EBus passenger decides to fly instead

Editor:

OK, so we lost Greyhound and most of our connections in this province to smaller cities.

The solution is EBus. Think again people, especially seniors and the disabled of Westbank.

I wanted to go and see my mother for her 88th birthday (we have been told this will be her last by the doctors). I am disabled and on top of that, suffering from a car accident since June. I cannot drive far, so I called EBus.

I explained my situation and asked what could I do.

I was told all I had to do was book my ticket (better to do it online as you save Àve per cent.)

After I did that, I was told I would call in and give them my name and order number and they would put my name on the manifest ensuring I got the front seat as I need it due to my disability and injuries.

I thought to myself, I think I better call and verify this again. I did call and was again told the exact same information. I not only did this once, but a couple of time over the next four days before booking my ticket.

So, I booked and paid for my ticket, and made a note to call them back to give them my name and order number to get my seat saved.

I got an operator who informed me in no uncertain terms that they do not do this. She informed me that they have a bunch of new operators and they do not know what they are saying.

I explained to her that I must have a front seat for room to move around as I cannot sit for long periods of time in any given position.

She then told me that EBus is Àrst-come, Àrst-served seating and that the Àrst two rows are reserved for seniors and disabled.

I asked how do I know if a seat would be available. She told me that she could not tell as the bus starts in Kamloops then goes to the Kelowna Airport.

Oh I should mention that we in Westbank have to drive to the airport to get the bus as they have no spot in Westbank currently. Therefore, we drive all the way to the airport, only to bus right past our homes.

She told me to hold and went to speak to her supervisor. Her supervisor advised her to give me a refund.

Therefore, my dear friends in Westbank, we are still in dire need of a bus system to the coast that offers inclusion of all the stops allowing seats saved for the people who require them.

Also, gone are the days of going to the coast by bus for return trips of around $50$60. Right now EBus is $97 and change return just to Abbotsford. I used to pay as a senior $43 return.

I checked into Áights and was able to get a flight, two weeks before I am going, for $148. That is only $50 more that taking EBus and I get into Vancouver Airport, and have to be on the Áight for 40 minutes sitting. Not my preferred mode of travel but only thing I could do this time.

Greyhound does not know what it has done to the people of B.C., especially the seniors and disabled. I wonder what the government or EBus are going to do to try and rectify this issue for us. Laurie Wright, West Kelowna