Madeline Keller-MacLeod says sheB次元官网网址檚 lucky to ride the No. 26 and 27 bus routes to Camosun and the University of Victoria on weekdays.

TheyB次元官网网址檙e not what the external affairs executive at the Camosun College Student Society calls the most B次元官网网址渞idiculous routes,B次元官网网址� and so, unlike some of her peers, she always gets on the bus.

But sheB次元官网网址檚 still bracing for the tight ride students have come to expect each September when classes resume B次元官网网址� a seasonal problem B.C. Transit is hoping to dramatically reduce following a revamp of service to UVic and Camosun.

When service levels were reviewed, trips with low ridership were reduced and the service was re-allocated to the busiest routes. The majority of new trips are now added in the morning peak period to UVic. As well, 5,000 service hours on UVic and/or Camosun-bound routes that came into effect last spring and will continue through the fall.

B次元官网网址淭hat might help us a bit in terms of pass ups, but IB次元官网网址檓 not sure if itB次元官网网址檚 going to be enough,B次元官网网址� Keller-MacLeod said. B次元官网网址淚n September we see people trying to get on the buses, then after a few weeks of missing classes, or being late for classes, they do try to do something different, and often itB次元官网网址檚 driving, unfortunately.B次元官网网址�

Between Sept. 1, 2011 and Jan. 31, 2012, transit drivers reported a total of 29,296 pass ups, with the vast majority of that number (20,448) on routes servicing Camosun College and UVic.

B次元官网网址淥ur efforts cannot eliminate pass ups entirely, but they will go a long way to address the high demand for transit service during the peak fall season,B次元官网网址� said B.C. Transit president and CEO Manuel Achadinha in a prepared statement. B次元官网网址淲e ask our customers to be patient as our operations team makes the best possible use of our resources.B次元官网网址�

The Victoria Regional Transit Commission (VRTC) has also requested B.C. Transit order two additional buses for 2013-14 and will be presented with the associated service hour options as part of a service review and three year budget process this fall.

Keller-MacLeod and Lucia Orser, chairperson of the UVic StudentsB次元官网网址� Society, applauded the restoration of the hours earmarked for routes No. 4, 14, 16, 21 and 26 when the latest transit budget was released in April, but their goals reach beyond service hours.

Last week the student representatives began a media campaign urging Transportation Minister Blair Lekstrom to abolish the VRTC and turn authority for transit planning over to the Capital Regional District.

While their focused efforts to rally support for changes to transit governance are relatively new, itB次元官网网址檚 all a part of the student groupsB次元官网网址� long-standing mandate to ramp up student political engagement. Their efforts will be measured next spring during the provincial election.

B次元官网网址淲e want students to know that thereB次元官网网址檚 an election happening,B次元官网网址� Orser said, B次元官网网址渢o go out and find out what party has the best platform on post secondary education and go out and vote.B次元官网网址�

nnorth@saanichnews.com

En route to UVic

Average passengers per week day, fall 2011 (September to December)

Dockyard/UVic (No. 26): 4,627

UVic Downtown via Hillside (No. 4): 6,465

Tillicum Mall/UVic (No. 11): 6,519

Vic General/UVic via Richmond (No.14): 8,993

Royal Oak Exchange/Esquimalt (No. 6): 10,969