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Shop owners’ view on the Free Ride Bus in Rossland

Our visitors tend to fly rather than drive. If we do not provide some way for them to get downtown they will miss much of Rossland.

As I read Jackie Drysdale’s letter to the editor regarding the Free Ride Bus I realized that there were Rosslanders with the same or similar questions.

I can tell you that as a downtown shop owner this is the second year we have directly contributed to the financial operation of the bus. I can also tell you we were quite happy to do so. I believe that the many businesses that were contacted did contribute, and quite happily.

We saw more visitors in our shop this past winter than since development at the ski hill began to take place.

Our visitors now tend to fly in rather than drive in. If we do not provide some way for them to get downtown they will miss much of what Rossland has to offer.

The money needed to make up the difference between what the businesses paid and what was needed is money from the Province paid back to the City via Tourism B.C..

I believe this is one of the best initiatives to be put forth for Rossland businesses in a long while and I am pleased that Tourism Rossland  has worked so hard to make it a reality.

I would also like to mention that “locals” are employed by these businesses.

We are also very okay with locals getting a “Free Ride.”