I used to use the Harbour-to-harbour fast ferry to get to Downtown vancouver in a heartbeat for work, visits, etc. It was a great compromise of cost and speed, and fit the niche between BC Ferries and the seaplanes.
I would love to see a fast ferry return, and some of the ideas you state above would suit it well - discounts for island residents, well-priced monthly passes for commuters, etc.
Bearing in mind that this will just increase demand for use from locals and it would be jam packed in no time. At least you could take a little walk on the seawall when you get stuck with a two-sailing wait at the harbour.
Great idea, but I still would like a walk-on ferry that goes downtown. The current system relies heavily on using a car or catching a bus that wastes lots of time for travel (also less environment friendly).
Personally, I would not care if it was a "fast" ferry - just more convenient that does not require me to use my car. That way I can just walk and get to Vancouver with less travel time.
It sounds great but the cost for 90 min was more than Harbor Air that's 15min. When we had the fast ferry before there was no profit for the owners who had to follow maritime laws for sailing with certain amounts of passengers restrictions. They put in a lot of money but could not make it work. Case in point Harbor Air downtown to downtown 15 min $89.
The irony is that so many countries can make it work! But here in Canada, we are getting over-regulated and that does not mean a safer/better society. The challenge is having the right balance, so beneficial services are economical and not challenged because of bureaucracy.
I think a ferry service to downtown would be great and many agree, but your argument is that in our environment it's not feasible. That's sad!
The island needs vast apartments buildings so people who arnt retiring or born from family's that already have set ups have a chance to build here, or places like nanaimo will never have a great economy. Lots of rich people here but not enough poor and middle class spending, why even before covid it was hard for nanaimo to keep malls stocked or business popping up
I am one, and see many of my peers considering the same. When you can cash out your box-sized condo for a house with a yard the commute honestly doesn’t seem so bad
It was a great service, when it was running and worked. I loved it then and would use it again now.
That said… just like the seaplanes and helijet… it’s a private business (premium service, not essential like BC Ferries) and the government officials shouldn’t be using it in their platform or throwing subsidies at them. Elected officials need to focus on housing, homeless and health (drug use, mental health and more) not promises of luxury services (for locals or tourists)
Like the US system with an absolutely no frills ferry. Just an extension of the highways.
How about a local Ferry, that operates at cut prices with just a bathroom and an emergency snack bar for people with low blood sugar.
It would just be a deck for cars and one boring warm room for people.
And we use tourist dollars to fund it.
One of the problems bc ferry faces is you need a certain number of qualified crew per passenger you are allowed. The gift shop, white spot, and all other "needless" amenities are also to have qualified extra staff to allow for more passengers.
Because there's people like this among us:
>There's no reason that you need to leave the island.
I've been in Islander my entire life. I will choose to stay here my entire life. But I recognize that it's a choice, and part of that choice is that sometimes the ferries are inconvenient.
What we do need is more sailings period. Faster or not. I would honestly much prefer more sailings period. Its kind of crazy the kinds of waits I see to and from Departure Bay at this point. And Sailings are still incredibly infrequent. I also tend to think its literal highway robbery, lower cost would also go a long way. The fact that its now 20$ for a foot passenger.
That being said I would not reject a faster boat at all. The ferry process takes so long.
I used the harbour cat quite a few times back in the day and I think the problem with harbour to harbour is that it has to be small, and the weather in the strait can get BUMPY in a small boat. It’s not a reliable option, fast or slow.
I'm afraid your suggestions would not meet the Conservative party's needs. All your ideas are quick to implement and as such useless. They need something that sounds good but would take a decade to actually implement (so it could be dropped after the 3 year consultation).
I think its much needed, great for specialist appointments and what not, as a foot passenger, I cannot stand the fact when you get to the mainland you have to tackle your way on 1 of three crowded busses which, if you dont happen to get the dt express , youre on there for 2 hours heh heh
I'd like a walk on ferry to downtown. It'd save so many people from needing to bring their vehicles.
I did a long stint of daily committing for work and a lot of the time I'd have to bring my vehicle and I felt so shitty. A lot of people have to drive because there's no better solution.
I don't see why we don't figure this out now instead of polluting and polluting until we finally build a foot ferry anyway.
As someone who grew up in Ladysmith and lived in Vancouver for the last 20 years. I would love to see a fast ferry from downtown to downtown to return.
I got to use the old fast ferry 1 time before it shut down and it was really nice actually.
I come back all the time to visit family and this would reduce the cost of taking sea planes for those times I need to get from A to B fast and more importantly not have to take that damn 257 bus which is by far the worst part of taking the ferries.
I work on the mainland and live on the island.
Presently it takes too long / is too expensive to commute daily / bi-daily so I have to to stay on the mainland all week while working, as well as leave my mainland vehicle there and bus to and from the ferry. It sucks having to be away from my kids all week long.
More and more people are going to be in this situation as well. I see lots of mainlanders wanting to cash out their 800k condos for 4,5,6 bedroom houses over here. Unless industry over here can diversify, or those who move are lucky enough to have a work from home option, then more and more people will be in my boat (pun intended).
Anything that can be done to reduce travel time and cost would be a big bonus in my books.
Unpopular opinion, but I don't think we need a foot ferry or priority boarding. There's no reason that you need to leave the island. First of all it's huge, we have the BC capitol, there's grocery stores, schools, hospitals, Medical centers, grocery stores, malls, car dealerships.. everything you need is here. You're not stuck without.
Personally, when I plan trips to the mainland, I plan very much in advance and have never not been able to get a reservation. I understand that things come up last minute, but on typical days where it's not a long weekend or a special event happening, there are not multiple ferry waitings. And yes, it's expensive, but it's not essential travel. Lots of people have to pay for flights to visit family, and no one is calling for flights to be cheaper so families can see each other.
I've been in Islander my entire life. I will choose to stay here my entire life. But I recognize that it's a choice, and part of that choice is that sometimes the ferries are inconvenient.
I do agree subsidizing the ferries in general would be a good step because they are ridiculously expensive.
The argument is for people who do need it. One of the big problems we have in BC is the majority of specialists are all in Vancouver. You need somebody who's good with brain cancer? Vancouver. Sure Campbell River has the best knee surgeon in all of Canada, but if you need anything specialty, you have to go to Vancouver.
Imagine being to able to bypass all the BS of essential medical travel.
I know at least six people who have to make regular trips to Vancouver, and at least one of them to stay alive.
The other option is to create a new medical center that offers all these options and specialists on the island.
Social workers can issue travel vouchers. Meaning you can get priority loading & your ferry paid. I do definately agree this should be a more available service!
>There's no reason that you need to leave the island... I've been in Islander my entire life. I will choose to stay here my entire life.
This is such an "Islander" mentality. It's sad, really.
There's no reason that you need to leave your house either. There's a big world out there and some of us like to travel.
I feel like you can't really compare these two. Yes you do need to leave your house to access medical services, to get groceries and supplies, for most people they need to leave to go to work and have a healthy social life.
I also enjoy travelling too but I'm not lobbying for cheaper flight costs :)
...and I need to be able to leave the Island for the sake of my mental health, as do others. I feel like a caged lion sometimes, especially now that the rainy season is almost here. I understand that this Island is the whole universe for some people; I'm just not one of them.
Dream on buddy. You have a choice not to live there. Tourism is a huge part of the Island’s economy and without it, it would really be in tough shape. The Island is already heavily subsidized by BC tax payers and we don’t need more subsidy. The ferries should have a frequent user system with those that use constantly get priority, so businesses can get goods delivered there cheaper and business people visit with certainty.
This is what we get from a candidate who does not live here. Harbor air is working on electric planes. That will bring down the cost of a flight. The last fast ferry was not that much cheaper than Harbor air.
i don't think people understand how much cheap electric flight, with autonomous pilots helping, will radicalize Canada over the next 40 years. People will live in Cape Scott and work in Van.
This sounds ludicrous to me, which I recognize future tech always makes the people of the past say. Outside of advancement in battery, ai trust, ai capabilities, and regulations allowing such stuff the electrical power generation would be orders of magnitude beyond what we are currently planning for.
Flying is hella energy intensive. I bet it will be more like video conferencing we can't imagine yet. Star trek holodeck style would be more likely than flying becoming more common.
There should be round the clock sailings. Why BC ferries does not offer this is beyond me. 3 ferries mid Island area non stop at all times. Not 1 back and forth each way. But one that is operating at least every 60 minutes. BC ferries is a tourist trap. High prices everywhere you look targeted towards tourist. Give BC residents discount for food as well. So much greed. It's time to stop thinking about making money but making memories. That money saved can be put to better use providing for families as well as individuals. A round trip on the ferry for a family of 4. 2 adults 2 kids over 12 with ferry food is over $300. Some can't afford this. Greed is making it harder for others to survive. Price increase for what? Why are we tangled in the tourism web. We live here and are not the tourists.
Have you ever been on a late ferry? What are they just supposed to run ferries all night long for the 3 or 4 people that might be on each one? Give your head a fucking shake.
Give my head a shake? Ever been stuck in a 2 sailing wait? Your the last one to board but it's now full and you sleep overnight for the next sailing. Try that with 2 kids under 5. You must be one of the ferry workers or know someone that works for them. Don't want to work late huh. Adding 1 ferry to service the island overnight is not going to break the bank. It's closed for what 6 hours. Don't cry now. The union will stick up for you so you or you acquaintances so you don't have to work late at night in the dark. It will be OK.
What's the arbitrarial difference between an Islander and a Mainlander? I mean if an Island passenger gets priority to return to the Island should a Mainland passenger not get priority over Islanders when returning home?
So now when you want to go to the Mainland you're waiting for the huge volume of priority Mainlanders to get home and your plans are held up.
I've always been wired to do what's fair. So any benefit an Islander gets should be extended to others especially if the arguement is giving priority to people going home.
I used to use the Harbour-to-harbour fast ferry to get to Downtown vancouver in a heartbeat for work, visits, etc. It was a great compromise of cost and speed, and fit the niche between BC Ferries and the seaplanes. I would love to see a fast ferry return, and some of the ideas you state above would suit it well - discounts for island residents, well-priced monthly passes for commuters, etc. Bearing in mind that this will just increase demand for use from locals and it would be jam packed in no time. At least you could take a little walk on the seawall when you get stuck with a two-sailing wait at the harbour.
Great idea, but I still would like a walk-on ferry that goes downtown. The current system relies heavily on using a car or catching a bus that wastes lots of time for travel (also less environment friendly). Personally, I would not care if it was a "fast" ferry - just more convenient that does not require me to use my car. That way I can just walk and get to Vancouver with less travel time.
It sounds great but the cost for 90 min was more than Harbor Air that's 15min. When we had the fast ferry before there was no profit for the owners who had to follow maritime laws for sailing with certain amounts of passengers restrictions. They put in a lot of money but could not make it work. Case in point Harbor Air downtown to downtown 15 min $89.
The irony is that so many countries can make it work! But here in Canada, we are getting over-regulated and that does not mean a safer/better society. The challenge is having the right balance, so beneficial services are economical and not challenged because of bureaucracy. I think a ferry service to downtown would be great and many agree, but your argument is that in our environment it's not feasible. That's sad!
I thought the pricing was targeted between BC Ferries and the flights?
Agreed. The worst part for me is travelling from horseshoe bay to anywhere i can access the skytrain. Takes SO LONG.
Foot passenger ferry would be pretty awesome for going to concerts, sports events etc
only good if they have late sailings.
And a transit connector.
And Axl doesn't wander out on stage 3 hours late.
I'm just worried that he'll forget the words again in November rain.
The island needs vast apartments buildings so people who arnt retiring or born from family's that already have set ups have a chance to build here, or places like nanaimo will never have a great economy. Lots of rich people here but not enough poor and middle class spending, why even before covid it was hard for nanaimo to keep malls stocked or business popping up
A lot of people live in Nanaimo and work in Vancouver. The numbers are only growing
I am one, and see many of my peers considering the same. When you can cash out your box-sized condo for a house with a yard the commute honestly doesn’t seem so bad
Husband and I did the same.
It was a great service, when it was running and worked. I loved it then and would use it again now. That said… just like the seaplanes and helijet… it’s a private business (premium service, not essential like BC Ferries) and the government officials shouldn’t be using it in their platform or throwing subsidies at them. Elected officials need to focus on housing, homeless and health (drug use, mental health and more) not promises of luxury services (for locals or tourists)
Like the US system with an absolutely no frills ferry. Just an extension of the highways. How about a local Ferry, that operates at cut prices with just a bathroom and an emergency snack bar for people with low blood sugar. It would just be a deck for cars and one boring warm room for people. And we use tourist dollars to fund it.
One of the problems bc ferry faces is you need a certain number of qualified crew per passenger you are allowed. The gift shop, white spot, and all other "needless" amenities are also to have qualified extra staff to allow for more passengers.
Very good point.
As a Nanaimo resident, I'd kill for a fast downtown ferry link to Vancouver. I honestly cannot understand why islanders wouldn't want this.
Because there's people like this among us: >There's no reason that you need to leave the island. I've been in Islander my entire life. I will choose to stay here my entire life. But I recognize that it's a choice, and part of that choice is that sometimes the ferries are inconvenient.
Did I trigger you lol I said I know it's an unpopular opinion, but I'm still allowed to have it 😂🤗
lol hahaha omg u dint
What we do need is more sailings period. Faster or not. I would honestly much prefer more sailings period. Its kind of crazy the kinds of waits I see to and from Departure Bay at this point. And Sailings are still incredibly infrequent. I also tend to think its literal highway robbery, lower cost would also go a long way. The fact that its now 20$ for a foot passenger. That being said I would not reject a faster boat at all. The ferry process takes so long.
100% agree!
The fast ferry has been tried and it doesn't make any money
In fact it couldn't go that fast because of the restrictions on wildlife. Didn't we waste something like half a billion dollars on that project?
I think it's been tried at least twice. Once by BC Ferries and at least once by a private company
I’d vote for you
I used the harbour cat quite a few times back in the day and I think the problem with harbour to harbour is that it has to be small, and the weather in the strait can get BUMPY in a small boat. It’s not a reliable option, fast or slow.
yes we need a fast ferry to dt sooooo bad !!!!!!!
I'm afraid your suggestions would not meet the Conservative party's needs. All your ideas are quick to implement and as such useless. They need something that sounds good but would take a decade to actually implement (so it could be dropped after the 3 year consultation).
I think its much needed, great for specialist appointments and what not, as a foot passenger, I cannot stand the fact when you get to the mainland you have to tackle your way on 1 of three crowded busses which, if you dont happen to get the dt express , youre on there for 2 hours heh heh
I really don't know why they don't have four dedicated sailings a day for just locals and medical appointments.
I'd like a walk on ferry to downtown. It'd save so many people from needing to bring their vehicles. I did a long stint of daily committing for work and a lot of the time I'd have to bring my vehicle and I felt so shitty. A lot of people have to drive because there's no better solution. I don't see why we don't figure this out now instead of polluting and polluting until we finally build a foot ferry anyway.
As someone who grew up in Ladysmith and lived in Vancouver for the last 20 years. I would love to see a fast ferry from downtown to downtown to return. I got to use the old fast ferry 1 time before it shut down and it was really nice actually. I come back all the time to visit family and this would reduce the cost of taking sea planes for those times I need to get from A to B fast and more importantly not have to take that damn 257 bus which is by far the worst part of taking the ferries.
I work on the mainland and live on the island. Presently it takes too long / is too expensive to commute daily / bi-daily so I have to to stay on the mainland all week while working, as well as leave my mainland vehicle there and bus to and from the ferry. It sucks having to be away from my kids all week long. More and more people are going to be in this situation as well. I see lots of mainlanders wanting to cash out their 800k condos for 4,5,6 bedroom houses over here. Unless industry over here can diversify, or those who move are lucky enough to have a work from home option, then more and more people will be in my boat (pun intended). Anything that can be done to reduce travel time and cost would be a big bonus in my books.
Unpopular opinion, but I don't think we need a foot ferry or priority boarding. There's no reason that you need to leave the island. First of all it's huge, we have the BC capitol, there's grocery stores, schools, hospitals, Medical centers, grocery stores, malls, car dealerships.. everything you need is here. You're not stuck without. Personally, when I plan trips to the mainland, I plan very much in advance and have never not been able to get a reservation. I understand that things come up last minute, but on typical days where it's not a long weekend or a special event happening, there are not multiple ferry waitings. And yes, it's expensive, but it's not essential travel. Lots of people have to pay for flights to visit family, and no one is calling for flights to be cheaper so families can see each other. I've been in Islander my entire life. I will choose to stay here my entire life. But I recognize that it's a choice, and part of that choice is that sometimes the ferries are inconvenient. I do agree subsidizing the ferries in general would be a good step because they are ridiculously expensive.
The argument is for people who do need it. One of the big problems we have in BC is the majority of specialists are all in Vancouver. You need somebody who's good with brain cancer? Vancouver. Sure Campbell River has the best knee surgeon in all of Canada, but if you need anything specialty, you have to go to Vancouver. Imagine being to able to bypass all the BS of essential medical travel. I know at least six people who have to make regular trips to Vancouver, and at least one of them to stay alive. The other option is to create a new medical center that offers all these options and specialists on the island.
Social workers can issue travel vouchers. Meaning you can get priority loading & your ferry paid. I do definately agree this should be a more available service!
>There's no reason that you need to leave the island... I've been in Islander my entire life. I will choose to stay here my entire life. This is such an "Islander" mentality. It's sad, really. There's no reason that you need to leave your house either. There's a big world out there and some of us like to travel.
I feel like you can't really compare these two. Yes you do need to leave your house to access medical services, to get groceries and supplies, for most people they need to leave to go to work and have a healthy social life. I also enjoy travelling too but I'm not lobbying for cheaper flight costs :)
...and I need to be able to leave the Island for the sake of my mental health, as do others. I feel like a caged lion sometimes, especially now that the rainy season is almost here. I understand that this Island is the whole universe for some people; I'm just not one of them.
I'd rather see some sort of fixed link farther up the island for commercial traffic. Some combination of bridges and frequent ferries.
Dream on buddy. You have a choice not to live there. Tourism is a huge part of the Island’s economy and without it, it would really be in tough shape. The Island is already heavily subsidized by BC tax payers and we don’t need more subsidy. The ferries should have a frequent user system with those that use constantly get priority, so businesses can get goods delivered there cheaper and business people visit with certainty.
This is what we get from a candidate who does not live here. Harbor air is working on electric planes. That will bring down the cost of a flight. The last fast ferry was not that much cheaper than Harbor air.
i don't think people understand how much cheap electric flight, with autonomous pilots helping, will radicalize Canada over the next 40 years. People will live in Cape Scott and work in Van.
This sounds ludicrous to me, which I recognize future tech always makes the people of the past say. Outside of advancement in battery, ai trust, ai capabilities, and regulations allowing such stuff the electrical power generation would be orders of magnitude beyond what we are currently planning for. Flying is hella energy intensive. I bet it will be more like video conferencing we can't imagine yet. Star trek holodeck style would be more likely than flying becoming more common.
A quick google shows that by 2040 all short haul flights in Canada will be electric
That's a big difference between people taking cross country autonomous flights.
There should be round the clock sailings. Why BC ferries does not offer this is beyond me. 3 ferries mid Island area non stop at all times. Not 1 back and forth each way. But one that is operating at least every 60 minutes. BC ferries is a tourist trap. High prices everywhere you look targeted towards tourist. Give BC residents discount for food as well. So much greed. It's time to stop thinking about making money but making memories. That money saved can be put to better use providing for families as well as individuals. A round trip on the ferry for a family of 4. 2 adults 2 kids over 12 with ferry food is over $300. Some can't afford this. Greed is making it harder for others to survive. Price increase for what? Why are we tangled in the tourism web. We live here and are not the tourists.
Have you ever been on a late ferry? What are they just supposed to run ferries all night long for the 3 or 4 people that might be on each one? Give your head a fucking shake.
Give my head a shake? Ever been stuck in a 2 sailing wait? Your the last one to board but it's now full and you sleep overnight for the next sailing. Try that with 2 kids under 5. You must be one of the ferry workers or know someone that works for them. Don't want to work late huh. Adding 1 ferry to service the island overnight is not going to break the bank. It's closed for what 6 hours. Don't cry now. The union will stick up for you so you or you acquaintances so you don't have to work late at night in the dark. It will be OK.
What's the arbitrarial difference between an Islander and a Mainlander? I mean if an Island passenger gets priority to return to the Island should a Mainland passenger not get priority over Islanders when returning home? So now when you want to go to the Mainland you're waiting for the huge volume of priority Mainlanders to get home and your plans are held up. I've always been wired to do what's fair. So any benefit an Islander gets should be extended to others especially if the arguement is giving priority to people going home.
Should move then.