In less than one month the city’s free bus service has seen overwhelming use, says Tourism Rossland.
The day and evening service transported a total of 2,327 passengers over the 17 days of operation in December for an average of 137 people per day. The highest use was on Tuesday, Dec. 31 with 315 passengers using the service.
Tourism Rossland executive director Deanne Steven said it was encouraging to see the wide range of users, including visitors, staff, locals, seniors and children.
“It proves that this initiative is of high importance to all Rosslanders,” she said. “It was never expected that this many people would be riding the bus, and it also demonstrates the importance of it being free to all riders.”
Steven said the service not only saved the city and its visitors some time, it has also saved the environment. Making a “quick carbon emission calculation,” Tourism Rossland determined the service has been responsible for a reduction of carbon emissions of 2.34 tonnes (based on a reduction of cars being used, and two people per car) in just one month.
The shuttle is operated by Betty Go Hard, which has employed seven people during the course of the winter and provided seven additional jobs to the local economy.
“Additionally, Interior Signs did a fabulous job on the shuttle wrap and design, as well as the shuttle signs, and Hall’s Printing designed and printed the schedule,” said Steven.
The project is already well utilized, and was the reason it was supported by over 40 businesses and organizations with $43,000 of contributions. The remaining funding for the project came from the Resort Municipality Initiative.
Although Rossland has not yet been confirmed in their quest to become a two-per-cent Resort Municipality Initiative community, Steven and the Tourism Rossland board felt that it was important to go ahead with the project in the interim.
For more information on this service please visit http://tourismrossland.com/winter-free-ride-ski-bus.
The following businesses and organizations contributed to the service:
- Alpine Drug Store
- Alpine Grind Coffee House
- Bear Country Kitchen
- Big Red Cats
- Butch Boutry Ski Store
- Cafe Books West
- Caffe Gabriella
- Canadian Ski Quest
- Casa Alpina
- Clansey’s
- Ferraro Foods
- Flying Steamshovel Pub and Inn
- Gabriella’s Caffe
- Gabriellas
- Gold Town Dining
- Idgies
- ISL Engineering and Land Services
- Jodie Ouimet
- Legacy Giftroom and Brewshop
- Mountain Nugget Chocolate Company
- Mountain Town Properties
- Nelson and District Credit Union
- Out of the Cellar
- Powderhound Sports
- Prestige Mountain Resort
- Rams Head Inn
- Red Barn Lodge
- Red Mountain Academies
- Red Mountain Resort
- Red Mountain Lodging
- Red Mountain Village
- Red Shutter Inn
- Rock Cut Pub
- Rossland Art Gallery
- Rossland Beer Company
- Rossland Chamber of Commerce
- Rossland Fine Wines
- Rossland Legion
- Rossland Motel
- Rossland Museum
- RossVegas
- Seven Summits Service
- Tails Pet Supplies
- The General Store
- The Red Pair Shoe Store