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Frequently Asked Questions
Cruise Tourism Partnership - Frequently Asked Questions
CRUISE LINES
MOTOR COACHES
TAXIS
HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES
CRUISE LINES
Safe navigation means that large vessels have a need and a requirement to signal other vessels their position (in areas of restricted visibility) and of their intentions (when underway, or getting underway). In addition, not all operators of small vessels in the area where there is commercial traffic consistently monitor a marine radio. Therefore, the only way for a cruise ship to communicate with a smaller vessel is through the use of sound signals. These safety procedures are practiced in Victoria and around the world.
Cruise Line Agents work with their clients the cruise lines to minimize vessel announcements and signals while docked at Ogden Point. Cruise Line Agents work with their cruise line clients to monitor their outside speakers and announcements made on approach and departure from Victoria. Cruise Line Agents work with the cruise lines to promote shipboard staff awareness and understanding the importance of the CTP.
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MOTOR COACHES
Three reasons, first in order to reduce the total number of motor coach trips through the James Bay Community, the Cruise Tourism Partnership has requested a number of operators serving cruise ships position their vehicles at Ogden Point. This reduces motor coach trips through the community by two per coach every cruise ship arrival.
Secondly, some motor coaches have long term parking arrangements at Ogden Point, they are required to sign on to the Cruise Tourism Partnership.
Finally, a significant percentage of motor coaches are from out of town or do not serve the cruise industry. Due to limited parking in the City of Victoria for out of town coaches – vehicles have historically parked in the Robbins Parking areas at Ogden Point.
Over 400,000 guests arrive by Cruise Ship in Victoria on an annual basis. This is a significant portion of overall tourism to the area. While promotion of walking routes into downtown is significant, many guests are unable or unprepared to walk and opt take the shuttle services into downtown. An equal number take cruise ship shore excursions by motor coach to attractions such as Craigdarroch Castle or the Butchart Gardens. Over ten separate shore excursion options exist.
Over the past three years many motor coach operators have introduced bio-diesel. The two main shore excursion providers use bio-diesel blends of between 5% and 40%. The shuttle bus service from the terminal to downtown, operates on 100% bio-diesel for the entire cruise ship season. Two operators – Gray Line West and CVS Cruise Victoria have both participated with their entire fleets in ACOR Testing. This testing is provided by the Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement Branch and evaluates each motor coaches emissions by studying Diesel Particulate Matter, one of the most significant emissions. Testing is voluntary and more
Companies have indicated an interest in participating.
Properly maintained vehicles emit fewer pollutants and the industry takes significant effort in ensuring vehicles do not excessively smoke while in operation.
Transport Canada and the US EPA both have studied bio-diesel emissions and have noted reduced diesel particulate matter by as much as 80%, reduced SO2 by as much as 65%, Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide and Nitrated PAH. Bio-diesel is 10X less toxic then table salt and bio-fuel degrades 4X faster then diesel.
Bio-fuels that are supplied to motor coach operators in Victoria are presently made from Soy Esters. The Soy Esters actually come from a by-product of cattle feed that otherwise is largely waste. The crops are not grown to supply bio-fuels, they are grown for use as cattle feed which minimizes the total life-cycle greenhouse gases and other negative effects.
As a rule shore excursion operators ensure that their passenger loads are optimized with as many passengers as possible. These tours leave the terminal in loads of 70% or more on average. The tours may return with slightly fewer passengers at the end of the night when some passengers may be dropped off downtown for shopping or additional sightseeing.
The shuttle service operating to downtown is a managed service ensuring the correct number of motor coaches in service at any given time. Early in the ship arrival most coaches are full leaving the dock but return with lower passenger counts – they are required to return as more passengers are requiring transportation into town. Later in the evening coaches depart the ships with fewer passengers however return nearly full to the ship from downtown. The average occupancy per trip on the shuttle service is 92%. Should at any time passenger loads decline in both directions, the coaches are parked and taken out of service.
Shuttle buses operating to downtown have been reduced by about 20% per ship over the service that was provided in 2007.
All members of the Cruise Tourism Partnership train their drivers to limit idling whenever possible. Idling uses a great deal of fuel and is a significant cause of premature engine wear both of which are very expensive to companies. Idling is required however to activate the safety systems that are in use on motor coaches. Air systems can take up to seven (7) minutes to reach appropriate safety levels during the initial pre-trip. If coaches are shut off for a period of time – they also may be required to idle to build up air for systems like brakes and safety accessories.
Motor coaches also have large windows and in temperatures of 25c or higher the inside passenger area of the coach may be 10c higher creating an unsafe situation for passengers. Vehicles will need to operate climate control systems for a period of time in these conditions while actively loading. Such idling will only be done as is reasonable to afford the required level to mitigate safety concerns.
With operators maximizing vehicle occupancy, smaller vehicles actually would cause upwards of three (3) times as many vehicles to be on the road, increasing the number of trips, potential safety issues, emissions and traffic congestion.
In consultation with the JBNA and the City of Victoria, routes were designed to limit the impact to as few residences as possible. The present routing has been in place for two years and has been reviewed by the Cruise Tourism Partnership, including the JBNA and has been found that it mitigates many of the concerns that previously were issues in the community.
Detours along the route are infrequent, however can be caused by road closures, accidents, extra-ordinary traffic congestion or festivals. The members of the CTP will limit required alterations of their routes to the shortest time possible. Normally the Transportation Committee of the JBNA will be advised (ahead of time if possible) of the reasons or you may contact the individual operator for an explanation.
Land transportation services providers are subject to multiple laws and regulations. For example, vehicles are operated in accordance with the provincial laws. The BC Ministry of Transportation provides oversight through the Motor Vehicle Act and other legislation such as the Passenger Transportation Act, Passenger Transportation Regulations and the National Safety Code. The main sections of the BC Transport Department that may become involved with commercial operators include the (a) Passenger Transportation Branch (PTB) which licences all for hire carriers in the province, the (b) Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement Branch which provides enforcement and Safety Certificates. The City of Victoria provides Business License for sightseeing vehicles and other regulations such as the Vehicle for Hire Bylaw, and Noise Bylaw.
Not all tour vehicles are related to cruise tourism. Non-cruise related tour activities include private charter and/or institutional or government uses (i.e. school field trips). The CTP focuses on the vehicles movements used to support cruise tourism programs, however, every effort is made to communicate the initiative to non-cruise related operators.
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TAXIS
The taxi industry is regulated by the Passenger Transportation Board in B.C. By law, taxis are required to take the shortest route. Taxi drivers may use discretion in case they know that the shortest route may take more time and cost more money to the consumers i.e. the road is closed or obstructed due to repairs, accidents or heavy traffic. Most of the taxis in the CRD have GPS capability and all of them must have the safety camera which provides and promotes safety for the taxi drivers and consumers.
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HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES
The horse drawn carriage association hires a company to pick up the manure on a daily basis. All carriage and trolley drivers are required to call their company contact if they drop manure on the street so it can be dealt with immediately. The association is committed to keeping the streets of Victoria and James Bay free of manure by instituting a waste responsibility document that all driving staff are required to agree to and sign. These systems and protocol have been put in place to minimize the waste being left on the streets of James Bay and Victoria.
No. In the wild, horses wear down their hooves naturally by walking on rocks, trees, vegetation, etc. Domesticated horses have their hooves trimmed and protective horseshoes mounted by professional farriers. This practice greatly reduces the risk of injury to a horse’s hoof.
In order to alleviate possible hoof and/or joint injuries from walking on pavement, our horses are fitted with horseshoes specially formulated to take the friction and heat of walking on pavement away from their hooves. Their shoes have a steel core for support, but are surrounding by a 2 inch layer of polyurethane that does not heat with friction and provides cushioning from the pavement – they are like running shoes for horses.
The air quality in Victoria has been scientifically tested and rated as “good and far below any applicable guidelines”.
No. The horses are brought into town twice a day for their shifts and then immediately returned to the farm and their herd.
Yes. While away from their barns the horses receive feed, which provides dietary nutrients as well as energy. We have access to clean city water and the horses are watered regularly.
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