Arrow and Slocan Lakes Community Services (ASLCS) has added a new route to its bus schedule, this one going to Revelstoke.
The first run for the bus was June 13.
The idea behind the Revelstoke bus was to expand the route to broaden the services for residents.
“Transportation has been and continues to be a challenge for those residents who are dealing with medical and can’t transport themselves,” said Louella Cann, the Better At Home coordinator at ASLCS. “I think it will take a lot of stress off of the families and the individuals and give them more independence.”
The bus, which was donated by the Arrow Lakes Health Care Auxiliary, will leave the ASLCS parking lot at 7 a.m. every Tuesday, taking residents to various locations and appointments, returning to Nakusp around 6 p.m.
Having the new route to Revelstoke will be beneficial to residents in the area, as there will be services and amenities offered not available here in the village, such as an optometrist, outpatient procedures at the hospital, a location for the Canadian Hearing Centre, an airport, and a Greyhound depot.
The cost is $15 for a round trip and $7.50 for a one-way trip.
“The bus somewhat works a bit like a taxi where the driver will drop you off at your appointment and then pick you back up,” said Barb Pozenikoff, manager of finance at ASLCS. “It’s not really a matter of a specific place in Revelstoke, but whatever the needs are for the passengers on the bus.”
The bus for the route seats 16, plus space for wheelchairs. As with other bus routes at ASLCS, passengers with medical appointments have priority seating.
Along with this route, the Better At Home program is launching a grocery route.
This route will run on the third Tuesday of every month, taking residents from around the region to do their shopping. The fare is by donation, and residents will be picked up and dropped off at their home.
While these routes are important for a rural area like Nakusp, Cann said it’s important to recognize and thank those involved with these programs.
“The service we provide wouldn’t be available without our volunteer drivers and all the generous funding made available in different sources in the community.”
