Rider Transit means 'smooth' ride down Sask. Drive to new Mosaic, fans say
On the other hand, social media pictures showed a long line at Normanview Crossing for Rider Transit
Upward of 33,000 fans were expected to attend the Saskatchewan Roughriders' first pre-season game Saturday—the biggest crowd yet to test out the city's new transit plan.
Free shuttle service to the stadium was being offered from malls and two downtown locations up to 30 minutes before kickoff and was scheduled to last until an hour after the game ended.
Some fans took to social media to complain about the long lines at the Normanview Crossing stop.
Saturday's event was the third and final trial run for the new stadium, as well as the city's plan to push mass transit to the facility, which offers no public parking, before it officially opens for regular season games July 1.
<a href="https://twitter.com/CityofRegina">@CityofRegina</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/skRoughriders">@skRoughriders</a> you need more than one bus at a time. The line @ Normanview is bit wee long <a href="https://t.co/HKXuVqsxzu">pic.twitter.com/HKXuVqsxzu</a>
—@JaimeWGarciaThere were no lineups at the gates by kickoff, just a steady trickle of tardy fans.
On site security said lines had been steady throughout the evening, but wait times were not lengthy as a number of guards were stationed in multiple rows to conduct bag checks. There was also an express lane for those entering without a bag.
No huge lineups Good eve for game too🏈🇨🇦
—@mclean_brad
Season ticket holder Paula Fiorante said she arrived around 6:30 p.m. and walked in without waiting.
"It was smooth down Saskatchewan Drive. There was hardly any traffic. So different from when it was at the old Taylor field," she said, pointing to the likely reason being many fans took the buses.
Wayne Morin lives a few block away on Queen Street and said vehicles lined the block. Because he didn't have company over and was headed to the game, he wasn't bothered, but acknowledged he could very well be in the future.
"I guess you'll have to see what happens with that," he said of the parking.
CBC spoke with a number of out-of-towners who said a free ride to the game from downtown was a win.
Kathy and Kevin Trithart, from Weyburn, Sask., said they used to park closer to the old stadium and head to games on foot.
"This is better. I don't have to walk, I can ride," said Kevin Trihart.
"I like not having to drive where there's a lot of cars and stuff like that, so I think it works good for me."
As of around 5 p.m. CST, there were no lineups at the two downtown pick-up spots. At the stops, a person in an orange safety vest — working for a firm contracted by the city — recorded head counts of how many passengers hopped aboard, when the bus left and the next one arrived.
The city said more than 7,400 people took transit to stadium's last event, which was a Bryan Adams, Our Lady Peace and Johnny Reid concert.
The stops at Southland Mall and Victoria Shopping Centre proved to be the busiest pick-up and drop-off locations last time, so the city had planned on making some adjustments.
"If you want to cut down on traffic congestion and stuff, I think this is the way to go," said Shawn Meekins, who said he used the bus in previous years.
"It was a heck of a time trying to get out of there through all the traffic. People parked on people's lawns for $10, there's signs out there. It seemed like a bit of a zoo some days trying to get the bus out of there."
Jeff Auer from Saskatoon said he and his family typically stay at the Delta Hotel and is relieved this will be the first game not depending on a getting a cab back to the stadium.
"We know it's going to be there," he said of the city bus. "We don't have to worry about trying to get a ride back."