If you’re the type of passenger who prefers to take a nap in your car during a ferry ride rather than head to the upper deck and enjoy the view, you may soon be out of luck.
BC Ferries is expected to introduce new rules next month that would ban passengers from staying on bottom decks while the ferry is in motion.
The proposed ban would apply to the fully-enclosed lower decks of many vessels including those on the heavily travelled route between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay.
BC Ferries said the change is being made to comply with Transport Canada regulations aimed at curbing passenger access to closed car decks.
In a statement to Global News on Tuesday, Deborah Marshall Executive Director, Public Affairs BC Ferries said:
We will be fully implementing Transport Canada regulations to limit passenger access to closed vehicle decks while ships are underway. “Closed” decks are the main car decks. Customers will continue to be permitted to stay in vehicles on the upper (opened) car decks. We will make a formal announcement in early January.
Passengers parked in open-air upper car decks are not expected to be affected by the change.
BC Ferries also confirmed that they are looking at a total smoking ban on all ferries, removing designated smoking areas on outdoor decks.
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