In its first days of operation only a few riders have taken advantage of a new shuttle service that transports people from the Keystone ferry terminal to downtown Coupeville where folks can shop in the quaint stores.

Dave French, who is normally a service coordinator for Island Transit but spent his Monday driving the new shuttle route, said he has only been transporting two or three riders each trip. He questioned whether people know yet that the free service is available.

It started Friday, Dec. 14, with little fanfare.

“It’s hard to know if people know,” French said as he hopefully waited for riders in front of the Island County Museum. It didn’t look like anybody would take advantage of the new route during that time of day.

As of Wednesday, 59 people had ridden the shuttle service since it began, and 26 of those were counted Monday. So maybe the word is starting to get around.

Martha Rose, Island Transit executive director, said the numbers indicate the news is spreading about the shuttle.

The route is expected to continue through the end of the year to hopefully provide a boost for business in what is turning out to be a lean holiday season.

French pointed out another bus route also goes from Coupeville to Keystone as part of its regular route.

Mary Sterling of the Coupeville Historic Waterfront Association said that having such a shuttle serving Keystone is a fabulous idea, however with the current condition of the ferry service has made some people wary of making the trip from Port Townsend to Whidbey Island.

Currently there is only a foot ferry serving the Port Townsend to Keystone route and those boats can’t operate during severe weather, which prompts cancellations. The 80-year-old Steel Electrics were pulled from service last month due to safety concerns. Vehicle ferry service isn’t expected to return until sometime in early January.

Sterling said that potential shoppers don’t want to take the risk of being stranded by high waves in Admiralty Inlet.

She said the shuttle could be viable year around but that the current ferry service makes it difficult to accurately measure the potential of such a service.

Coupeville Mayor Nancy Conard said that ferry officials and business leaders will be meeting to talk about mitigation for ferry changes.

“We want to make sure we’re looking out for the best interests of the town,” Conard said.

Sterling said local businesses are suffering this holiday season and cited several factors. She said the poor weather has affected business along with the loss of the vehicle ferry that allowed shoppers to drive to Coupeville from the peninsula.

She added the new holiday foot ferry service going from Port Townsend to Seattle has only compounded the problem since it doesn’t stop at Keystone.

Merchants were prepared for the holiday season by carrying American-made and Canadian-made items which shoppers would have trusted in the wake of recent recalls, Sterling said.

She added that even with the return of a car ferry, merchants are dealing with the perception that they will have to endure two years of having one vehicle ferry serve Keystone, which could affect the busy summer months.

“This impact is not a short-lived impact,” Sterling said.