Directors from across the region jumped aboard a director香蕉视频直播檚 motion to write a letter objecting to Greyhound Canada香蕉视频直播檚 request to eliminate stops in the Similkameen Valley including Princeton, Hedley and Keremeos.

The motion was brought forward by Keremeos Mayor Manfred Bauer at Thursday香蕉视频直播檚 Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen meeting.

The motion requested staff to draft a letter objecting changes and supporting continued service throughout the Similkameen and rejecting changes to Vancouver to Osoyoos route. The motion was unanimously supported.

香蕉视频直播淜eremeos, Princeton, I think Osoyoos 香蕉视频直播� have already written letters,香蕉视频直播� Bauer said. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e encouraged our residents to write letters to the transportation board on this.香蕉视频直播�

Greyhound香蕉视频直播檚 proposal to eliminate the Similkameen from its service is part of a bigger change that includes dropping the number of days the Vancouver to Osoyoos route runs and re-routing the bus to go through Kelowna at Hope.

The proposal also includes the elimination of several Northern B.C. routes including the route along the Highway of Tears, and reducing the frequency of trips for several routes including Alberta Border to Vancouver, Kelowna to Penticton, Kamloops to Kelowna and others.

Mayor of Princeton Frank Armitage called for the provincial government to get involved in ensuring public transit for all communities.

He said the town previously wrote to Greyhound when route changes resulted in drop offs and pickups happening at 4 a.m. The change left residents and visitors at risk as there are no businesses open in the town at that time.

香蕉视频直播淲e heard nothing back,香蕉视频直播� he said shaking his head. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 time the provincial government got involved.香蕉视频直播�

Penticton Mayor Andrew Jakubeit echoed Armitage香蕉视频直播檚 concerns stating the bus headed west from Penticton currently leaves at midnight.

香蕉视频直播�(These are not) realistic times for people using the bus or trying to use the bus for getting to the Lower Mainland for medical or family reasons,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Okanagan Regional Transit does connect bus routes from as far away as Princeton and Osoyoos to Kelowna but depending on where and what time the passenger is starting it could take multiple days to get their destination.

Tom Siddon, director for Area D, said small communities need access to regular bus service.

香蕉视频直播淭o have to get up to Kelowna to catch the bus because you don香蕉视频直播檛 have a car is ridiculous,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Greyhound Canada claims the changes are unavoidable with ridership rates dropping 51 per cent.

香蕉视频直播淭his decision is a regrettably unavoidable response to a challenging transportation environment that is characterized by diminishing ridership, escalating costs and increased competition from publicly subsidized services. Despite significant efforts over the past several years to reduce costs as well as other measures to adapt to the market, the status quo is no longer sustainable,香蕉视频直播� a Greyhound spokesperson wrote in an email.

Anyone may submit written comments about the application to the Passenger Transportation Board by quoting Application 256-17.

Comments must be received by Oct. 13 and can be sent to:

Passenger Transportation Board PO Box 9850 STN Prov Govt Victoria, British Columbia, V8W 9T5 Fax: 250-953-3788 Email: ptboard@gov.bc.ca