson Transit and the City of Nelson, would be improving the relocated stop to make the area safer for riders.
“The temporary stop will see a ramp put in place shortly, and planning for the new permanent stop, which will be fully accessible and have a new shelter, is under discussion,” Russell explained.
“Plans for the new permanent stop will be released in the New Year,” Russell added.
Russell said riders on (Fairview) Routes 2 and (North Shore) 10 would notice a slight readjustment to those routes to better serve the new stop.
For Wilson, even a few changes is not going to make her feel any better about the decision.
“Please, please, please get the stop moved back to Save On Foods end of the mall,” Wilson said.
“It is just such a ridiculous place to have it where it is right now.”
Nelson Transit is part of West Kootenay Transit, which costs and decisions are shared by Regional District of Central Kootenay, Regional District of Kootenay Boundary, City of Nelson and BC Transit.
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