I read with amusement that C-Tran is complaining about low ridership (The Columbian, Aug. 20, “C-Tran ridership down so far in ’15“).
Yes, one of the reasons that they are experiencing low ridership is because of the drop in fuel prices. But I think the biggest reason is because of the lack of service that they provide. They have taken out several stops, causing people that depend on the bus to have to move to an area that is closer to a bus stop. I’m still waiting for them to put the bus stop back in front of Shorty’s Nursery on Mill Plain. They have eliminated several Sunday routes. They have one route that only runs on the weekdays and then piggybacks onto several different routes.
There was a letter in The Columbian about a bus not going to the Salmon Creek park and ride (Aug. 20, “C-Tran fails to connect“). Linda Wade wrote that she has to walk a great distance from the park-and-ride to catch the bus. This bus used to go to the park-and-ride before it was relocated.
On Sept. 1, the bus fare is to increase again. I just wonder what routes they are going to shorten or eliminate when the increase takes effect.
