Two weeks ago Lorna Johanson was part of a group of seniors protesting against changes to Revelstoke’s bus routes.
“If you spoil it for us, we will lose it,” she told Alan Mason, the city’s director of economic development in a meeting on Sept. 25.
A week later, following an open house about the changes by BC Transit, she has come on board. “I’ve come to a decision and I think its going to work,” she said at the open house.
The open house provided one last chance for residents to comment on the proposed changes to the routes. When the Times Review stopped by, the majority were in favour.
Under the changes a second bus would be added, schedules modified, some bus stops moved around and other added; and, most significantly, the route through the Big Eddy and Columbia Park would be divided into two trips, instead of one lengthy one like it is now.
Johanson, 83. said the key for her was to still be able to make it downtown from her home in Mt. Begbie Manor in Southside to take part in activities like bingo and bowling. She takes the bus almost every day of the week.
She also liked the sound of the new buses, which would have ramps and be able to lower down to sidewalk level to make them easier to get on.
“I’m satisifed as long as we don’t lose our bus,” she said.
There were some suggestions made at the open house, such as keeping the after-school pick-up time at Arrow Heights Elementary to 2:45 p.m., instead of changing it to 3 p.m.
Another suggestion advised extending hours past 5 p.m. so office workers could commute home after work.
Another person recommended providing evening bus service so people could take the bus to events at night like the summer music series in Grizzly Plaza.