Powell River is accessible by ferry, but for those without vehicles, accessing those ferries is becoming increasingly difficult due to unreliable service offered by Malaspina Coach Lines.
City websites up and down the Sunshine Coast list Malaspina Coast Lines as the way to access their communities by the private bus line, but ask anyone in the know, from ferry workers to residents, and they will tell you not to count on that particular mode of transport anymore.
Powell River-based Facebook groups abound with tales of travellers marooned at Black Point as the bus decided either not to run, or to cancel a run at the last minute, sometimes with passengers aboard.
Malaspina Coach Lines’ website still beckons passengers with an enthusiastic “Welcome Aboard!” message. The only hint of something not being right is on the current schedule page, which says that scheduled service is under review. With very little information about whether or not the bus is running on any given day, it is a frustrating situation for all concerned.
Now, we do need to remember that Malaspina Coach Lines is a business and not a public service. While it might sound like good judgement to link ferry terminals by public transit, it is not a requirement.
Despite the bus service being nonessential, Malaspina Coach Lines is repeatedly discussed at city council with Mayor Dave Formosa reassuring citizens that the situation is being sorted out. These reassurances fall on deaf ears, however, as passengers remain stranded in Powell River, waiting for answers in lieu of a ride.
While a lucky few can afford the plane fare, for the elderly or those on fixed incomes there is little alternative to the coach than to cancel travel plans, doctors’ appointments and family visits. Local ride share groups are gaining traction, a safer alternative to hitchhiking, and a much cheaper option than the bus, but there’s still no set schedule or guarantee of a ride.
Would-be riders may look with jealousy at Sechelt, which currently has transit service to Langdale, while in Powell River transit only travels as far as Roberts Road, 10 kilometres short of the Saltery Bay terminal. If riders actually do get to Earls Cove, the need for Malaspina Coach Lines becomes evident again as public transit service only begins near Pender Harbour. Until transit service is reassessed, a daily private bus service to and from Vancouver is needed.
The result of an unreliable coach line is not just missed appointments or travel plans, but squandered opportunities as well. If Malaspina Coach Lines cannot make its business viable, perhaps it’s time to make way for a company who can.
