Two local nonprofits have teamed up to help people learn about the transit system in Bancroft.
Sirch Warehouse bought 50 bus passes from Bancroft Community Transit, and they are giving them out for free in April.
BCT Director Gwen Coish said the hope is the passes will be used by people who are unfamiliar with BCT, which offers transit throughout Bancroft and surrounding areas like Maynooth and Coe Hill.
“It’s to promote people, you know, understanding what public transit is, getting on and off the bus. What does that mean? How do I do that?” she explained.
Coish spoke about BCT’s new “drive on demand” system, allowing people to request pick-up at their location, as opposed to waiting at a bus stop.
Coish offered an example of how it might work for someone,
“She’s calling in and she’s saying she has a doctor’s appointment at 10, and she needs a pick up at 9:30, and then, you know, they’ll be done around 10:30 or 11. Most times the doctor’s office will call us and say such and such is ready for pick-up”
We spoke with Thrift Warehouse co-lead Mary-Ellen Coghlan about how the on-demand initiative might help in the community,
“Certain seniors, they could maybe not get to the bus stop. Many people, they just don’t have the means to get to a bus stop that’s already there” said Mary-Ellen, “That’s why they’ve come up with this ‘drive-to-order'”
The passes are available at the Bancroft Community Transit office at 24 Flint St., near the Bancroft Library. They can be reached by phone at 1-613-332-8291.