This is part two of our two-part series on public transit in Nanaimo. In part one, we looked at what new plans BC Transit and the Regional District of Nanaimo are working on to provide better transit for residents. On top of hearing what new plans are in the works, we discussed the new Umo payment system. Umo is coming this fall to all BC Transit Routes allowing riders to pay with the Umo app or a new reloadable card. You can find part one here.

Today, in part two we will be taking a closer look at how students at Vancouver Island Univerity, AKA VIU are commuting to campus. While many students take transit to campus, some students say bus routes don’t work for them, and that parking on campus can be frustrating. We ask, what can be done?

In part one, I spoke with the RDN’s Senior Manager of Transportation Services, Darren Marshall, about what they are doing to make public transit better for riders in our region. Today in part two we continue our conversation with him, where he gives an update on some new projects aimed at VIU students.

Then we spoke with international students Harleen Kalra and Sonal Panwar over Zoom. They speak to the ups and downs of relying on public transit to commute to school and work. Both of them are currently full-time students; Halreen is getting her Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Sonal is getting her Master of Education in Special Education. Both also work full-time.

To get a better idea of what other students think about commuting to campus, we spoke with VIUSU’s Director of External Relations Caitlin Kellendonk about parking on campus, and the bus system.

Finally, we spoke with Richard Lewis, VIU’s AVP of Facilities and Ancillary Services about the concerns students have about parking on campus and what VIU is doing around parking. 

Find Show Notes and Transcripts here.

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Guests:

Darren Marshall — RDN Senior Manager, Transportation Services

Harleen Kalra — VIU Student and Public Transit User

Sonal Panwar — VIU Student and Public Transit User

Caitlin Kellendonk — VIUSU’s Director of External Relations

Richard Lewis —VIU’s AVP of Facilities and Ancillary Services