Re: "Capacity of bus a safety concern, union says," Sept. 14.
As a B.C. Transit shuttle driver, I welcome the new Vicinity shuttle buses that B.C. Transit wants to bring to Victoria.
The Vicinity is a far superior, and safer, shuttle than the current shuttles serving Victoria and will greatly improve shuttle accessibility - anyone saying otherwise is playing politics or misinformed.
The issue for shuttle passengers is not having one door - the issue is having to climb stairs to board the current shuttles. These stairs are a barrier to people with disabilities, mothers with strollers, and some seniors.
Many of these passengers have a difficult time getting up the stairs and for some it's impossible.
The issue for shuttle drivers are the defective driver seats and the sporadic discharging of engine fumes into the driver's compartment. Our concerns have been brought before the Canadian Auto Workers union, the Greater Victoria Transit Commission and the Ministry of Transportation and no one has done anything to address our issues.
It's a tough spot for the shuttle drivers to be in: the CAW views us as threatening their jobs and has failed to represent us; the transit commission was of no help; and the safety department of B.C. Transit continues to fail this group of drivers by not providing a safe workplace.
If B.C. Transit's CEO Manuel Achadinha is trying "to improve the community shuttle program," then I'm all for it; it's the only positive action taken by any of the parties involved.
Michael Mullen
Victoria
