Editor:
I read the letter about a Burnaby person not wanting to use transit for a variety reasons and I wanted to respond.
I don’t want to invalidate this person’s feelings, especially if they don’t feel safe. I just wanted to write to say my experience has been much different.
Sure, there are a lot of things that suck about TransLink and how they go about their business. Sometimes they focus on some pretty meaningless projects that feel gimmicky – like the wristbands – when they should stick with improving core services.
But I also want to say that the transit staff that I see during my commutes on transit are pretty heroic in how they have done things during the pandemic. They have put their health on the line throughout COVID-19, exposing themselves day after day after day, especially to those people who refuse to wear masks.
I know masks were “mandatory” on transit, but the reality is that bus drivers were instructed to not force anyone to wear a mask due to safety concerns.
I’ve also seen staff offer some excellent service to seniors and people with disabilities even though getting close to another person amid COVID is dangerous.
I wouldn’t say that I feel totally safe on transit, but I’m pretty comfortable thanks to the caring of TransLink staff.
B. Graham, Burnaby
