At least a few commuters are warming up to TransLink – and that’s the problem.
Taking a ride in either of the two newest members of the SeaBus fleet – the Pacific Breeze and the Burrard Otter II – is like sealing yourself in a “sardine can,” according to frequent commuter and Lower Lonsdale resident Angela Schreiner.
Both vessels have working air conditioning, responded TransLink spokesman Chris Bryan.
“When you have a full load of 385 passengers the (Pacific Breeze) can get quite warm during the 10-minute journey, regardless of whether or not you have air conditioning,” he stated in an email.
The difference between the older and newer ferries is a matter of several degrees, according to Schreiner.
While the air conditioning is still “fantastic” in the older ferries, the newer vessels are stifling, particularly during summer days when nearly 400 sweltering commuters pile into a boat. “It’s (a health emergency) waiting to happen, and for such a silly reason,” Schreiner said.
While the ride across the reach is brief – between 10 and 14 minutes – the commute is still too long for someone with health problems, according to Schreiner.
“I’m 32, and if I’m having difficulty breathing and I feel faint and nauseated . . . think of people twice my age.”
Schreiner’s mother, Georgine, recently felt sick and dizzy after a particularly hot SeaBus ride.
“It was unbelievable,” Georgine said. “(There was) no moving air.”
The ride left Georgine depleted and fearful about the effect the heat had on her blood pressure.
Schreiner’s assessment of the old vessels versus the new ferries was corroborated by frequent SeaBus commuter Michael Doherty.
“The old Burrard Beaver and Otter had fantastic AC, like iceboxes on a hot day. The newer vessels compare poorly,” he stated in an email.
As a student who takes SeaBuses and SkyTrains daily, Schreiner is hopeful B.C.’s transit provider will shell out cold cash for cool air.
“I sold my car three years ago so I’m completely dependent on public transit,” she said, explaining that augmenting the air conditioning is one area where “cost savings are not recommended.”
Approximately 85 per cent of commuters gave SeaBus service a positive review in the first quarter of 2016, according to TransLink’s most recent customer survey.
SeaBus ridership rebounded in 2016 after TransLink recorded an all-time low in the last quarter of 2015.
