The Victoria Regional Transit System is celebrating the 20th anniversary of double decker buses in the region.
BC Transit is acknowledging the impact of these buses on the region, and the forthcoming retirement of the first 10 that entered service with several planned activities.
“A strong public transit system gets people where they need to go. Not only are Greater Victoria’s double deckers iconic – and fun to ride – their increased capacity gets more people out of their cars,” said Rob Fleming, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “Congratulations to BC Transit and Victoria Regional Transit Authority on this milestone.”
On Aug. 1, 2000, 10 double decker buses rolled into service and since then, have collectively logged more than 11 million kilometers (6.8 million miles). These were the first double decker transit buses in North America and BC Transit now has 67 in the fleet, providing safe, reliable and efficient travel for people across the region.
The original 10 are nearing retirement and to celebrate these iconic buses, BC Transit has produced a video series called Tales from the Top Deck, which will be shared on social media over the next two weeks.
“These double deckers have meant a lot to BC Transit employees and to the people that have used them to move throughout the region over the last 20 years,” said Aaron Lamb, vice president, asset management and chief sustainability officer. “These original 10 buses have certainly earned their retirement. They have changed the face of transit in Greater Victoria and we are thrilled to celebrate their legacy.”
One of the original buses will also soon hit the streets in the original design and color scheme, giving riders the chance to step back in time and relish the rich history of double decker buses in the Victoria Regional Transit System.
The retiring buses will be replaced by new double decker buses in early 2021.
