New initiatives planned to get more people riding public transit
By Timothy Schafer
Although ridership is on the increase in the city and surrounding region, a new city-backed marketing plan is expected to put more butts in seats in 2016.
The West Kootenay Transit Long Term Marketing Plan will roll out five new initiatives, including a weekly two-for-one Tuesday promotion, to educate non-riders about the benefits of transit.
The plan stems from the West Kootenay Regional Transit committee in an effort at reducing the greenhouse gas emissions in the region through transit usage, said Nelson city councilor Val Warmington, the city’s representative on the committee.
Under this plan B.C. Transit will implement new marketing strategies to change perceptions and behaviours, attract new customers and increase ridership by promoting transit as part of a healthy, socially responsible lifestyle.
“It is anticipated that (hopefully) many people will be encouraged by the incentives to give transit a try and that some of them will find it convenient enough to remain public transit users,” Warmington said.
The Regional District of Central Kootenay board of directors and Nelson city council both provided endorsement of the plan, effectively allowing the WKTC to move forward with the proposed marketing plan.
Although there was no concern about or drop in local transit ridership to warrant a marketing plan, Warmington said the primary objectives of the marketing plan were to increase awareness of the benefits of using transit in order to grow ridership, to increase awareness of changes to the system, to strengthen partnerships and promote products to increase revenues.
“The development of local and regional marketing strategies is a provincial B.C. Transit-led initiative to encourage and support local transit services in reaching out to the public in innovative ways to encourage them to try riding the bus,” she said.
The plan also includes a customer rewards program to reward regular transit users. Recreation centres in the region will offer a one-time free admission to the transit users who present an expired monthly transit pass.
A Saints Ride the Bus promotion would use Selkirk Saints hockey players and social media to show the Saints riding the bus throughout the region.
There would also be a Seniors Ride the Bus day included on Oct. 1, National Seniors Day — with free transit for those 65 and older.
Earth Day would also feature a transit touch, partnering with local groups to promote Earth Day/Week and invite local elected officials and business champions to ride the bus.
The intent is that riders will take the bus not just on this one day but throughout the year.
There were no direct costs or budget impacts to the City of Nelson with respect to the plan. B.C. Transit has budgeted $6,600 to the plan.
Warmington said since the changes to routing and timing to create a more seamless regional service were instituted several years ago ridership in Nelson has increased.
She noted that streamlined regional service has been successful, “indicated by increased ridership on almost all routes throughout the region, though there are a few performing less than anticipated.”
Local consultation to solicit input to this plan was done in early July, 2015. Local government staff, operators, chambers of commerce and Selkirk College representatives were consulted.
Nelson and Arrow/Slocan Lakes Community Service 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.
Untangling the transit web for seniors
The city is expected to play host this month to a new “storefront” to help seniors find out how to get around with transit.
As part of the Nelson CARES Society’s Moving Together project, the storefront focuses on transportation solutions for seniors living in the rural areas of the West Kootenay, including the Slocan Valley and North Kootenay Lake areas.
In order to facilitate the storefront, the society is expected to hire a transportation “animator,” someone who will help seniors find the transportation they need.
The storefront office will have information about public transit, Kootenay Rideshare and volunteer driving programs. The animator could help seniors in finding information online about transportation.
A fundraising campaign is also in the works to raise money for the purchase of a wheelchair accessible van to add to the Kootenay Carshare.
A location for the storefront has yet to be announced.
Story originated at The Nelson Daily
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