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Weekend ferry traffic dropped following tighter travel restrictions

B.C. Ferries saw a significant drop in vehicle and passenger traffic during the first weekend after B.C. announced tighter travel restrictions.
Swartz Bay ferry terminal
Swartz Bay terminal. Photograph by Darren Stone, Times Colonist

B.C. Ferries saw a significant drop in vehicle and passenger traffic during the first weekend after B.C. announced tighter travel restrictions.

On major routes, vehicle traffic was down about 50 per cent and foot traffic was down 65 per cent over the weekend compared to the previous weekend, said B.C. Ferries spokesperson Deborah Marshall.

“So definitely people are taking [provincial health officer] Dr. Bonnie Henry’s advice, which is good,” Marshall said. “We need to be breaking the curve or flattening that curve, so everybody needs to do their part.”

B.C. Ferries will refund any customers with reservations between now and Dec. 7 who would like to cancel or postpone their travel plans, she said.

The vast majority of passengers are aware of and following the mandatory mask policy on B.C. Ferries, Marshall said.

On Thursday, Henry asked British Columbians to avoid travelling within the province unless it’s essential, like commuting for work, medical appointments and hospital visits. The travel advisory is not an enforceable provincial health order, but Henry strongly discouraged British Columbians to postpone any non-essential trips.