Ridership aboard BC Ferries is down between Prince Rupert and Skidegate, but more people have sailed the Inside Passage in 2014 than in 2013.
The number of passengers travelling between Prince Rupert and Skidegate dropped 15.96 per cent in October, falling from 2,550 last year to 2,143 this year, while so far in 2014 ridership on the route is down 7.27 per cent, falling from 28,409 to 26,344. Accompanying the drop in passengers is a decline in vehicle traffic, which fell 14.05 per cent year-over-year and 5.6 per cent through the first 10 months of 2014 compared to the same time period in 2013.
However, more people and vehicles have made the trip between Prince Rupert and Port Hardy this year than last. While the number of people riding the route in October fell from 1,936 last October to 1,895 this October, a decline of 2.12 per cent, overall ridership has climbed from 27,260 in the first 10 months of 2013 to 31,819 through the first 10 months of 2014, an increase of 16.72 per cent. While the number of riders was down, the number of vehicles was up by four this October compared to last and vehicle numbers so far this year are up 14.22 per cent, climbing from 8,402 last year to 9,597 this year.