If you don't drive a vehicle, your options for transport can be limited here in Central Alberta. And now that the City of Lacombe has decided to pull out of the BOLT Regional Transit Service, local riders now have fewer options to get where they need to go.

For Lacombe resident Angie Ahlquist, who doesn't drive due to her disability, losing BOLT means losing a big chunk of her independence.

Ahlquist was thrilled when changes to the pickup and drop off schedule were made in 2018 to try and make BOLT more viable, allowing her to pursue her passion.

“For the last few months I’ve been taking the BOLT bus into Red Deer for acting classes at The Hub (On Ross), and when I found out that was being taken out, I’m definitely feeling a little bit angry at the situation itself, because I’m going to feel less independent because I don’t drive.”

Ahlquist loves the independence she gained from BOLT, which not only allowed her to attend acting classes in Red Deer, but also made it possible for her to meet with her independent learning worker once a week to go shopping, all for the low price of $5 dollars.

The change in schedule also allowed her to return home earlier in the evening.

“I used to have to wait until 8:30 pm, and I didn’t get home until 9:30 or later, so it was a long day, and it’s not very convenient. But now that I have that support system with the new schedule where the bus changed a little bit, yea it was working out great, and I’m loving it, but now it’s just…kind of back to square one.”

Angie Ahlquist waiting for the BOLT. Photo courtesy of Angie Ahlquist.

Ahlquist says she'll have to rely on the kindness of her friends and family to help her get to Red Deer so she can continue her acting classes, as well we meeting her independent learning worker on Tuesdays.

She does use the Connex bus to get around Lacombe, but at $50 a shot to get into Red deer, it's just not financially worth it, especially compared to the $5 fare BOLT charges for the same trip.

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