Cruise Tourism Partnership
Comment Complaint Compliment Suggestion
| User ID | GVHA_UID9 | Date | Jul 25, 2009 | Action | None taken |
| I was born in Victoria. I feel as though I'm sharing my city with friends from all over the world. I began driving a taxi in Victoria in 1985. Since then I have seen dramatic and subtle changes to our city. The future of Ogden Point article in the Times Colonist grabbed my attention. I understand there is a master plan being developed for the area. James Bay is a difficult area to deal with I'm sure. The historic homes, federal property, hotels, parliament buildings and tourist sites, to name a few, must create a most difficult job for the authority. I have experienced the difficulty with transportation. I also feel for those who have to deal with speeding taxis and loud smoky tour buses from the 70's. I believe there should be designated routes for slow traffic and for those who just want to get downtown. It is a pandemonium of traffic without direction. The short trip for the ships to the shops can cause many taxis to dodge, evade, pass and manoeuvre through James Bay like it's the obstacle course from hell. Horses, pedicabs, buses, cyclists and a whole gambit of other vehicles and obstacles must be negotiated to get back for the next customer. Commissionaires scramble to direct traffic, prevent lookie-loos from coming into restricted areas and crowd control directed to the next cab. It is difficult for the taxis to provide service to Pier A (far left by the Pilot Boat Station). Taxis experience something called back loading. Where the customers come from the back of the cabs will jump into the first one in front of them. Most drivers will direct people to the front of the line but many won't. They will take the people even though they are last in line, especially if they find out the people are going to Butchart Gardens or for a tour. Having the traffic drive through all crowds is also a mistake. The other problem arises where many taxis are waiting for the next ship to arrive. I've seen upwards of 50 taxis waiting where there isn't a designated holding area. Many get confused and have no idea where they stand in line. There needs to be designated lines and lanes to help keep order until the next rush. If you can imagine the BC Ferries terminal without any lanes for traffic to wait for the next boat. The need for traffic control is essential when multiple ship arrivals occur. It has been a welcome addition. More signage is needed to alert locals of where they can view the ships. There could be a holding area for 5 or more passenger taxis. Many people come looking for that need and have to go searching for the appropriate vehicle. The commissionaires have to look back in the line and wave for 5 or 6 with their fingers up in the air. I wish you all the best of luck in addressing the issues and creating something significantly wonderful for our beautiful city. Thank you to Paul Servos and the rest of the Harbour Authority for all the hard work. | |||||
Response
| Response from | Bob Barlow | Date | Aug 3, 2009 |
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Thank you for your comments and suggestions. As Rebecca mentioned, you may be interested in the initiatives of the Cruise Tourism Partnership. Through that organization which includes the James Bay Neighbourhood Association, designated traffic routes for all vehicles servicing Ogden Point as well as foot traffic have been developed. Regarding Ogden Point, I differ with your description of “Commissionaires scramble to direct traffic, prevent lookie-loos from coming into restricted areas…” The majority of the vehicle traffic operating under permit at Ogden Point, have been doing so for years and follow the designated routes. One commissionaire is stationed during peak times at the main access/egress point to prevent entry for non authorized vehicles. Although this commissionaire is occupied by motorists who ignore the four posted signs restricting access, he is not scrambling. The traffic flow pattern at Pier A was changed this year for the purposes of safety and efficiency. In order for passengers to clear the area in front of the Customs exit, it is necessary to direct them forward past both shuttle busses and taxis at the end of the line. This allows for the accumulation of passengers waiting for their selected mode of transportation away from the Customs area exit doors. This configuration you refer to as “back loading” is similar to other transportation centres such as the Victoria airport etc. This is a trial year for this traffic reconfiguration and if adopted, next year will have signage directing passengers to proceed to the front end of the line for both taxis and shuttle busses. Taxi drivers should understand and follow this system, whether at Ogden Point or elsewhere and generally do self police the process. For 2010, there will be a further traffic pattern reconfiguration at the Dallas Road points of access and egress, again for the purposes of safety and efficiency. Once all patterns have been finalized, additional signage will be incorporated, including directing general public vehicles. The number of cruise ship visits has been increasing substantially each year which has increased both commercial and public traffic. The adjustments to traffic flow patterns have been incorporated in a controlled manner and monitored for efficiency. Modifications have been incorporated and will continue to be with the goals of both safety and efficiency. Dramatic changes such as the Pier A area this year and the main access/egress area next year cannot be done during the season. Also they should not progress until the previous changes have been implemented and assessed. I am cognizant that Ogden Point is the first experience of Victoria for over 400,000 visitors during the cruise ship season. Our goal is to make the entire guest experience a pleasurable and rewarding one that will be communicated to the visitor’s family and friends. Like yourself, I was born in Victoria and am extremely proud of all our city has to offer. |
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