Metro bus drivers ask for masks to be required on public transit

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

The new directive across King County to wear a face covering in most public areas isn’t enough for some King County Metro Transit drivers.

As the agency is facing a more than 70 percent decline in ridership some drivers said masks should be required for everyone using transit.

Veteran Metro bus driver Latrelle Gibson goes to work every day wearing a face mask. He believes the riding public should have the same consideration.

“Half of the people don’t wear masks which is another big problem,” said Gibson who has driven for King County Metro Transit for 19 years.

https://www.seattlepi.com/local/komo/article/Metro-bus-drivers-ask-for-masks-to-be-required-on-15264089.php?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailynewsletterspi&utm_term=spi

[LisaM]

1. The people riding the buses right now are a little iffy.

I can see a bus stop right out my window - this is a major bus that goes straight downtown, and for years had long lines of commuters, all generally downtown office workers, very few issues.

What I see now are people who seem at least marginally mentally ill. They are down there yelling and pacing, waiting for the (now free) buses to come. It's definitely a change and I feel for the drivers (the other day we were walking back, masked, from Target, and an empty bus pulled up alongside and the driver yelled, in a very friendly way, "need a ride?"

These must be strange times for drivers.