Christmas might be a little merrier if — before heading downtown to do some shopping — you think bus, bike, ride share or walking, Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps says.
The city has teamed up with B.C. Transit, car-sharing co-op Modo and the Downtown Victoria Business Association for the “Arrive and Shop” promotional campaign to encourage alternative means of transportation for Christmas shopping.
“I hope it makes a big difference,” Helps said at a news conference on the top floor of the Centennial Square parkade, using a Modo car-share vehicle as a backdrop.
“Part of the success that we’ve seen in Victoria in the last few years is [that] people are coming downtown to shop. Retail vacancies are down and there are more shopping choices. What we’re hoping is people will take this seriously.”
Helps said the four groups are trying to be proactive.
“Last year, there were lots of complaints and lots of worries [about parking]. So the four organizations have teamed up to make it easier for people to arrive and shop downtown, and for everyone to have a pleasant experience,” Helps said.
“What we’re looking for is for people to just give it a bit of extra thought. Is my neighbour going downtown today? Maybe I could co-ordinate with them and do some shopping or come at night because it’s not as busy.”
Helps, an avid cyclist who recently sold her car — a 2003 Toyota Echo — and joined car share co-op Modo, said it was a hard decision and that the transition hasn’t been without adjustments.
“Boy, I love Modo. I love my bicycle, but November was the most days of rain on record of any November — and boy, did I feel it,” she said.
Helps said the campaign is not geared at getting people to make permanent shifts.
“We’re not asking people to ride their bicycles every day. We’re not asking people to use Modo every day. What we’re asking for is for people to just give a little bit more thought about how they’re coming downtown over the holidays. That will make it nicer for them and nicer for everyone.”
The Arrive and Shop website offers about a dozen ideas of how people can shop downtown and lessen the headaches of parking. Suggestions include:
• Leave the driving to a professional and take a bus.
• Shopping pool. Book a car and share the costs with your colleagues.
• Take advantage free covered bike parking with electric-bike charging stations at four parkades.
• If you commute to work by foot, bike, and/or transit, get your shopping done after work and arrange for a car-share to take your packages home.
• Park a little farther out to save money at lower-fee on-street parking zones.
• Remember that kids 12 and younger can ride the bus for free along with an adult using a bus pass.
• Shop with friends using car-share and split the costs.
