BC Transit wanted everyone to get home safely on New Years Eve—or so the promotional material suggested. A story submitted (presumably by transit) to the Coast Reporter stated that on Dec. 31 Sunshine Coast Transit would provide “regular service with extended free evening service . . .”

I expected that to mean that buses would run after midnight.

My husband and I had been planning a night at the Gibsons Legion, dancing to Playback, an excellent party band. To party excellently, we’d drink.

So I decided to check the bus schedule to see when we’d have to leave the Legion. The story said readers could view a New Year’s schedule at  bctransit.com/sunshine-coast.

That page announced

“Bus service levels will vary in each BC Transit community for Christmas Day December 25, Boxing Day December 26, and New Year’s Day January 1.”

After the announcement there was a link, “Keep reading,” which led to

“Bus service levels will vary in each BC Transit community for Christmas Day December 25, Boxing Day December 26, and New Year’s Day January 1. If you are not sure what your local service levels are, please call your local customer service.”

So I called the customer service line at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 31. A recording said the office was closed. Then there was a list of links to information including lost and found, and trip planning. The “trip planning” message said to look at the BC Transit website.

Many people would stop right there, but I persisted. After Googling for 20 minutes I found a link to the New Year’s Eve schedule for the Sunshine Coast. Here it is. Note that the final bus going south from anywhere near the Legion left at 12:05 a.m.:

  • If I were leave the Legion five seconds after midnight, forgo the kisses and champagne, and huff down the hill, I could catch the bus at 12:05 a.m. But I’d have to race like a marathon runner. Google says it’s a 12-minute walk.
  • I could enjoy the kisses and champagne, walk to the bus stop, and wait in the rain for the next bus to come at 5:53 am.
  • I could ring in the 2020 New Year while it was still 2019.
  • I could drive my car.

I left for the Legion undecided and hoped that I’d get home safe.

Jan. 1 update: A friend drove me home. May you have a happy New Year and better bus service in 2020.