The Editor,
Re: Public bus approved for Chilliwack-Abbotsford-Langley route.
I'm thrilled, I really am, but what we really need is some way for people to get between Mission and Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows directly. Currently, if you are on the West Coast Express and you miss your stop (not all that uncommon), it is difficult to try and get back into Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, or any other location to the west.
Even with this new bus service, getting to Maple Ridge or Pitt Meadows is going to be excruciating. Pathetic! If we are really supposed to get out of our cars, how about making it possible?
Then we can get into the cost. The West Coast Express costs me more than $300 a month and three hours a day between waiting and travelling. I can do this in my car for less cost financially as well as saving my time. I can't work weekends unless I drive. Oh, and even with this new bus service, no luck on Sundays. Not everybody works 9-5, Monday to Friday.
Let's not get started on the fiasco this Compass card and tap-in and out is going to be. Never mind the conveniences TransLink is removing from us. They even had the audacity to state that they brought in all these money-saving features and conveniences to increase ridership and now that they have done what was intended, they are removing them. Really?
Can we actually get some real service, please? If they really want us to take transit, they are going about it the wrong way. I've been riding the West Coast Express for six years and am going to be in my car next year.
Kim Robertson,
Abbotsford
