Our local ferry service in BC was stuck into a 'private corporation' about 10-12 years ago, so that the provincial government could hide a whole load of 'losses' on their books and "balance" the budget.
We now have the worst off all possible worlds, with a 'closed shop' ferry staff with grandfathered-in salaries and overtime figures, an upper-tier management who feel they have to be paid commensurate to their private sector peers, and a business plan that makes no allowance for the fact that they are literally part of the highway system… and thus the rural routes cost more than the profitable Mainland/Vancouver Island runs, and there is now constant talk of cutting ferry services and increasing fares ever higher.
But yes, as long as management are paid their obscene salaries, that's the most important thing.
Oh, and while I'm on a rant, the latest CEO/vice-president wrote a piece basically telling everyone on the smaller islands to STFU about the higher costs, and how usage was way down, as we were only hurting ourselves by broadcasting how expensive it had gotten to get on and off the islands.
Nah, although some competition would be a wonderful thing! The only alternative to rowing or swimming is scary (as in expensive and, well, scary) floatplanes.
All separate routes, going from different terminals, nothing joined up – it's a carve-up.
Black Ball goes from Victoria to the Olympic Peninsula from Spring thru Fall (Victoria Clipper is passenger-only direct to Seattle). When I get my bike back on the road, I'm definitely taking it as part of a planned road trip.
I actually took the Washington State Ferries through the San Juans to Anacortes a few years ago too, and the ferries were a bit rusty, but smooth and cheap (same as the ferries across the Puget). We have an old clunker and a few roll-on roll-off cuties that service those annoying Canadian citizens (and disenfranchised taxpayers such as myself) who insist on living on all the small "unprofitable" routes.
Our local ferry service in BC was stuck into a 'private corporation' about 10-12 years ago, so that the provincial government could hide a whole load of 'losses' on their books and "balance" the budget.
We now have the worst off all possible worlds, with a 'closed shop' ferry staff with grandfathered-in salaries and overtime figures, an upper-tier management who feel they have to be paid commensurate to their private sector peers, and a business plan that makes no allowance for the fact that they are literally part of the highway system… and thus the rural routes cost more than the profitable Mainland/Vancouver Island runs, and there is now constant talk of cutting ferry services and increasing fares ever higher.
But yes, as long as management are paid their obscene salaries, that's the most important thing.
Oh, and while I'm on a rant, the latest CEO/vice-president wrote a piece basically telling everyone on the smaller islands to STFU about the higher costs, and how usage was way down, as we were only hurting ourselves by broadcasting how expensive it had gotten to get on and off the islands.
SHORTER: yeah, fuck those guys.
Oh here's a linky to the "don't complain" bullshit, for those of you interested…. http://www.theprovince.com/news/Smyth+Blaming+cus…
Are they in direct competition with the Black Ball Line? I haven't ridden one since 1963, and it wasn't me paying the fair, so I don't have a clue.
Nah, although some competition would be a wonderful thing! The only alternative to rowing or swimming is scary (as in expensive and, well, scary) floatplanes.
All separate routes, going from different terminals, nothing joined up – it's a carve-up.
Black Ball goes from Victoria to the Olympic Peninsula from Spring thru Fall (Victoria Clipper is passenger-only direct to Seattle). When I get my bike back on the road, I'm definitely taking it as part of a planned road trip.
I actually took the Washington State Ferries through the San Juans to Anacortes a few years ago too, and the ferries were a bit rusty, but smooth and cheap (same as the ferries across the Puget). We have an old clunker and a few roll-on roll-off cuties that service those annoying Canadian citizens (and disenfranchised taxpayers such as myself) who insist on living on all the small "unprofitable" routes.
Now where did I put my knitting needles?