The Editor,
Re. “School commutes add to chronic traffic congestion” (Opinion, The Tri-City News, Jan 5).
The writer of the column, Mike Klassen, identified a big part of the morning traffic problem but failed to highlight the most obvious and easiest solution: transit buses.
Buses are a safer option compared to the cycling or walking that Mr. Klassen suggests. Commuting by bus is also more viable on the hilly terrains of the Tri-Cities. But TransLink’s “improvements” to bus service over the last couple of years have adversely affected bus connections for secondary schools such as Port Moody and Dr. Charles Best.
I have written to Coquitlam’s mayor and to TransLink explaining the need to make high schools a top priority for bus service. But the goal of previous service adjustments seems to have been the Evergreen Extension, not schools.
If we want the next generation to make sustainable commuting choices, then the first step is to increase bus service for high schools so that kids can start appreciating public transit at a young age.
Sanjeev Arya, Coquitlam
