GERTIE: Gabriola's Community Bus Service

RDN Transit is conducting a Transit Redevelopment Strategy and they want to know what you think about how they can make Nanaimo’s Transit better.

This project is designed to create a 5-year plan to redevelop Transit within the Region to make it easier, efficient and effective to make transit your choice for transportation. In order to do this, they need input! If you ever use transit in Nanaimo please have your say.

A few items to get you started:

1. This project is looking at all things Transit, from bus routes, schedules, service to new areas, connections, accessibility, design of the service and customer amenities at bus stops.
2. This is Phase 1 of engagement so they want to receive feedback from as many sources as possible.
3. The main project page includes several ways to be involved including a survey, interactive map, place for ideas and general project info: www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/trs
4. You can access the survey here: : https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/trs/survey_tools/trs-survey
5. Phase 1 of engagement closes Friday, July 16, 2021

Eight years have flown by since Gertie began bus service on June 8, 2013! Since we can’t yet have a party with a big cake, Gertie will give you a gift instead: free bus service on Saturday, June 12 all day long. Please hum Happy Birthday to yourself when you get on the bus. Masks are required but party hats are optional!

Have you ridden our new bus Pegasus–Peg for short– yet? Thanks to Claudia Scacchi for suggesting the name. She has received a monthly bus pass. And here’s a nice tie to Gertie’s anniversary. Claudia won the prize for being the 10,000th passenger in April 2014.

Last chance to pick your favourite name from the top four contenders.

Click here for the survey!

Survey closes Sunday, April 11, 2021

Check out the new schedule that is going into effect on March 15th on the schedule page. The new schedule will be in effect until September 4, 2021.

The main change is the return on the weekday PM schedule ONLY to the two bus routes schedule. One step in the right direction which we hope you will find helpful.

Please remember that masks are still required on Gertie buses.

Have you submitted your name yet for the new bus (link below)?

You know the routine! Use the Survey Monkey link to submit as many names as you like.

Deadline for the first round: Monday, March 15, 2021. We’ll pick the 5 most popular names and ask you to vote for your favourite one.

Tips: keep the name short and please, no memorial names.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/76W8FLT

For everyone’s safety, please enjoy the snow at home today!

It’s easy to access many trails, parks and the beach from Gertie bus routes so get out and go for a walk!

Please help to put a bus in Gertie’s Christmas stocking!

Oh no! That fir tree wiped out our poor big white bus. It is a write-off so we must find a replacement.

You can help GERTIE in many ways:

Donate using e-transfer or Canada Helps. Go to “support” at www.gertie.ca

Become a monthly donor. Even a little bit a month is really helpful. Use Canada Helps at “support” at www.gertie.ca

Send GCBF a cheque: P.O. Box 165, Gabriola, BC, V0R 1X0

Use your Community Card at Nesters. Remember to specify GERTIE.

Use GERTIE’s Mid-Island Co-op number instead of your own: 1174762

Thank you.