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Bamberton Internal Transit INTERNAL MINIBUSES (1) What is the purpose of having an internal minibus/transit service ? • - To minimize the frequency of cars on neighbourhood streets by providing an alternative means of getting around from one neighbourhood to another. (Residents consideration) • - To strengthen the argument for narrow streets, in terms of reduced vehicle use (MoTH consideration) • - To provide a Bamberton feature "trade mark" - the experience of travelling on the Bamberton Bus being something visitors & residents remember, love, and talk about. (Sales/marketing consideration) • - To demonstrate the commitment to sustainability re energy-use, reduced traffic, & full mobility • (Livability/Sustainability/Environmental Assessment consideration/reduced CO2 + ecological footprint) • - Reduced ownership of second car (Sales consideration) (2) What community needs should the ideal service meet ? • - 'Jitney' pick-up service • - Connection village to village, & to Town Centre • - Connection to Mill Bay/ Duncan • - Shopping & commercial goods delivery service • - Bicycle trailer service • - Informal message, drop-off & "what's going on" service • - Tourist & visitor service • - Sales/Promotion Bus - Tour Guide (3) Ownership & financing possibilities (a) Community ownership & operation, managed through the Community Utility, or a non-profit Bamberton Transportation Society. (Shares = yearly pass for residents) (b) Private ownership and operation as a business. (c) Other - How to raise & repay the capital to purchase & fit out the first bus ? (4) Initiation & management possibilities (a) South Island gives a written to commitment research, develop, and get the most appropriate service going through one of the above, and underwrites the service financially for first 5 years (recouped through development cost charges), as an essential community service. (b) SIDC researches, and prepares terms and conditions for an appropriate system, and then offers it on 1 year renewable license to an operator (private or community), with or without financial underwriting. (5) Street & Neighbourhood Design Considerations - What is the MoTH argument about Bamberton not being transit-friendly ? - Neighbourhood centre & Town Centre bus stop arrangements - En-route bus stop/jitney arrangements (6) Practicalities - Optimum size of bus - Most practical bus-routes through the neighbourhoods - Pedestrian distance from houses to the bus route; % of households within 5" walk of a bus stop - Optimum number of bus-stops to facilitate travel time + pick-up convenience - Phasing. Logistics of running the service 10 years on, with 6,000 residents. Bus depot ? PARK & RIDE FACILITY - The merits of establishing a park & ride facility for visitors - Reduces the trail of cars through the town, and to the town centre - Reinforces the message that Bamberton is "something special, something different" - Reduces parking space requirements at Neighbourhood Centres &Town Centre - Optimum location - Operating, security & financial procedures GOLF CARTS - Can we locate a local cart for hill & distance trials at Bamberton ? - How will they integrate with cars, & neighbourhood centre parking arrangements ? - If they are feasible, how can we facilitate their supply and sale ? - Rental/lease/community purchase ? - Will too many carts undermine the critical mass needed for internal transit ? - Electric bikes (Eric Neilsen, Canada franchise holder) Guy Dauncey, November 25th 1994 |