Free shuttle bus service will be offered during four popular events in Nanaimo this summer.
At a Regional District of Nanaimo board meeting Tuesday, June 14, directors approved a City of Nanaimo request for use of two RDN Transit buses for Canada Day, Dragon Boat and Marine festivals and Vancouver Island Exhibition. Shuttle service would run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during one day of each event, according to an RDN staff report.
Jamie Rose, city manager of transportation, told the News Bulletin the actual days are still being determined. The plan is to have bus exchanges at Woodgrove Centre and Vancouver Island University as starting points for the direct service, but the city is still awaiting confirmation.
At a May 30 city council meeting, Lainy Stevenson, city active transportation project specialist, told council members that bike valet and secure bike parking will also be part of the service, with spots for 100 bikes initially.
“We’re going to start with Canada Day,” Stevenson said at the May 30 meeting. “This is the first time we’re doing this; we really don’t know how it’s going to go. Of course, we hope that all 100 spots are going to be used and events from there will be able add more capacity.”
The city will pay a maximum of $3,000 per day, with $20,000 of its alternative transportation education and marketing and ‘Healthamongus’ budgets, a May 30 city staff report stated.
The Silly Boat Regatta and Truth and Reconciliation Day were other days that were mentioned when service could be provided and Rose said the city would “wait and see” if it can provide the shuttle service to those events.
“This is another example of the city as a whole working together to find ways to support events and create opportunities for people to get out and have fun and given even more options to not use your car,” said Rose.
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