Dear BC Ferries The one thing that amazes me is the many times that I have to come across to the island and half the time the ferries are half full and I think that this has to do with the fact that the costs of the ridership is too expensive. There is a break even point and I think that youre missing it when it comes to setting your prices. For example, if the fares are too high people will not ride, however if they are priced appropriately then the ferries will be full, that way you will be earning money and not losing it. I understand that running a corporation like BC ferries is not an easy undertaking,however, there needs to be some common sense apply to the situation. If you keep raising fares you will no longer get the riders that you do have. If you price the fares appropriately, then you will be able to fill up the ferries and get the income from those sales to support the business. Not only will you get it through the fares but you will get it through your gift shops, your restaurants, your cafés, etc. The more people that you can bring into or onto your facilities, are going to enable you to have greater profits. However, I believe that because the fares are set to high, i.e. beyond the break even point, you are losing that customer base. My personal opinion is that you need to go back to the drawing board and figure out where your break even point is. Shutting down necessary services, example Horshoe Bay to Nanaimo, should not be one of the options. Figure out the break even point, therefore, increasing your ridership, enabling you to be able to put money back into the business, and retrofit terminals such as Horshoe Bay to accommodate future ridership. We need to open up the islands and the coastal communities so that all BC residence and those visiting our province can fully enjoy the experiences they have to offer and bringing commerce to those area that are now suffering as a result of visitors choosing other locations to visit because it is to expensive to ride the ferry. Right now they seem a luxury for the very few that can afford your fares. The common middle-class family can little afford to enjoy a holiday in these areas, never mind those that find themselves having to commute from smaller islands to larger locations for some essential services. For my husband and I to travel to Vancouver Island to see our two children and their families over the last year for five trips has cost us close to $1000. That is the rate and any food we buy onboard. If the fares were lower, you would be seeing us once a month at least. Lets not forget that the BC ferries was initially set up to be an extension of Highway 1 - the trans Canada Highway. Your fares are essentially a toll to use this part of the highway. The tolls are too high. I know there is no easy fix however finding the break even point I think is the first step to increasing your ridership and operating a fiscally sound business. Dont get me wrong, I enjoy riding the ferries and using your services, I just think to ride the Ferries is too high and cost prohibitive for most people, including myself. I would definitely be riding them more if the price point was more appropriate Sincerely, Peggy Stoltz
Posted on: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 17:51:48 +0000
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