I just read where the BC Ferry hike jumped to a whopper $56.00!

Tourists visiting the island most be up in arms about this. Any comments?

Francie

Tourists? What about residents? I try to avoid taking the BC ferries now. The gov't should take back control.

i've cut my trips to the mainland or seattle in half and now use harbour air to vancouver or kenmore to lake union and go onward w/ public transport

AndrewDavid

Oh, my gosh, it really sounds bad. Of course for the residents, too.

Harbor Air. Are these the float planes?

We stayed on the island for a month's vacation awhile back. We enjoyed the ferry ride very much, but this change's things dramatically now. Next time we vacation there again, we will forget the ferry ride and take the island hopper.

Thanks for your comments.

Francie

yes francie Harbour Air runs float planes between Van and Vic . They also go to the airport from the inner harbour in Vic and to various other spots around the coast
cheers
AndrewDavid

Of course the float planes aren't cheap either - $130 one way on both Harbour Air and Westcoast Air - and you can't take your car. Quick, scenic flight though, and I trust them more than I do BC Ferries.

I had no idea BC ferries wasn't public! Does the government have to approve fare hikes?

The $56 is for one passenger + one car.

For walk-on adult passengers, the fare is now $13 one-way between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay.

Orcas, I don't really know. My understanding is that increases are approved by the B.C. Ferry Commissioner who is government appointed.

Add a passenger and reservation fee to that trip and you're looking at nearly $85 one way.

Yowza!

I'm heading to the West Coast next week and was considering taking a car over up the coast. I'll definitely just be a foot passenger now!

Thx for the post.

Enjoy-la!

FYI - BC Ferries WAS a government run crown corporation that was put in debt by the previous government due to the "Fast Cat Fiasco". Three ships built locally at a cost of $450 million to tax payers – which were never put into regular rotation. They were eventually auctioned off for $19 million. So, if BC Ferries (still government owned, but run at arms length to avoid political interference) raises rates, it's to pay for the Fast Cats.

... as opposed to the fat cats?

No, the fat cats are getting a hefty increase. I wish I was getting an $18,000 bump in pay.

They claim that BC ferries are cheaper than world standards.


The Eurostar from London to Paris seems like a bargain to me.

News item one
The corporation needs bigger and newer headquarters to adapt ...yada

News item two
Ridership has declined every year since 1999 when the corpor... yada

News item three
BC ferries decides Sue icithecat for seeing through their smokescreen...yada