Ferry fares going up April 1st
Derek Kilbourn
derek@soundernews.com
Monday, March 1 2010
The bad news, as of April 1st, fares will be increasing on all BC Ferries, including the Nanaimo-Gabriola run.
This just a few months after the fuel rebate on the minor routes was decreased.
The good news is that the discount given to Experience Card users will almost rise enough to cover the increase in cost.
Passenger fares will go from $8.60 to $9.10, vehicles from $20.50 to $21.65.
Experience Card discounts for passengers will rise from $3.65 to $3.85 for passengers and for vehicles from $7.40 to $7.80.
Net increase, 10 cents per run for passengers, 25 cents per run for vehicles.
Deborah Marshall, media spokesperson for BC Ferries said, “with regards to the overheight/overlength fares, we’ve done away with the overheight for non-commercial vehicles. This is something we’ve been in discussions with our FACs. It’s revenue neutral to BC Ferries and makes more sense for customers. In the past, paying overheight on an open car deck ferry didn’t make much sense.”
As for the proposed plan to have passengers disembark after vehicles, Deborah said, “The initiative to discharge passengers after vehicles is in abeyance.
“Risk assessments have been conducted and I believe the terminal is looking at changes to ensure the current practice of discharging passengers before vehicles is as safe as practical.”
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