Council Member Scott Benson said a proposed ban on political activity on city buses was struck out of a pending ordinance to honor feedback from transit activists.
Next year, the council will consider an ordinance that bans certain activities on the bus. It’s part of a refresh of city ordinances Benson has been leading throughout the year.
Many of the banned behaviors are to be expected. The proposed list includes fighting, drinking alcohol, smoking, boarding the bus without paying, distracting the driver and playing loud music.
Members of Transportation Riders United, a grassroots advocacy organization, objected to a proposed ban on picketing, demonstrating, educating and counseling bus users.
Michael Cunningham said that language would outlaw organizing work that’s improved bus service. Cunningham said it would prevent him from organizing bus ride-alongs that nearly the entire council has joined him on.
Benson said DDOT agreed to strike the language after residents spoke up. However, he said the goal was to ensure riders aren’t being harassed.
“If we are going to become the best public transit provider in the country, we have to have a space where people feel welcome and they feel safe,” Benson said.
Transit advocates like Joel Batterman said volunteers have been educating and collecting data from riders for years without incident.
Let’s talk about the buses not running on time. A lot of people depend on public transportation to get to work & school. I have lost 2 jobs within 3 months due to late buses. Driver’s sitting at the end of the line doing conversating with other drivers while we’re standing in the cold freezing.
You are so right about that it’s if they be having a high school meeting only it just be the bus drivers joking with each other out loud
The no fighting and all the other rules need to stay it is going to be back unsafer passengers and the drivers