KEEP BANFF BUS ROLLING
As expected during Canada’s 150th birthday year, the national parks are busting at the seams this summer. Waterton Lakes National Park had to close its gates for the first time ever on Sunday as it was overrun by motoring visitors. Normally home to 105 lucky citizens, several thousand swamped the streets this weekend, causing congestion. The pretty hamlet has had a 20 per cent increase in visitors so far over 2016, thanks in part to the free national parks pass.
Banff National Park, Canada’s busiest, has been bracing for as much as a 25 per cent increase over the four-million-plus visitors who came in the 2016-17 fiscal year.
But Greg Danchuk, the Banff field unit’s visitor experience manager, said that as of the end of July, the park has seen just a five per cent jump from a year ago — in line with annual increases of recent years. Banff is managing the crowds well but even a small summer uptick could result in a very positive, longer-term outcome: The On-It Calgary to Banff seasonal bus is considering an extension into winter.
The weekend and holiday shuttle, which includes five buses on an express route and five on a milk run (Okotoks, Calgary, Cochrane, Canmore and Banff), was to wrap up on the September long weekend. But steadily improving ridership since its June launch could lead to this being a permanent option.
Affordable at $10 one-way (free for those under five), the shuttle ferries nearly 300 passengers a day between Calgary and Banff.
That’s 300 fewer people driving or riding in vehicles to the mountains. That’s a gain for the environment and for the economy as riders may be more inclined to visit a pub or restaurant after a day of activity if they can hand the driving to someone else. There’s nothing better than a cold pint and some Alberta beef after a day on the slopes, but it can seem too tiring to stop when you’re facing the drive home.
The Alberta government, for one, is throwing its support behind regional public transportation with nearly $1 million in grants for another bus program.
The Bow Valley Regional Transit Service was given the funding to improve bus shelters and refurbish its Roam buses, which run between Banff and Canmore and around each town.
As summer slowly winds down, the Calgary Regional Partnership will meet with local stakeholders and its partners — Parks Canada and the towns of Banff and Canmore — to decide on extending the Calgary shuttle service.
Let’s hope they find it economically feasible to try it this winter, as anything that reduces our environmental footprint in the national park is something to be applauded and utilized.