Lambton libraries now lend Huron Shores Area bus passes

Lambton County residents can now borrow free bus rides between Sarnia and Grand Bend, and other routes offered by Huron Shores Area Transit, from several Lambton County Library branches.

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Smart card library passes for unlimited free rides for up to five days on the transit system’s routes can be borrowed by Lambton County Library cardholders from branches in Sarnia, Arkona, Forest, Grand Bend, Forest, Port Franks and Thedford.

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The pass program also is being offered through public libraries in Huron, North Middlesex and Kettle and Stony Point First Nation.

“We took inspiration from a couple of our sister small rural systems that had tried them as a means of encouraging residents who haven’t tried out public transit to give it a shot,” said Susan Mills, the transit system’s co-ordinator.

The transit system was launched in late 2020 with provincial funding.

Library cardholders can use the borrowed smart cards to ride on the system’s routes linking Lambton Shores, South Huron, North Middlesex, Bluewater and Kettle & Stony Point First Nation with each other and Sarnia, London, Goderich and Strathroy.

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“In the couple of systems that tried it, they found it very successful,” Mills said. “It’s opening people’s eyes to other ways of traveling around.”

Rural areas traditionally have been underserved by public transit “and we’ve all become so reliant on our vehicles,” Mills said. “This is an opportunity to step away from that and try public transit.”

The smart card passes, which are not renewable, are also available at libraries in Exeter, Goderich, Hensall, Kettle and Stony Point, and Zurich.

“We thought it sounded like a great fit,” said Darlene Coke, Lambton County’s library services manager.

“We’re always looking for opportunities where people can use the resources at a library to discover something new, to learn something new, to explore something new,” she said.

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“It certainly gives them an opportunity to try this new transit system (and) an opportunity to save a few dollars.”

The Lambton Library system currently has seven smart cards spread across branches where the program is available, she said.

The smart cards join other non-book items Lambton libraries lend, including provincial park passes and a culture pass to some local attractions. Last year, they even slowed out binoculars and fishing poles.

Regular Huron Shores Area Transit system fares are $5 or $10, depending on starting point and destination.

Route 1, which links Sarnia to Grand Bend with stops at Forest, Arkona, Port Franks and Thedford, carried about 13,000 passengers last year, Mills said.

“It’s our No. 1-used route,” she said. “We’re finding not only is it popular during the summer (when riders) travel to Lambton Shores to visit it beaches and parks,” but also by young residents traveling to jobs in Lambton Shores.

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It runs three times a day, seven days a week, pausing only for Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Good Friday.

“Our area. . . has a number of jobs that are vacant because we simply don’t have the population to fill them,” Mills said. “It’s a win-win all around.”

The transit system not only carries workers to summer tourism jobs, but also to year-round, jobs at restaurants, grocery stores and other retailers, she said.

“They need a good number of staff when they’re open seven days a week,” Mills said.

System ridership averages 1,672 a month, “which is a good number for a small rural system,” she said.

It offers four routes in total, including Grand Bend to London, a route through Bluewater to Goderich, and a route through North Middlesex to Strathroy.

For route and fare information, visit huronshoresareatransit.caor call the system’s customer service line at1-888-465-0783 between 9 am and 5 pm

[email protected]

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