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By Caden Fanshaw

Gas Prices

Pain at the pumps forcing more to choose transit

Mar 16, 2022 | 5:41 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – The longer the price of gas stays at or near record highs at the pumps, the more people might be looking at taking transit.

According to BC Transit, it’s still too early to know for sure how many have started taking the bus because of the bump in gas prices, although they are seeing an increase in ridership.

“While we have noticed an increase in ridership in Prince George, that can be attributed to many factors,” said Lindsay Taylor, BC Transit Government Relations Manager for Northern BC. “Of course, the increase in gas prices, people returning to work and their regular activities as we’ve seen restrictions lifted, and just let hesitancy around COVID-19 in general.”

In Prince George, 50% of transit riders are students and the most popular route is the #15 which runs the length of 15th Avenue up to the University of Northern BC.

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Prince George City Councillor Susan Scott believes the importance of the system overall is only growing.

“It is getting more and more important,” said Scott. “Regardless of the price of gas, let’s be honest, it is the greenest alternative for getting around, well second to bicycles and probably walking, but it’ll get you a lot further.”

Service improvements have also been fast-tracked in BC’s Northern Capital to make the experience for ridership better, including having a GPS tracking system for busses accessible online, more frequent service, and contactless payment options similar to those seen in the Lower Mainland.

In the words of Scott, the more people that use the system, the better it will get.