With Penticton’s lake-to-lake bike route in mind, BC Transit is making a pair of service changes in the city this September.
In collaboration with the City of Penticton and the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, BC Transit is changing schedules and making interim changes to five different routes, effective Sept. 19:
• Route 1, Lake Okanagan/Wiltse
• Route 5, Main Street
• Route 15, Night Route
• Route 16, Lake-to-Lake
• Route 20, Okanagan Falls/Penticton
The most significant changes are coming to Main Street’s Route 5, according to Jamie Weiss from BC Transit.
“The bike lane required us to alter our schedules a little bit,” he said.
For the purpose of avoiding the bike lane on Route 5, BC Transit will no longer make a stop at Martin Street and Lakeshore Drive. The Penticton Plaza on Duncan Street at the A&W will replace the route’s former last stop.
On Sept. 6, meanwhile, BC Transit says regular service changes will return to Route 10 (Naramata/Penticton) and Route 16 (Lake to Lake).
To further accommodate the bike lane, BC Transit has released a special Rider’s Guide for people in Penticton.
All of BC Transit’s fall changes in the South Okanagan can be found here
As a result of the modifications, some bus stops will be closed. Ahead of the route changes, signage will be posted on stops to notify riders of all of the upcoming closures.
The community will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the realignment of the routes, as part of BC Transit’s public engagement process.
“We want to make sure the public is happy with where the stops are in relation to the bike lane,” Weiss said.
More information on how the public can get involved with BC Transit’s engagement period will be made available in the coming weeks.
READ MORE: Help shape the future of transit in the South Okanagan