Transit strike: what you need to know during the transit shutdown in Metro Vancouver

Day 21 of the transit strike in Metro Vancouver, as the region prepares for a potential shutdown of bus and SeaBus services on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday next week.

The Premier, John Horgan, is calling on both sides in the transit dispute to get back to the bargaining table this weekend. He was speaking in the past half-hour.

His comments come as the Coast Mountain Bus Company has sent out a statement this lunchtime, once again calling on Unifor to agree to mediation.

This particular job action will not affect SkyTrain, Canada Line, West Coast Express or HandyDART service, or contracted shuttle services in Langley and on Bowen Island.

It also won’t have any effect on the West Vancouver Blue Bus system, which is operated by a different company.

Metro Vancouver Transit Police say they will also increase staff to deal with any crowding at SkyTrain stations.

But next week’s shutdown will impact the 350,000 people who take the buses every day in Metro Vancouver.

So let’s find out now about the contingency planning that’s being put in place - and how you can get around while services are cancelled.

Guest: Shawn Chaudhry

One of the people running a Facebook group for SFU carpooling

Guest: Selena McLachlan

Director of Marketing & Communications, Modo

Guest: Matthew Ramsey

Director of University Affairs at UBC’s Media Relations Department                       

Guest: Dave Wharf

Evo’s Senior Manager of Customer Operations

Day 21 of the transit strike in Metro Vancouver, as the region prepares for a potential shutdown of bus and SeaBus services on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday next week.

The Premier, John Horgan, is calling on both sides in the transit dispute to get back to the bargaining table this weekend. He was speaking in the past half-hour.

His comments come as the Coast Mountain Bus Company has sent out a statement this lunchtime, once again calling on Unifor to agree to mediation.

This particular job action will not affect SkyTrain, Canada Line, West Coast Express or HandyDART service, or contracted shuttle services in Langley and on Bowen Island.

It also won’t have any effect on the West Vancouver Blue Bus system, which is operated by a different company.

Metro Vancouver Transit Police say they will also increase staff to deal with any crowding at SkyTrain stations.

But next week’s shutdown will impact the 350,000 people who take the buses every day in Metro Vancouver.

So let’s find out now about the contingency planning that’s being put in place - and how you can get around while services are cancelled.

Guest: Shawn Chaudhry

One of the people running a Facebook group for SFU carpooling

Guest: Selena McLachlan

Director of Marketing & Communications, Modo

Guest: Matthew Ramsey

Director of University Affairs at UBC’s Media Relations Department                       

Guest: Dave Wharf

Evo’s Senior Manager of Customer Operations