OPINION: “Enough is Enough!! New Bedford public transit is not be used just because you’re bored!”

This was sent to us from a New Bedford bus driver:

“Enough is Enough!!

Just because public transit is running doesn’t mean we are here for you to spend your time riding around for no reason other than boredom. We are designated as an essential service in our city we are not here for you because you have nothing else to do!! We are not here for you because you feel like getting out of the house for a while.

We are in a state of emergency and this not a vacation!! Every passenger that steps on our bus puts us the operators at risk, we really don’t want to be here but we realize how important our service is for some passengers. You don’t see how many times a day we wash our hands and sanitize our buses to keep us and our passengers safe.

You do not see our families who worry about us every minute we are at work. We have our jobs to do and we realize the importance of our job is to you. So please only use the service for essential rides!! Our management and the Authority have made every attempt to help us be safe and now we need the public’s help!!

I am speaking on behalf of the operators and maintenance staff of Amalgamated Transit Union local 1037 here in New Bedford Ma. “We Move This City”

Please share our message it doesn’t matter what city you’re in!!” – Tony Sousa.