Mini-bus operations have been highly successfulin other cities. To overcome the problem of high labour costs, community buses would have to operate on a smaller scale. Perhaps they could be based in neighborhoods, at local gas stations. Perhaps they could run as a form of taxi service. Mini-buses would offer an alternative to private taxis and conventional buses and could help serve schools and neighbourhood organizations.
New suburbs require new services.
But in recent years, service expansion to the suburbs has taken precedence over services within Vancouver. Tensions between the city and the suburbs will always be with us. The success of the West Vancouver system demonstrates the effectiveness of a service which responds to local needs. The West Vancouver system generates far higher customer satisfaction levels than does BC Transit. The City of Vancouver, despite having a majority of users of the regional bus system, has only two of seven votes on the regional transit commission.