After nearly four years of work, a new evening bus pilot is finally running in B.C.’s Columbia Valley, giving residents another way to get around after regular transit service ends for the day.
The Late Bus runs from Edgewater in the north to Canal Flats in the south, with 26 stops across eight communities.
For students in the David Thompson Secondary School Climate Action Club in Invermere, seeing the bus on the road marks the culmination of a campaign that continued through several graduating classes.
“I never thought that we would actually have our own bus,” said student Charlotte Gorman.
Students pushed for change
The Climate Action Club began looking at transportation after identifying limited access to after-school activities as an equity issue.
Former club member Virginia Dunchuk said the project was born from her observation of a larger issue in the valley.
“For me personally, it was just seeing a bit of a gap in our community there and wanting to do something about that,” she said.
They surveyed residents, made a video and presented their case to local governments.
The survey drew more than 150 responses, with many people pointing to limited schedules, infrequent service and a lack of evening and weekend options.
“Students have been the driving force behind this,” said Michelle Rievaj, the club’s teacher sponsor, adding that they continued pushing for years to see the idea realized.
The work continued beyond the graduation of some of the students who were involved at the outset.
One challenge was how to demonstrate demand for regular evening service before such a service existed.
“They needed some way to show the need. But we couldn’t do that unless we had a bus running,” said student Naomi Rievaj.
From advocacy to a private pilot
Wildsight Invermere worked with the students to turn the idea into a temporary shuttle.
Tracy Flynn, regional board director of Wildsight, said the organization provided connections, grant-writing and administrative support as the project developed.
About $15,000 in funding from Columbia Basin Trust and local governments is supporting the two-month pilot.
The service is separate from the existing B.C. Transit system and it being delivered by Valley Vibes, a local shuttle company.
CBC News requested an interview with B.C. Transit and received a written statement.
“Decisions around routes, service levels and schedules are made by our local government partners, with recommendations and support from B.C. Transit,” the statement said. “As this evening service will be delivered outside of B.C. Transit’s schedule and resources, our organization is not involved in its operation.”
Invermere Coun. Theresa Wood said that rural communities often have unique transportation needs. She said the new service is already having an impact on some local families.
“I’ve been hearing from a lot of parents how happy they are that their kids can stay. The parent doesn’t need to travel in to pick them up,” Wood said.
Ridership could shape what comes next
Organizers will monitor ridership and gather community feedback to assess demand for regular evening service and inform potential requests for longer-term funding.
The findings could help shape whether evening transit continues after the pilot ends.
Former club member Ursula MacIntosh said the group had worried the project might lose momentum after they graduated.
“It’s so wonderful that it’s continued … and it’s finally happening,” she said.
For Rosie Phelps, a current member of the Climate Action Club, seeing the bus finally on the road has brought the project full circle.
“If there is something that you need changed in your community to benefit, just take initiative and start it because even if you’re just a group of students or like a group of people, then you can probably make it happen.”
The eight-week private shuttle pilot is open to everyone and runs until Nov. 13.