Student-led evening bus pilot launches in B.C.'s Columbia Valley
Columbia Valley late bus pilot adds evening transit after years of student advocacy 26 stops connect Edgewater to Canal Flats, helping riders reach activities and home
An eightweek evening bus pilot has started in British Columbia's Columbia Valley after years of advocacy by students in Invermere. The new Late Bus runs from Edgewater to Canal Flats, with 26 stops across eight communities, and is meant to provide transportation after regular service ends for the day.
The effort was led by members of the David Thompson Secondary School Climate Action Club, who said limited transit made it harder for students and others to attend afterschool activities and get around in the evening. They surveyed residents, shared their findings with local governments and worked with community partners to move the idea forward.
Wildsight Invermere helped turn the proposal into a temporary shuttle service, supported by about $15,000 in funding from Columbia Basin Trust and local governments. Organizers will track ridership and collect feedback to determine whether there is enough demand to support longerterm evening transit in the region.