Two days after BayToday posted an opinion piece written by a frequent transit user citing safety concerns, we checked up on the bus stop in question. Bus stop 1155 is located on the south side of McKeown Avenue, adjacent to the parking lot for the McKeown Commons shopping area.
As can be seen in the photos in our gallery above, the area had not been cleared of snow as of Friday afternoon. The safety and accessibility issues raised by our readers in the comments section of Amanda Syvret's call for action by the City, and by Syvret herself, had not been addressed.
A call to the Public Works department mid-afternoon Friday led to a conversation with a dispatcher who seemed incredulous that we would try to reach a City employee "on the Friday before a long weekend."
The call was transferred to the voicemail of Nick Schiavone, Director of Public Works, but was not returned as of the close of business, Friday.
Communications Officer Jaclyn Bucik responded in an email to BayToday's questions about the unsafe bus stop.
BayToday advised that a reporter had attended the bus stop earlier Friday and had found that the stop was encased entirely in a snow bank. In the reporter's opinion, there was no way a senior citizen or disabled person trying to use the stop could do so safely. We asked when the stop would be made safe and accessible to all bus passengers?
Bucik's response was, "Without question, the safety of our transit passengers is of utmost importance to us."
In Syvret's piece, she relayed that various transit operators had been aware of the problem at bus stop 1155 for some time. Wrote Syvret:
"When the bus showed up I asked who's supposed to be clearing the bus stops. He explained that I'd have to call the city (who's supposed to maintain it) because city bus drivers have already asked the city to clear this particular stop multiple times and they still haven't. The bus driver said he was embarrassed to drop people off here because they have to either walk in traffic or climb over the embankment once they get off the bus."
Instead of clearing the stop in question, and maintaining it, according to Bucik, the City is "temporarily removing bus stop 1155 from service until we can guarantee safe and accessible conditions for passengers."
Seniors, the disabled, and parents pushing strollers (and all other passengers) are "encouraged to use the bus stop by Boston Pizza." That stop is a good 300 metres away from the one closed by the City.
BayToday asked that if safety and accessibility are paramount to the City's vision, then why has this issue not been addressed?
Bucik responded with, "The City asks that if there are any concerns regarding transit service that passengers contact North Bay Transit directly at 704-474-0626 ext. 2288."
Chair of Engineering & Works Tanya Vrebosch was asked her reaction to the problem, but she referred inquiries to Councillor Mark King.
"It falls under Mark's department. I've been looking into because I have an interest in it, however Mark is the Chair of CS and should be the one to make comments."
