Victoria buses get 'Standing Room Only' signs as BC Transit tackles pass-ups
Starting this week, BC Transit riders in the Greater Victoria service area have noticed a new message on the exterior digital signs of buses.
The new “Standing Room Only” messaging is intended to improve communications with passengers, and optimize all available standing room space and overall capacity onboard buses.
BC Transit’s buses in Greater Victoria have always carried standing passengers, but previously some bus drivers would pass by bus stops once all seats were taken and only limited standing room remained, according to the provincial public transit authority.
With this week’s change, supported by new messaging on the exterior digital signs, buses will now stop at every bus stop where passengers are waiting and allow additional riders to board, provided there is safe standing space behind the red line, where the driver’s seat is located. This gives passengers the choice to either board immediately or wait for the next bus. Of course, bus drivers will display the “Standing Room Only” message when all seats onboard are occupied.
As always, standing passengers are urged to continue moving to the back of the bus to enable more passengers to board.
BC Transit notes that this change is being implemented now in advance of September, when workers, students, and other commuters return to the system from their summer break. This is intended to help reduce pass-ups, with the Greater Victoria system being BC Transit’s busiest network.
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