Open letter to city of Whitehorse:
On behalf of all Whitehorse bus riders, I am requesting Whitehorse Transit Service be expanded to include every class of people. Neglected are students and the working class who coincidentally work during bus service hours.
Most bus fares are collected before and after business hours, not during. Therefore, to take advantage of these times, could you fund evening bus service inviting the working class (who happen to have the cash because they are working) to enjoy downtown Whitehorse after work without worrying how to get home.
The hectic dash to get everything done by 6 p.m. to catch the last bus home shuts down the city, making it a ghost town by suppertime.
Adding full weekend service revitalizes public activities downtown with greater crowd turnout because not everyone owns their own transportation, which brings me to the point of transportation itself.
With limited bus service the public is forced to purchase, borrow or rent a vehicle, avoiding public transit due to its lack of service.
With longer bus hours cash can be diverted to the bus service instead of a personal vehicle.
Lower emissions matter in the global environment and are reduced with fewer vehicles driving because people are riding the bus. Less traffic on the road is a good thing, but more important is the increased number of bus riders and how that strengthens our existing bus service.
Those who rely on buses cannot visit or travel downtown on Sundays. We all pay taxes to a city that offers desirable entertainment, but it is kept out of reach for many citizens because they cannot attend without the bus.
Currently there is no bus service in Whitehorse each Sunday.
There should be regular bus service on weekends and especially on statutory holidays. Create a dozen good-paying jobs. Making life easier for your citizens helps them choose the bus.
If the local bus service reached the closer RV parks, it would prove the city welcomes visitors to explore our charming city and spend a little money downtown. The convenience is irresistible.
Many stores could stay open longer and enjoy increased revenue. Restaurants and the entertainment sector would see more guests, and part-time staff could get home safely by using the improved city service.
Who doesn’t like a movie once in a while at a movie theatre? Such outings can be capped with a sweet treat and leisurely walk to the bus stop for an affordable ride home. But do you want to leave a movie before it ends just to catch the last bus home at 9 p.m.?
Also, extracurricular adult and youth clubs would definitely benefit with increased attendance. The public library, Yukon Arts Centre, and the Canada Games Centre are places to bus to, but not bus back from. All we need is the same extended bus schedule every single day. More opportunities for more people.
Bring life back to downtown by extending Whitehorse bus service to run on a reliable schedule from 6 a.m. to 12 midnight (drop-off), seven days per week. These days and hours also comfort the part-time workers whose weekends differ from the norm. Solid plans are made based on a steady schedule.
During our economic downturn, saving people money by offering affordable alternatives is something meaningful that will be remembered forever. The municipal government of 2010 can go down in local history as the committee that took an interest in the common people and improved their living standards. It would be a privilege to have a concerned, interested and active government working for all Yukoners. Improve the bus service in Whitehorse to include evening service and you will reach the people who vote for you.
Sandy Helland and others
Whitehorse