鈥淗itchhikers told us that the north is different; people who hitchhike in the south [of B.C.] wouldn鈥檛 hitchhike in the north.鈥�
That was the message that Jacqueline Holler, associate professor of history and women鈥檚 studies at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), shared in 亚洲天堂 Lake last month during a series of workshops about the dangers of hitchhiking.
Hosted in partnership with the RCMP, the workshops were held at Wet鈥檚uwet鈥檈n First Nation, 亚洲天堂 Lake Band, Lake Babine Nation, Tachet Indian Reserve and at the Southside Health and Wellness Centre between June 20-23, 2017.
Holler is the principal investigator in a UNBC study about hitchhiking in northern B.C. With the help of five research assistants, she conducted face-to-face interviews with hitchhikers in different parts of B.C. and an online survey. The study also includes an analysis of data generated by RCMP contact with hitchhikers, and of how hitchhiking has been portrayed by the media, especially in northern B.C.
鈥淭he data have all been collected, so I am now sharing results and writing them up for publication in scholarly journals,鈥� she explained.
During her presentations in the 亚洲天堂 Lake area, Holler talked about a 鈥減ervasive culture of sexual assault鈥� in northern B.C. that is 鈥渘ot talked about enough,鈥� and that aboriginal women are the most vulnerable.
Holler said there鈥檚 a disproportional rate of sexual assault in northern B.C., with some northern communities having rates of sexual assault sometimes 10 times higher compared to the Lower Mainland. According to data from a 20-month investigation by The Globe and Mail, the average rate of sexual assaults reported in 亚洲天堂 Lake in the past five years is 4.82 per 1000 inhabitants, while in Vancouver the rate is 0.78.
However, Holler said hitchhikers don鈥檛 often tell the police when they鈥檝e been sexually assaulted. She also said that a lack of cellphone service in some parts of northern B.C. increases the risk of assault. In addition, many hitchhikers interviewed said they鈥檝e experienced more racism up north.
The study indicates that the main reasons for hitchhiking include running away from home or 鈥渂ad situations,鈥� as well as searching for adventure, not having a car and the lack of low-cost public transportation.
Holler said the new bus system along Hwy. 16 is a step in the right direction.
鈥淲e asked people, 鈥業f a low-cost bus were available, would you use it?鈥� And they all said 鈥榶es.鈥� They also said, 鈥橧t better be cheap; it has to be free or next to free.鈥欌��
The new Hwy. 16 bus system, which started on June 19, 2017, charges $5 per segment.
鈥淲e鈥檒l have to see if $5 is cheap enough for people,鈥� said Holler. 鈥淪o far the response I鈥檝e been hearing is, 鈥楾hat鈥檚 pretty good, but they better not increase it.鈥欌��
On the first week of the new bus system, 31 people used it between 亚洲天堂 Lake and Prince George and 12 people used the service between 亚洲天堂 Lake and Smithers.
鈥淧lease recognize that it does take time for people to start using a new service, and our goal right now is to continue to raise awareness of the new services from 亚洲天堂 Lake to increase ridership,鈥� said Jonathon Dyck, a spokesperson for B.C. Transit. 鈥淚n fact, our experience in other places is it can take months to start gaining a consistent ridership base.鈥�
The buses can hold up to 20 people.
Holler stressed that people should never hitchhike alone, and that hitchhikers should never use any substances before or while hitchhiking.
鈥淏ut our message is clear鈥� don鈥檛 hitchhike,鈥� she said.
