A group of Bowen Island residents held their second protest in as many weeks on Saturday to oppose service cuts and fare hikes on B.C. Ferries routes.
The latest demonstration in Snug Cove came just three days before fare increases came into effect April 1 and a month before service cuts to small ferry routes come into effect April 28.
B.C. ferry fares went up an average of four per cent on Tuesday.
But Alison Morse, a Bowen Island councillor and island representative on the ferry advisory committee, said for Bowen Islanders, the fares have actually gone up more than that - more than seven per cent in the last year when fuel surcharges are included.
Fares are now just over $46 for a round trip for a car and driver between Horseshoe Bay and Snug Cove compared to $44.25 before April 1 and $42.75 a year ago.
"I don't think anybody's happy," she said. "(The fares) were too high to start with."
Fares have also gone up on the Horseshoe Bay to Sunshine Coast route where a return trip now costs $66.20 for a car and driver, compared to $63.60 last week.
A one-way fare for a car and driver travelling between West Vancouver and Nanaimo is now almost $72, compared to $69 prior to April 1. Seniors - who used to travel free from Monday to Thursday - must now pay half a regular fare as well.
The ferry corporation also recently finalized cuts to its schedules aimed at saving money on smaller routes.
Bowen Islanders were successful in getting the ferry corporation to keep some of the early morning and later evening ferries on weekends by cutting ferries slightly later in the morning and earlier in the evening, said Morse.
She said that's good news for some shift workers who had been worried they wouldn't be able to get to work if the early morning weekend sailings were axed.
"We've had people who since last November have been totally stressed," she said. "These people have been through six months of angst for nothing."
Recently, a large number of Bowen Island residents signed a petition protesting the changes to the ferry system.
"I think people are fed up," said Morse. "They're wanting to get their message out to government.
"I'm hoping the government will listen, but they seem to be entrenched in a position."
