The Chilliwack
Progress Thursday
37
Sports
3
23
News
Scene
Chiefs
Awarded
Return
Chilliwack Chiefs adding to ownership group.
For Chilliwack residents awarded Jubilee medals.
A return home for Mystery Machine.
Y O U R C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R • F O U N D E D I N 1 8 9 1 • W W W. T H E P R O G R E S S . C O M • T H U R S D AY, D E C E M B E R 6 , 2 0 1 2
B.C. retreats on flu vaccine edict, for now No punishment for health workers who refuse shots, masks Jeff Nagel Black Press
The province has granted a one-year reprieve from its directive that health workers wear a mask this flu season if they refuse to be vaccinated. Those who don’t comply won’t be disciplined, deputy health minister Graham Whitmarsh said in a Nov. 30 letter to health authorities. Enforcement that was to begin Dec. 1 is on hold while the ministry carries out more consultation with unions and other affected staff to help determine how best to fully implement the flu control policy, he said. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Perry Kendall gave the needle-or-mask order this summer, citing an inadequate flu immunization rate of less than 50 per cent among B.C. health care workers despite free shots and much encouragement. But unions denounced the policy as a privacy violation, saying the threat of discipline to compel unvaccinated workers to wear masks would have forced them to disclose their decision not to get a flu shot. Those who did get vaccinated were expected to wear badges or pins to assure patients they were immunized. Health Sciences Association of B.C. president Reid Johnson said the union encourages its members to be vaccinated but defends their right to choose. Continued: FLU/ p5
The streamlined No. 1 Vedder bus route now runs every 20 minutes in a north-south direction, which is the main reason why some users said the Chilliwack transit system is better than it used to be. JENNA HAUCK/ PROGRESS
Riders want express bus between Chilliwack and Abby Jennifer Feinberg The Progress
The new Vedder-Yale corridor bus that comes every 20 minutes in Chilliwack is a big hit, according to the 2012 Transit Survey. A full 60 per cent of recent survey respondents said the fact that the No. 1 Vedder bus runs more frequently was the “main reason” why bus service is better now than before transit improvements were implemented last July. Rod Sanderson, city transportation manager reported to Chilliwack council Tuesday that 350 surveys were completed aboard buses, at the mall, and at city hall. He shared select results of the survey with council, reflecting data and numbers
collected by city and transit officials over the past five months. A solid 55 per cent said they were “very interested” in an express bus service between Abbotsford and Chilliwack. That number jumps to 74 per cent, if the 19 per cent who said they were “somewhat interested” is added. The survey took a crack at rating the transit system now compared to before, with its streamlined routes, more direct service to Walmart and Stream and UFV, and more. A total of 40 per cent rated it either a little better or much better. Asked to name the main reason transit is worse now compared to before July 2012, they cited reasons like: nearest stop too far to walk (32 per cent) or
areas not being served (21 per cent) or 18 per cent who said the bus routes and stops had moved and changed. Fourteen per cent said it was “less accessible” for seniors and disabled riders. A full 34 per cent of respondents asked for service improvements that would see increased service hours, starting earlier or going later in the day. Another 32 per cent asked for better neighbourhood route service to reduce the distance they have to walk to a bus stop. There was a seven per cent rise in ridership over the same period last year. “So that’s encouraging,” said Sanderson. He described the No. 1 route as carrying most of the weight of the system.
Councillor Ken Popove noted the increase in ridership. “That’s great, but still in neighbourhoods sometimes we can see buses lumbering around with no one in them.” Sanderson said they’ll be reviewing survey results and will “geolocate” where some of the issues are arising with senior and mobility challenged transit riders. He said they’re looking to make further improvements in 2014. Mayor Sharon Gaetz said one of the challenges is how buses will be full in the early mornings, but ridership will see a lag by midday, before getting busy again in late afternoon. “Some people asked why not use smaller buses,” but it’s not that simple. Continued: TRANSIT/ p6
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