Posts tagged 'Bus'
Staying Away from The Vancouver 2010 Olympics? Forget It! Go!
Image Credit: Jeffery Simpson on Flickr (Click for profile)
I was one of those people before. I had no interest in taking the ferry to Vancouver and braving the crowds, lines and security to hang out downtown. What's the big deal?
I was wrong. I returned from Vancouver yesterday totally energized and excited about the Games. The city is simply buzzing with activity 24 hours a day. Yes it's busy, yes it's crowded, but that's half the fun. If you're complaining that the Olympics are a 2-week party for the rich, you're dead wrong. I didn't have a ticket to any events, nor a plan or a list of attractions I wanted to see. I spent next to nothing, but felt like I took in everything.
And it couldn't be easier for us in the greater Victoria area. BC Ferries has added an early morning (6:00am) and late evening (midnight) sailing for your convenience. Bus to or park at Swartz Bay terminal, walk on the ferry. Take one of the many buses outside the Tsawwassen terminal and get on the Canada Line downtown. Quick and easy. There might be a lineup, but with trains coming every 3 minutes or so, you won't be waiting long. I never had to wait for more than one train before being able to get on. Wander around, explore. Take in some of the free entertainment at the various pavilions. See the Olympic flame burning outside the convention centre. Feel the vibe and enjoy the spirit!
Watch the events unfold from numerous outdoor high-definition screens. There really is nothing like it – standing on the street, cheering on our athletes with 1000 of your closest friends. Everyone is smiling, waving flags and having a great time.
The Richmond O-Zone is great too. Just steps from the Richmond-Brighouse Canada Line station, this 60-acre site includes a large mainstage with free concerts all Games long, beer gardens, restaurants, arts and culture displays, the ever-popular Holland Heineken House, and BC Street, where you'll find displays from all over our glorious province, enticing the world to come and visit. Sooke's booth has really stolen the show, people absolutely love it.
Try out the Olympic line – an electric streetcar (with comfy leather seats!) on loan from Brussels, Belgium – and you thought sprouts were the attraction from Brussels. It runs from Olympic Village Canada Line station to Granville Island, where you can take in even more Olympic fun, including House of Switzerland, and Atlantic Canada House.
I had an awesome, exciting weekend and didn't spend a lot of money. Transit is cheap and reliable, and with so much free stuff to do, you'd be remiss not to take it all in.
What Are Sooke Residents Doing In Response To High Gas Prices? [Video]
What Are Sooke Residents Doing In Response To High Gas Prices? from Tim Ayres – REALTOR® on Vimeo.
For many residents of Sooke, our decision to locate here was based on lower housing costs. This of course comes as a trade-off with a longer commute to work in Victoria or on the base at Esquimalt. With the price of gas at an all time high, I wonder if that's changing our behaviour. As I've said before, saving tens of thousands of dollars on housing compared to Langford or Victoria, the decision to move to Sooke still buys a lot of gas, even at today's prices.
photo credit: ame nielsen
–Tim Ayres
Provincial Transportation Spending Plan Announced
Victoria area to get New RapidBus BC service from Douglas Street Corridor to Langford.
The Provincial Government announced its new $14 Billion transit plan for British Columbia, some of which has been previously announced or funded. The announcement can be found here.
Of particular note for Victoria and Langford/West Shore residents was the plan for new "RapidBusBC" service from Douglas Street to Langford. While many in the area had been hoping for a rail-based rapid transit service from Downtown to the West Shore, BC Transit envisions a fleet of dedicated, high-efficiency, high-capacity buses with dedicated, and in some cases, separate lanes – enabling the buses to offer point-to-point rapid transit service, seamlessly integrating with existing transit infrastructure.
Note the **OVERPASSES** at Admirals and Mackenzie… wonder if THAT would ever happen…
The other picture show the much-contended Douglas Street bus lane corridor proposal, already causing havoc with local business owners.
Don't hold your breath on these proposals, however – the plan is for next decade… 2020-2030.
You can read the whole transportation plan here.
However long it takes, at least it shows initiative on the part of the government to make transit more efficient and to increase ridership to make it easier to get around in the region. As the West Shore and beyond continue to grow, commuting time will become an increasingly important issue for home owners and real estate consumers.
–Tim Ayres – Sooke and Langford Real Estate Expert