Media Release - Transit Riders Give West Vancouver’s Blue Bus Top Ratings

Tuesday, April 05, 2011

West Vancouver’s Blue Bus continues to earn very high approval rating from the people it serves, especially with the service increasing in popularity. Blue Bus has rated first in nine out of 11 quality measures and second in a tenth category, in TransLink’s most recent quarterly Customer Satisfaction survey.

Transit Manager Gareth Rowlands says, “We are pleased by these results. We often get letters of commendation from the public for our operators; their friendliness and attention to detail. We know we can always improve, but it’s nice to see the public recognize our commitment to exceptional transit service.” Particularly high ratings were given to for courteous, professional operators, and for safe, crime-free buses and bus stops.

Highlights from the survey include:

  • A rise to the highest overall service rating for a bus trip (76%)
  • A rise to the highest rating for on-time reliable service (76%)
  • A rise to the highest rating for trip duration (88%)
  • Highest rating for having courteous bus operators (91% -- an increase of 40% from the previous quarter)
  • A rise to the highest for having a safe and professional operator (95%)
  • Highest rating maintained for having clean and graffiti-free buses (87%)
  • Highest rating maintained for bus riders feeling safe from crime at the bus stop (91%)
  • Highest rating maintained for having a direct route (91%); and
  • A rise to the highest rating for bus riders feeling safe from crime on board the bus (95%)

These high scores come at the same time that Blue Bus was providing increased service with no additional funding. As a result of the high use of public transit during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, ridership went up and stayed up. Since the end of the Games, ridership numbers continue to be 12 per cent higher than the same period prior to the Games.

The survey was conducted by Synovate for TransLink through daily telephone surveys; results are released every quarter. This survey covers the period from October to December 2010, and includes all bus, SeaBus and SkyTrain services.

About West Vancouver Blue Bus
West Vancouver’s Blue Bus Transit system began in 1912, and is the oldest continuously operated, municipal system in North America. The distinctive Blue Buses operate under contract to TransLink and serve West Vancouver, Downtown Vancouver, Lions Bay and the University of British Columbia. Blue Bus fares are integrated with other TransLink services including SkyTrain, SeaBus and buses run by the Coast Mountain Bus Company, allowing for seamless travel throughout the Metro Vancouver region.

About the District of West Vancouver
The District of West Vancouver is the local government led by Mayor Pamela Goldsmith-Jones and Council. Home to more than 44,000 residents, West Vancouver is a local government which strives to "inspire excellence and lead by example". Our Vision and Mission guide us to pursue our treasured quality of life and will be the measure of our success as a community. West Vancouver is a community built on innovation, a strong spirit of personal civic commitment and a deep value for relationships.

Media Contacts:
Jessica Delaney
Director of Communications, District of West Vancouver
Cell: 604-360-8131
Direct: 604-925-4736

Drew Snider

Public Information Officer, TransLink
South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority
Direct: 604-453-3054
Cell: 604-803-3199