Islanders held a rally today at Embe Bakery in support of hitchhiking and ride sharing over recent proposed changes from MOTI and RCMP to close the hitchhiking spot at Embe Bakery in Ganges on Salt Spring Island. See live video from the event.

Locals and visitors stand to lose a longstanding Salt Spring institution: hitchhiking and the hitchhiking spot out of town at the bottom of the Ganges Hill (outside Embe bakery) and they hope to save it and the cultural tradition of ride sharing on Salt Spring. They believe this issue is important because here lies the intersection between climate action (emission reductions) and inclusivity, diversity, accessibility and the preservation of island’s culture of sharing.

Hitchhiking is a very essential service on the island: providing flexible transportation to people on a budget, to islanders hoping to share rides for environmental reasons, and to carless people needing to travel between the infrequently scheduled bus times. In addition, hitchhiking supports overflow passengers who are unable to get on our buses which at peak times are often too full to pick up passengers. Hitchhiking is critical to get people to and fro. It is also a wonderful way for islanders of all incomes and backgrounds to meet, exchange ideas and stories.
The RCMP would like to see the hitchhiking spot outside Embe gone and has initiated this by contacting MOTI. MOTI is going to be installing a barrier outside Embe bakery - where the fourth generation islander owners are happy to host hitchhikers - the barrier will prevent hitchhiking from the shoulder and the RCMP will then ticket people who pick up hitchhikers.

Those consider supporting the protest of the barriers can sign the petition online.