TransLink RapidBus Ridership Surges 160% as Vancouver Police Issue Road Safety Warnings

Public transit ridership and SkyTrain expansion plans remain key topics across Metro Vancouver. Daily Hive reported that ridership on TransLink's R2 RapidBus has jumped 160% following a route extension connecting the North Shore to Metrotown. Alongside bus service growth, political debate and construction work around the SkyTrain network continue to draw attention. Daily Hive published an overview examining where the BC NDP, the Conservatives, and the Greens stand on extending the SkyTrain line to UBC. In a separate opinion piece, Daily Hive noted that while promising a SkyTrain extension to Newton is easy, building it right is harder.

Ongoing SkyTrain construction is also affecting road travel in the region. According to Daily Hive, more overnight road closures are coming for Surrey-Langley SkyTrain construction. At the same time, police and news outlets are highlighting pedestrian and driver safety in Vancouver as October progresses. CityNews Vancouver and CTV News both reported that a 7-year-old girl was hit by a car in East Vancouver. CityNews Vancouver attributed the report of the collision involving the 7-year-old girl to the Vancouver Police Department, while CTV News reported that the East Vancouver incident prompted a warning for drivers as daylight wanes.

In another public safety update, the Vancouver Police Department reported that officers are searching for a missing 59-year-old man with dementia. These police responses and road safety warnings come as seasonal weather conditions settle over the city. According to a report from Daily Hive, the weather forecast for the final week of October calls for classic, chilly Vancouver weather across the region as the month comes to a close.