Is it the nice weather?  Is the it the route?  Maybe the times for pick up and drop off?  Whatever it is there have only been 406 people who have taken advantage of the Park and Ride Program in Moose Jaw over the last two months. Not exactly a success but Moose Jaw City Council has decided to give the Park and Ride program a chance to succeed.

The pilot project was to come to an end this weekend after a two month trial but Monday night many councillors argued it wasn't enough time to give it a fair chance.

The program was adopted to try and alleviate some of the congestion around Mosaic Place on event nights.  Parking is scarce so the idea was to give people an option of jumping on the bus for $2 and be dropped off at the new facility.  The buses would run on nights with events that are expected to have more than 2000 people in attendance. So far, only 10 events have qualified for the service and they were all hockey games.

During the debate Monday night, Councillor Terry Coleman argued that running a pilot project for just two months wasn't fair and they needed more data. Some councillors also wondered if the weather was a factor saying the warmer than usual conditions could prompt more people to walk to the facility but when it turns cold, those same people might be willing to jump on a bus that passes through their neighbourhood.

Councillor Don Mitchell likes the idea and hopes it works but is also being realistic saying Moose Jaw residents are very attached to their vehicles and the ability to drive every where. "I was skeptical and I'm still skeptical about how much people will buy in because they want to have the convenience of their cars and be able to park right in front of wherever they are going."

While the program has only run on hockey nights, with the program being extended until the end of January there will be several events coming up like Remembrance Day and the Festival on Ice that could offer a different demographic to the program.  Councillors aren't sure if that will make a difference but they are willing to make it available to find out.