Share your favourite memory with the Whistler Transit Tales contest
Whistler, B.C. – Twenty-five years ago the Whistler Transit System began operations, and this December BC Transit and the Resort Municipality of Whistler are celebrating a quarter of a century of delivering local bus service to the resort community in all weather conditions.
Residents and visitors of Whistler are invited to celebrate on Thursday, December 1. Celebrations include free transit service all day as well as live music at Gondola Transit Exchange from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Come and hear Will Ross and get a 25th anniversary chocolate and flashlight.
Residents and visitors can also participate in the Whistler Transit Tales contest from December 1 to December 15 for a chance to win a six-month bus pass. To enter, share your most memorable Whistler Transit experience at bctransit.com/whistler/contest. Winners will be announced on December 20, 2016.
“Celebrating 25 years in Whistler gives us time to reflect on the great transit operators and staff that have worked hard to provide the service to customers, and I’m proud of the service we’re able to offer,” said Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, Todd Stone. “Improvements to the transit system will continue in Whistler with the multi-year transit expansion beginning in April 2017, the upcoming introduction of a new Compressed Natural Gas fueling station and real-time bus tracking technology in 2018.”
Added Whistler Mayor Nancy Wilhelm-Morden: “I have heard many compelling stories from members of our community and visitors to Whistler about their positive experience taking transit, and this helps us to continue supporting improvements to transit services. The contest provides a great opportunity for people to share their stories about riding transit in Whistler, and I look forward to hearing them.”
The Whistler Transit System started operations on December 1, 1991, with three routes and five buses serving all neighourhoods transporting 489,000 passengers in its first year. Twenty-five years later the Whistler Transit System has grown with the resort community to welcome over 2.5 million passengers on 25 buses that operate eight routes.
“BC Transit and the Resort Municipality of Whistler should be proud of the Whistler Transit System partnership that has been created and developed into the fine public transit service it has become,” said Jordan Sturdy, the MLA for West Vancouver –Sea-to-Sky. “I look forward to continuing to work with the local partners to expand the service both in Whistler and in the region.”
Ridership continues to grow in Whistler, and the partners are continually working on innovative ideas to encourage people to take transit. This past summer on Saturdays from the August long-weekend through Labour Day, the Resort Municipality of Whistler increased transit service levels and offered transit for free on Saturdays. Whistler also offers free transit for special celebrations including Halloween at Tapley’s Farm and New Year’s Eve. All buses in Whistler also are equipped with exterior bike racks from April through November.
“For 25 years, public transit has played an integral role in the sustainable growth and development of the Resort Municipality of Whistler,” said Brian Anderson, BC Transit Vice-President of Operations and Chief Operating Officer. “It is exciting to mark this milestone and reflect on the successes as we prepare to invest in additional sustainable transportation choices for the future.”
For more information about the history of the Whistler Transit System and upcoming celebrations through the year, please visit bctransit.com/whistler.
Media Contacts:
Jonathon Dyck, Communications Manager
media@bctransit.com
250-995-5720
Communications, Resort Municipality of Whistler
communications@whistler.ca
604-967-3030
