GERTIE: Gabriola's Community Bus Service

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.

We have just 2 months left to raise $4,000 to put snow tires on the big buses, Bertie and Jay D.

Nesters Market is still honouring the Community Card program for 2020 and the Gabriola Community Bus Foundation (GERTIE) is one of the recipients. To date, we have raised $1,390 of the $4,000 needed for the snow tires. Gertie’s counting on your help to reach the goal.

Don’t have a Community Card? Sign up for one in-store, load it with some money and then when it is empty again watch as some of your grocery dollars help Gertie reach her goal. For every $100 spent, $5 is donated to the GCBF (GERTIE).

You are invited to the

Annual General Meeting

of the Gabriola Community Bus Foundation

Thursday, October 29, 2020 at 7:00 PM via Zoom

Send a message to gabriolacommunitybus@gmail.com to receive the link.

Please help GERTIE make her voice louder and stronger. Send a message to the candidate(s) of your choice asking them what they will do if elected to ensure that GERTIE gets her share of the federal money sent to the provinces to support public transit during the pandemic. GERTIE has spoken to our current MLA and has had several meetings with MOTI but to no avail. Ask for a prompt response.  Even if you have already voted by mail, please shout out for GERTIE.

Talking points:

• As an essential service, GERTIE has been operating throughout the pandemic.

• Following the lead of Translink and BC Transit, GERTIE operated for 10 weeks during the early stages without collecting fares.

• Passenger loads have been averaging around 45% of last year’s figures.

• Charter revenue is virtually wiped out.

• 40% of GERTIE’s annual revenue comes from fares, charters, donations and small grants.

• GERTIE is currently in service about 66 hours a week, excluding overtime from ferry delays.

• The RDN funding from your property taxes is based on 48 hours of service weekly.

• Unlike TransLink and BC Transit, community bus systems receive NO provincial funding.

Please help to keep GERTIE on the road. Let’s all shout together.