Welcome Aboard!
This is a general community service available to anyone in
the community. There are no restrictions on who can use the
service or for what trip purpose. We will do our best to accommodate
medical trips for specialists' appointments.
The Bella Coola Valley Transit System operates as a dial-a-ride
transit service. This means the service is door-to-door service
for persons with a disability, and curb-to-curb service for
others. Depending on where you live, you may need to meet the
bus at a convenient and safe pick up location.
The transit service is funded by the Bella Coola General Hospital,
the United Church of Canada in partnership with BC Transit and
the Central Coast Regional Hospital District. The service is
operated by the Bella Coola Valley Bus Co. Ltd.
When Service Operates
Monday to Saturday 8:00am-6:00pm.
There are two scheduled trips a day, with remaining service
maintaining Dial-a-Ride service. One scheduled trip leaves
Hagensborg daily at 8:00am, travels to Robin's Nest, and then
back to Bella Coola. The second scheduled trip leaves Bella
Coola at 5:30pm and travels to Robin's Nest.
At certain times, when demand for service is heavy, you may
be asked to re-schedule or modify your plans to fit in with
other trips. Transit in Bella Coola is a "shared-ride" system
and other passengers are picked up and dropped off en-route.
Additional evening and weekend service may be available as
the demand warrants. Please phone 799-0079 for details.
Where Service Operates
Service is provided all along the valley from Bella Coola to
Burnt Bridge Creek.
Booking a Trip
If you wish to book a trip or need further information, call
799-0079 24 hours ahead, Monday to Saturday between 8:00am and
6:00pm. Leave a message and someone will call you as soon as
possible. It is important that you call the day before your
required trip to ensure pick-up.
If your plans change and you do not need to travel as arranged,
it is important that you call and cancel your trip. Someone
else may be able to travel in your place.
Before You Call
Please be ready with the following information:
- your name and phone number
- which day you want to travel
- where you want to be picked up
- your destination and the time you want to be there
- when you want to return
- any special equipment you use (walker, wheelchair, cane,
etc.)
- whether you will have an attendant or companion with you
An attendant is someone whose help you need to make the trip.
He or she rides with you for free.
A companion is someone you'd like to come along with you. Companions
pay the regular fare.
Office Hours
Monday to Saturday, 8:00am-6:00pm, with an answering service
available 24 hrs a day.
Fares
| |
Cash Fare |
Monthly Pass |
| All passengers |
$2.00 |
$60.00 |
Fares – Effective April 1, 2009
| |
Cash Fare |
Monthly Pass |
| All passengers |
$2.50 |
$60.00 |
Buy your monthly pass on board the bus. If you are paying by
cash, please have the exact cash fare ready when you get on
the bus. Drivers do not make change.
Government of BC Bus Pass Program
A universal bus pass that allows for unlimited travel on your
conventional transit system is available to seniors and persons
with a disability on a restricted income.
To qualify for the BC Bus Pass Program, you must be receiving
any of the following:
- Old Age Pension and Federal Guaranteed Income Supplement
or Federal Spouse's Allowance;
- Spouses Allowance to Old Age Security;
- Over 65 years: would qualify for OAS and GIS except having
less than 10 years residency in Canada;
- BC Employment and Assistance (60 years and older); or
- BC Employment and Assistance PWD Disability Assistance
(18 to 64 years).
For more information, contact:
Toll-free: 1-866-866-0800 (Choose option 4, then option 3)
How to Catch the Bus
When you want to ride transit, you can call ahead to 799-0079
to book your trip, or you can wave the bus down from the street
somewhere along the route.
If you are waving down the bus, find a bus stop sign or a safe
location along the route, face the bus and wave at it as it
approaches you. A safe location is one where visibility is good
and where the bus can easily pull off the road, such as a driveway
or postal box area. Make sure you are visible, especially at
night. Carry a flashlight or stand in a well-lit area. To get
off the bus, ask the driver to find a safe place to stop.
Contact
If you have comments about the service in general, opinions
and suggestions for change, please contact:
Bella Coola Valley Bus Co. Ltd.
925 Mackenzie Highway
Box 783
Bella Coola, BC V0T 1C0
Phone: 799-0079
Email: bus@belco.bc.ca
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