Vernon Transit

(CHARLOTTE HELSTON / iNFOnews.ca)

BC Transit will have safety measures in place by next month, allowing provincial transit systems to return to a front door loading and collection of fares on conventional, community, and handyDART services.

"BC Transit will be installing a temporary vinyl panel to allow for physical distancing for the operator and customers on all buses without a full driver door," a press release said.

"This new safety measures aligns with the direction from the Provincial Health Officer."

Until June 1, rear door loading and not collecting fares will continue.

Already B.C. transit has enhanced cleaning on buses and at BC Transit facilities, communication to staff and customers about physical distancing procedures, limiting passenger capacity to support physical distancing, enhancing the red line for passengers to stand behind and vinyl panels on light duty buses.

Once COVID-19 made its way to the Interior, BC Transit cut back services to reflect fewer users and to create more spacing.

Kelowna Transit moved to its summer schedule, which meant service reductions and schedule changes three months ahead of schedule, Al Peressini, president of the local branch of the Amalgamated Transit Union, said. While he said, the routes were being well used the lack of fares was potentially triggering further cutbacks to services.

On the Lower Mainland, TransLink announced nearly 1,500 layoffs and widespread cuts to most routes in an effort to save money, as the transit authority continues to lose tens of millions per month due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information on BC Transit fares and services check the website.

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