One of the public speakers at the October 22 council meeting was Richard Goth, who drives the Bowen Island Community Shuttle bus. He had submitted a letter to council to raise awareness about the perils of the ferry line-up when it reaches the point where Grafton Road enters a two-lane stretch. "People line up around the corner and block the downhill lane," Goth said. "It is a difficult situation for drivers as they can't see around [the line-up] and have to move into the opposite lane."
The condition has grown worse in the last two weeks due to frequent overloads and Goth wrote in his letter, "The refit of the Capilano and the substitution of the smaller Bowen Queen emphasizes the need to significantly improve the top end of the ferry marshalling across from the corner with Mt Gardner Road. Presently, when the marshalling area becomes full, in spite of the 'No Stopping' sign, ferry travellers line up around the blind corner, on the single downhill lane on Grafton Road. This clogs the road and makes it impossible for non-ferry traffic to get past this area safely."
Goth suggests to be more specific in letting people know where the ferry marshalling should end.
"There needs to be clear signage telling drivers that they can't continue lining up on shoulder," Goth said, adding that an alternative place should be identified where the ferry line can continue. "Essentially, nobody gets on ferry when they are in that position," he said.
In his letter, Goth also suggested "signage emphasizing the futility of being in that place since no one there will be able to get a vehicle on the next sailing. This signage can tell them to wait elsewhere until after the ferry line moves down the hill during loading."
He advocates for a clear message that no stopping for ferry marshalling is allowed on Grafton Road and that proper enforcement by the police or the bylaw officer will support this endeavour.
