Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

The Vicinity is ready to roll

Wheelchair user James Ludvigson takes a city bus to get to his destination at least three times a week. So on Thursday he joined other area residents and local dignitaries at Penticton City Hall for a viewing of the 'Vicinity', a small, fuel-efficient bus that will soon hit the streets for a trial run.

“I am hoping this is going to be the cat’s whiskers,” he said, as he rolled up a ramp to the front door of the bus. “Because the bus is my main means of transportation.”

BC Transit’s Vicinity is a European-inspired community vehicle with seats for 23 and standing room for 16 more.

It features a low floor and ramp at the front door with kneeling capabilities to make it easily accessible to residents with disabilities.

Steve Harvard, senior regional transit manager for BC Transit, said the bus came about because the agency is always searching for something that will meet the demand in the province’s communities.

“It looks exactly like a conventional bus, except it is smaller, and what we have been doing is implementing this in a number of communities including Kelowna, Squamish and now Penticton to see if clients enjoy it,” he said. “So far we have orders for 15 already in.”

The five-week trial for the 'Vicinity' in Penticton will begin Monday.

Mayor Dan Ashton, who took a brief ride on the bus with other councillors Thursday, encouraged city residents to give it a try.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for us,” he said. “It’s environmentally friendly and the operating costs are substantially lower, but we want to ensure that all relevant factors are taken into consideration.”