Commuter Bus Service Updates

DO NOT LEAVE UNATTENDED ITEMS AT BUS STOPS

Posted 03/21/2012

Unattended items are a SAFETY HAZARD.  Yet every day at some of the area commuter lots, people arrive ahead of an OmniRide trip’s scheduled departure time and place an item on the ground to “save their place” in line and then wait in the comfort of their vehicles.  When the bus arrives, the owners reclaim their umbrellas, lunch bags, books and other assorted materials and board the bus.

Not only do the items placed on the ground create a tripping hazard, but they could easily be construed as “suspicious.”  At a time when all citizens are called upon to be vigilant, any unattended items at areas served by transit should be considered suspicious. 

As you know, transit services have been targets for terrorists in other countries.  We cannot be relaxed about unattended items – whatever they may be.  If a fellow rider calls the police to report an unattended item, then everyone waiting at that stop can expect delays while law enforcement investigates the situation. 

You might recall that PRTC and transit agencies around the country are participating in the Department of Homeland Security’s “If You See Something, Say Something” campaign, which encourages people to be on the lookout for unattended items.  The campaign DOES NOT say, “If You See Something Say Something, unless it’s a lunch bag or an umbrella or a book because those are OK.” 

PRTC encourages all passengers to discontinue the use of personal items as placeholders.  Please stand in line according to the order in which you arrive at the bus stop and DO NOT leave items on the ground where they could cause a tripping hazard or prompt worries about suspicious unattended items.

Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.