New Westminster ferry service extended to September 2
By Bex Peterson, Editor-in-Chief
New West residents hoping to cross the Fraser from Queensborough Landing to the River Market and back again will be able to do so with extended service throughout the summer.
The Q to Q ferry service, which takes passengers from the Westminster Quay to the Port Royal Public Dock in Queensborough and back again, has been extended once more for full summer service. From May 18 to September 2 the ferry service will be operating from 6 am to 8 pm Monday to Thursday; 6 am to 9 pm on Friday; and 9 am to 9 pm on weekends and statutory holidays. The ferry service runs on a half-hour schedule throughout the day, though the journey across the water itself only takes about five minutes.
The ferry vessels can carry up to 12 passengers at a time, with room for up to two wheelchairs and four bicycles per trip. Parents are also able to bring strollers aboard if necessary.
Pets are allowed on the ferry, though cats must be kenneled and dogs leashed and licensed. The official Q to Q website also advises that human passengers take priority, and that passengers with animals might have to wait for another ferry if one of the other passengers has an allergy.
The summer months are popular for the Q to Q ferry service, with ridership dropping over the colder and busier fall and winter months, according to the New West Record. A staff report to the New West city council this past December showed that ridership dropped to between one third to one half of what it was last summer.
“In-depth analysis of weekly ridership and weather effects show that the majority of reduction occurs during weekdays, regardless of weather impacts,” stated the report. “This implies that fall and winter commuting patterns have a greater effect on ridership than forecast rain.”
The report also stated that the City is looking to improve accessibility along the docksides and hopes to continue the service for “at least the next five years.”
The full summer service schedule is available on the City of New Westminster’s official website.
