Welcome Aboard!

This is a general community service available to anyone in the community. However, hospital trips are a priority.

The Bella Coola Valley Transit System operates as a paratransit service. This means the service is door-to-door service for persons with a disability, and curb-to-curb service for others. Depending on where you live, you may need to meet the bus at a convenient and safe pick up location.

The transit service is funded by the Central Coast Regional Hospital District in partnership with BC Transit. Decisions on fares, routes and service levels are made by the Hospital District Board based on public feedback and information provided by BC Transit. The service is operated by the Bella Coola Valley Bus Co. Ltd.

When Service Operates

Monday to Saturday 7:30am-630pm.

There are six scheduled trips a day, with remaining service maintaining Dial-a-Ride service.

At certain times, when demand for service is heavy, you may be asked to re-schedule or modify your plans to fit in with other trips. Transit in Bella Coola is a "shared-ride" system and other passengers are picked up and dropped off en-route.

Rider's Guide

Current Rider's Guide

Download your current Rider's Guide. (400 KB PDF)

Booking a Trip

If you wish to book a trip or need further information, call 799-0079 24 hours ahead, Monday to Saturday between 8:00am and 6:00pm. Leave a message and someone will call you as soon as possible. It is important that you call the day before your required trip to ensure pick-up.

If your plans change and you do not need to travel as arranged, it is important that you call and cancel your trip. Someone else may be able to travel in your place.

Before You Call

Please be ready with the following information:

• your name and phone number
• which day you want to travel
• where you want to be picked up
• your destination and the time you want to be there
• when you want to return
• any special equipment you use (walker, wheelchair, cane, etc.)
• whether you will have an attendant or companion with you

An attendant is someone whose help you need to make the trip. He or she rides with you for free.

A companion is someone you'd like to come along with you. Companions pay the regular fare.

Office Hours

Monday to Saturday, 8:00am-6:00pm, with an answering service available 24 hrs a day.

Fares – Effective April 1, 2009

Buy your monthly pass on board the bus. If you are paying by cash, please have the exact cash fare ready when you get on the bus. Drivers do not make change.

Government of BC Bus Pass Program

A universal bus pass that allows for unlimited travel on your conventional transit system is available to seniors and persons with a disability on a restricted income.

To qualify for the BC Bus Pass Program, you must be receiving any of the following:

• Old Age Pension and Federal Guaranteed Income Supplement or Federal Spouse's Allowance;
  
• Spouses Allowance to Old Age Security;
  
• Over 65 years: would qualify for OAS and GIS except having less than 10 years residency in Canada;
  
• BC Employment and Assistance (60 years and older); or
  
• BC Employment and Assistance PWD Disability Assistance (18 to 64 years).

For more information, contact:
Toll-free: 1-866-866-0800 (Choose option 4, then option 3)

How to Catch the Bus

When you want to ride transit, you can call ahead to 250-799-0079 to book your trip, or you can wave the bus down from the street somewhere along the route.

If you are waving down the bus, find a bus stop sign or a safe location along the route, face the bus and wave at it as it approaches you. A safe location is one where visibility is good and where the bus can easily pull off the road, such as a driveway or postal box area. Make sure you are visible, especially at night. Carry a flashlight or stand in a well-lit area. To get off the bus, ask the driver to find a safe place to stop.

Contact

If you have comments about the service in general, opinions and suggestions for change, please contact:

Bella Coola Valley Bus Co. Ltd.
925 Mackenzie Highway
Box 783
Bella Coola, BC V0T 1C0
Phone: 250-799-0079
Email: bus@belco.bc.ca