The snow Victoria drivers have been dreading has now arrived and there are no signs of it letting up, which will have a major impact on road conditions throughout the city.
BC Transit is still mostly up and running with some exceptions, this Monday morning.
According to their most recent service impacts update, the following routes are being affected by the snow:
- R-4 – Not using Penwill layover in 27/28 Bay Detour L Blanshard L Courtney
- R-6 – Not Servicing Chatterton and Emily Carr stay on West Saanich Road
- R-14 – Back to regular route Richmond/Cedar Hill VGH from Craigflower R-Admirals, L Trans-Canada Highway R- Helmcken to regular route
- R-21 – Not Servicing Viaduct/Markham Technology Park: Terminate at Camosun College
- R-22 – Not Servicing Hastings/Holland or Wilkinson Road using Burnside, Helmecken and reverse
- R-24 – Not Servicing Wilson Rd Esquimalt, Head and reverse
- R-26 – Not servicing past Uptown
- R-30 – Not servicing Carey, Ridgebank, Vanalman; Route as R-31 north McKenzie
- R-32 – Route Via Pat Bay to Sayward in one direction only
- R-35 – Service currently suspended
- R-49 – Buses are not servicing Bear Mountain. An updated route will travel via McCallum, left on Leigh, left on Goldstream, right on Carlow, right on Dunford, right on Leigh, right on McCallum
- R-52 – Not Servicing Bear Mountain, but using Millstream roundabout
- R-53 –Not servicing Strandland/Selwyn/Atkins/West Goldstream; Goldstream to Colwood Exchange and reverse
- R-57 – Not Servicing Gourman Gouldie Loop Using Bellamy R-Phelps
- R-72 – Not Servicing Island View Road: Pat Bay, Mt Newton & Reverse
- R-75 – Not servicing Tanner Hill Benvenuto or Verdier Loop NB Pat Bay, Mt Newton to Saanich exchange & SB Saanich Exchange, Wallace, East Saanich, Mt Newton, Pat Bay Highway
- R-81 – Not Servicing Benvenuto, but using West Saanich in Brentwood then left Wallace to regular route
- R-83 – Not Servicing Benvenuto or Verdier Loop, instead using Quayle, Beaver and Beaver Lake Road, straight on West Saanich, West Saanich, Interurban & Reverse
- R-85 – Not Servicing Madrona/Lands End Road Remain on West
- R-87 – Not servicing Dean Park, buses will remain on East Saanich
The above BC Transit updates were provided at 1:28 p.m. and will be updated further throughout the day.
BC Transit says that all routes not listed above are operating as normal.
However, transit-users are warned that conditions can change quickly and if more routes are impacted, BC Transit will continue updating the community.
Additionally, BC Transit wants to share some tips for those using buses in these winter conditions to help the drivers out and have everyone arrive at their destinations safely.
BC Transit recommends that if someone’s usual stop is on a hill, they do their best to get to a stop on more level ground, bus-goers use a light or reflective gear to flag down the bus in poor visibility conditions and people step back from the curb when the bus approaches.
BC Transit users are also urged to consider their footwear in slippery conditions and are being reminded to have their bus pass or fare ready so the bus is not delayed more than it needs to be.
Monday’s snowfall may be just the beginning, as Environment Canada predicts that snow will be in the forecast until Thursday at the earliest.
The most up-to-date information can be found on the BC Transit customer alert page.
