Reservations About Ferry Reservations

It’s not late breaking news that not everyone is ecstatic about the new Ferries Reservations System. Here’s long time islander Lisa Guard with her opinion on it…

Good morning,

I am a native of San Juan Island, I have lived in Friday Harbor all of my life and happily accepted my toll road as a blessing and gift of island life.

The new reservation system is a complete upset to residents of the San Juans!

I woke up at 6 am this morning April 28th in order to plan my life, or what Washington State Ferries would let me plan. I started at 6:50 am just to see if the 7 am rule held true. When I couldn’t make a reservation I opted for breakfast. I came back to my computer at 7:07 to find heavy volumes and had to wait while my computer patiently paused awaiting my turn. This was like being on hold with the telephone but I didn’t get any elevator music. When I finally was connected I found most of the return trip ferries (that’s Anacortes to FH for me) were booked!

I could get off the island but not back home, so now I have to come back on another day, do this process again to try to get home to the place that I have called home all my life.

Frankly this is an outrage! I compare this to crossing a toll bridge, I accept that I have to pay but I don’t have to make a reservation TO GET HOME! These are public highways and the State of Washington is making it near impossible for residents to access their HOMES.

Something has to be done and soon, residents have Dr appointments that come up at the last minute, we have sporting events that we would like to attend. Maybe we wake up and want to get on a ferry just because??! What would that be like? Well, we don’t know anymore because its not possible.

What about our Seniors, maybe they don’t own a smart phone or a computer. Washington State you are creating havoc with our lives making us dependent on a poorly designed system that has to be illegal.

Please someone take a look at what you are doing to us, admit that it isn’t working for the main people that use it, the islanders and change or end it.

Lisa Crosby Guard
Friday Harbor

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