VICTORIA – On July 1, Victoria will commemorate Canada’s 150th with a series of family-friendly activities, multicultural performances and local food vendors at Victoria’s Inner Harbour. BC Transit will join in, offering special bus services to help connect people to the festivities..
“BC Transit is proud to be able to play an important role connecting the community to Canada Day festivities,” said Manuel Achadinha, President and CEO of BC Transit. “We encourage people to choose BC Transit as a safe and efficient way to get around and enjoy all the events.”
Running on a regular Saturday schedule, the Victoria Regional Transit System will add extra buses as required on July 1. After the Canada Day fireworks, buses will be standing by along Douglas Street, ready for departure. Some bus routes will run later than usual, with the last buses leaving downtown between 1:15 and 1:30 a.m. Because of the large crowds expected that evening, a few regular bus stops downtown will close after 10:00 p.m. For details, please refer to the Victoria Regional Transit System Rider’s Alert.
During the day, the traditional Canada Day picnic on the Gorge will keep Gorge Road closed to all vehicle traffic between Admirals and Tillicum from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. BC Transit will run a shuttle from Tillicum Mall, following the regular route 11 to Gorge at Admirals, then detouring along Admirals, Craigflower and Tillicum. Temporary bus stops will be set up for the day, so passengers can connect with routes 14 General/UVic and 26 Dockyard/UVic.
In an effort to effectively transport people to and from the downtown core, parking will not be permitted in the bus and bike priority lanes on Douglas Street between Kings Road and Herald Street on July 1 from 5 p.m. to midnight. Implementing this restriction in the Douglas Street priority lanes will help reduce congestion for buses along this important transportation corridor. The City of Victoria will be posting no-parking signs along the corridor to alert drivers. Parked vehicles will be subject to fines and towing.
“Taking advantage of the bus and bike priority lanes on Canada Day will support a more efficient transit service and the movement of people in and out of the downtown core,” said Victoria Police Department’s Chief Del Manak.
BC Transit will work in partnership with law enforcement to make sure the celebrations remain safe and family-friendly. For the eighth year in a row, there will be no alcohol permitted on board BC Transit buses at any time on July 1. This applies to liquor in closed or open containers. We’ll post this information at bus stops in the days leading up to Canada Day.
Regular transit fares will apply on Canada Day, including the convenient $5 DayPASS. Passengers can purchase this pass on the bus and ride all day within the Victoria Regional Transit System. Under the Family Pass program, adults carrying any prepaid bus pass may bring up to four children 12 or under.
Due to heavy traffic, road closures and large crowds on Canada Day, we ask passengers to please be patient and anticipate transit delays and schedule changes.
For more information, service updates and alerts, visit bctransit.com
Media Contact
Jonathon Dyck
Communications Manager
BC Transit
media@bctransit.com
250-995-5720
