In a move that's set to shake up commuter routines, BC Transit announced Aug. 20 it will discontinue Route 13, a popular bus line serving the University of Victoria (UVic) and Ten Mile Point areas. The change, part of a larger service update, will take effect on Sept. 3.
Route 13, which has long been a lifeline for students and residents in the affected areas, will be completely eliminated from the transit system. BC Transit cites the need to ‘better align service with demand’ as the primary reason for this significant change.
Passengers who currently rely on Route 13 are being advised to use Route 11 Tillicum Centre/UVic as an alternative. According to BC Transit, Route 11 overlaps with most of the current Route 13 path, which should minimize disruption for many commuters.
The discontinuation of Route 13 is part of a broader set of changes to Victoria's transit system, including:
- Adjustments to Routes 70 and 75 due to reduced demand;
- Splitting of Route 26 westbound for easier navigation;
- Changes to Route 81 in Sidney and Route 24 in the Admirals Road area.
BC Transit encourages all riders to use real-time tracking apps such as Umo, Transit App, and Google Transit to plan their journeys in light of these changes.
