Improvements needed on transit

Why am I holding my breath, thinking there could be some good news coming from the City of Penticton about their Sunday service suggestion of a few years ago, to add the No. 5 bus to the Sunday service? When will this come to fruition?

As the Sunday/Holiday, No. 16 service is generally quite full by mid-day, adding the No. 5 would be welcomed by Penticton’s transit users and a sign that the city and provincial governments really do care for those who either can’t afford a car, or are like me, decided that a community would be better with one less polluter on the roads.

I attend a 1 p.m. cooking class on Sunday at the Shatford Centre and took what I call the “scenic” route (the only option), and 35 minutes later, got from Warren Ave West, at Cherry Lane, to Main and Eckhardt, across from the library. In my better healthier days I would have walked that distance in 30 minutes.

A senior, and wheelchair-bound, had forgotten it was the limited Sunday service, and could only get partway home, because of the restrictions of the No. 16 route.

I do thank the City of Penticton for doing one “right thing” a few years ago, by extending the No. 16 to include all holidays, except for Christmas Day! Now it’s time to take it to the next step and improve the Sunday/Holiday service by adding the No. 5 service.

So, I look forward to the B.C. election next May, with the hopes to see positive move to improve Penticton’s public transit. I think us taxpayers and voters deserve such! Brigid Kemp

Penticton