Starting Monday, BC Transit will limit the number of passengers to adhere to social distancing requirements. (File photo)
Sophie Gray
Local Journalism Initiative
BC transit is limiting the number of passengers on board their busses to comply with social distancing starting Monday.
In an emailed statement received by the Osoyoos Times on Friday, BC Transit said transit operators will be monitoring the number of people boarding their buses. They will be limiting passengers to allow for proper physical distancing between transit riders.
BC Transit said they do not anticipate that this will result in people being passed up at bus stops because ridership is down 50 to 70 per cent, but they will track this and make adjustments to service as needed.
“We ask customers to please leave plenty of time for their transit trip to allow for physical distancing, and thank our customers for their patience,” BC Transit said in a statement.
BC Transit has already put measures in place to encourage physical distancing, including rear door loading for able-bodied passengers, no fare collection, prompting good etiquette on transit and enhanced red lines to protect physical distancing of drivers. They are also looking into service levels in communities across the province to support those who use BC Transit services for getting to essential businesses like health care workers or those needing transit for weekly grocery trips.
The new limited capacities to allow for physical distancing will come into effect on Monday, March 30.
