Dear Editor,

In response to the letter title: It's time for a fairer balance for those who don't drive, I appreciate your perspective and share your support for better travel options, there are a few points that merit a deeper discussion to provide a balanced perspective on the issues raised.

1. Public Transit and Travel Times:
   While it’s true that the current public transit system on Vancouver Island is not optimal for inter-regional travel, the biggest loss was not buses, it was the rail line.  It’s important to consider the trade-offs between service frequency, coverage, and costs. Expanding transit services to make them both faster and more convenient would require significant funding increases. This funding would need to come from provincial or municipal budgets, which are already stretched thin. Advocating for improved public transit must also include discussions on how to equitably distribute the financial burden across taxpayers.
2. Private Inter-Regional Bus Service:
   The loss of private inter-regional bus services like Greyhound reflects a broader trend across Canada, where low ridership on certain routes has made them economically unviable. While this service was indeed more direct and affordable than current alternatives, private companies operate based on profitability, not public need. Restoring such services would require substantial government subsidies. With the E&N rail running rail-buses can shuttle people between inter-regional areas and trains moving people between cities. () and ()
3. Active Transportation Options:
   Proposals for car-free paths, such as the one envisioned along the E&N rail corridor, are exciting and hold great potential for promoting cycling and reducing vehicle dependence. However, developing such infrastructure would also be costly and would require collaboration across multiple municipalities and levels of government with no federal support. Additionally, you would disadvantage a large percent of the population that have mobility issues, where as a rail line such as the E & N could serve 100% of the population.
4. Funding Inequities Between Regions:
   The funding disparities you highlighted, such as the imbalance between services in the Capital Region and other districts like Cowichan or Comox, underscore a systemic issue with the provincial funding formula. However, simply increasing funding for inter-regional services may not address the root cause—land use planning and population density. Areas with lower population densities inherently face greater challenges in sustaining frequent transit services. Encouraging higher-density development along key corridors might be a more effective long-term solution.  Again, a functioning rail line can be the solution.
5. Tourism and Economic Benefits:
   The idea of promoting Vancouver Island as a destination for car-free tourism is compelling. However, relying solely on cycling or active transportation would limit its appeal to a niche audience. To attract a broader range of visitors, improvements in multimodal transport options—such as integrating bike-friendly rail-buses or creating regional transportation hubs, such as existing E & N stations—would be necessary. These solutions would require coordinated planning and less investment than just trails. The introduction of infrastructure catering primarily to visitors’ risks appropriating Indigenous spaces for non-Indigenous use. The project should be community-centred, ensuring that it primarily benefits local residents, rather than serving as a playground for tourists.
6. Fairness in Public Funding:
   It’s true that the current system of road subsidies primarily benefits car owners, and shifting some of that investment toward transit and active transportation would help achieve a fairer balance. However, it’s important to recognize that roads are also used by buses, cyclists, and emergency services. Rather than framing this as a zero-sum issue, advocating for investments that benefit multiple modes of transport might garner broader public support.

In conclusion, while there is much to critique about the current state of public and active transportation on Vancouver Island, the path forward requires a nuanced approach that balances funding, equity, and practical implementation. Public support, political will, and clear funding strategies will be critical.  Advocating trails only is self-serving and is not for the greater good of all Vancouver Island residents.

Sincerely,

Chris Read

Black Creek