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Still waiting for the bus

Summerland has bus shelters in place, but anyone who waits there to catch a bus to Penticton will be waiting a long time.

The delays have become annoying.

Summerland has bus shelters in place, but anyone who waits there to catch a bus to Penticton will be waiting a long time.

A scheduled bus service has been identified as a need for many years and the shelters were set up in hopes of bringing in that service.

While Summerland Transit offers rides to Penticton, those who wish to use this service must book space in advance. The bus operates Monday to Friday, twice a day, with an additional run on the first Tuesday of the month.

Even if one wishes to reserve a spot on the bus, the schedule will be inconvenient for many.

For those who work in Penticton — close to one in three working Summerlanders — the route schedule is unworkable for most if not all.

For those who wish to take a trip into Penticton in the evenings or on the weekends, there is no transit service available.

Since there are also many in Penticton who come to Summerland for work, recreation or other reasons, a transit service would also benefit them by providing an additional transportation option.

The provincial government has been pushing for green initiatives for several years. Offering a scheduled transit service between Summerland and Penticton would fit in with this goal.

Because of this, we do not understand why the province has been dragging its heels in making a decision on the bus service.

Summerland cannot get a suitable bus service in place alone. It will take assistance from the province to make this happen.

In a few weeks, Mayor Janice Perrino will ask provincial officials once again about the status of a transit service for the community.

This time, we need action, not just hollow promises.