Accessing Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal Tollbooths

[Jennifer]

Hi, I need some advice.  I am planning on going to Nanaimo in the near future and was hoping to go on my scooter (50cc Honda Jazz).  I did a dry run to Horseshoe Bay today using W. Van's Marine Drive.  All went well, but discovered that from the Horseshoe Bay village there is no access to the vehicle toll booths.  Legalities aside, I do not want to go onto the "highway speed section (80 - 100 km/hr)" of the Upper Levels, and if it's absolutely necessary it would have to be for the shortest possible distance. Even then I'm thinking chugging along in the Emergency lane where cyclists generally cycle, since we all know that my jazz will not be able to keep up with hwy speeds. 

Thoughts or ideas on the safest way to access the toll booths?

Thanks,
Jennifer

[virgil]

  Good question, Jennifer, since the highway overhaul makes all of us
have to learn new novelties of the whole Horseshoe Bay setup!

One thought is call them and ask: they, knowing their layout, should be able
to give you the best advice, I assume?!

Secondly, did you fully examine access routing from the village side?
Even talk to the Pedestrian traffic people since they may have an immediate answer???

Lastly, I know the internal booth setup has an escape hatch for those who
accidently enter the holding pen area when they wanted to go to the village!
So, it might be the same arrangement that might allow you in?
Let us know your results unless someone here has a better answer than mine...lol!

[Scorpion71]

The only other way that I can see that will meet your criteria is that when you go down marine drive cut up Eagleridge drive, the traffic should be on the new section so it should alleviate any volume of traffic on the old section. See attached map. This will bring you into the backside of the toll booths where you may have to talk nice to an attendant to sell you a ticket.

http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Marine+Dr&daddr=49.36676,-123.275592&geocode=FUQx8QIdQO6m-A%3B&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=17&sll=49.366194,-123.274627&sspn=0.003228,0.009624&ie=UTF8&ll=49.36516,-123.276365&spn=0.006456,0.019248&t=h&z=16

[Jennifer]

Thank you so much.  I did speak to bc ferries about village/terminal access, but will check on the gate you're referring to.  It didn'toccur to me to ask about that access point.  I know exactly which one you mean.  I might on Monday or Tuesday check the Eagleridge option, with my husband in the car, covering my behind. 

Happy sunny Sunday everyone.

Jennifer

[Jennifer]

Absolutely brilliant!  I did the Eagle Ridge Drive route this morning, and it works wonderfully...takes you to an easy, speed controlled distance of the toll booths.  Thanks so much again. 

Jennifer

[bESS]

Jennifer:

You can ride your scoot right into Horseshoe Bay and purchase your ticket at the booth.  The booth is located just south of the pedestrian access gate.  Tell them that you are on a moped and they will direct you to this gate, where you can "push" your scooter into the compound.

when returning to Horseshoe Bay, pull over to the right to access this same gate upon your return.  Your engine must be "off" and you must push your scooter into this pedestrian area.

We have done this many times without any problems.  My preference would be to stay off the regular highway

bob