FTR for any keyboard warriors eager to climb down my throat for the previous comment; as the head of a household I recently hosted a young man in dire circumstances. An acquaintance of a family member with some mental health concerns, he was kicked out of his family home and had nowhere to go. We provided space and judgement free support. He was welcome so long as he was willing to live as my family lives. Translate as you don't get to do whatever you want, whenever you want. I'm not looking for a medal or praise.
Be careful what you wish for. The bohemian lawlessness occurring downtown can't continue. I'm a tax paying contributing citizen. I very much recall the words of JT's father PET. "Go ahead and bleed!"
Perhaps Mutual Aid Halifax should compile a list of home owners/apartment dwellers who are willing to host someone who is homeless. May I suggest that some of the most critical of police and HRM be the first to offer. I realize that this group maybe attempting to grab some band width for vigorous debate of this issue. However, I find the construction and placement of what are essentially tool sheds for human habitation a bit problematic. I don't consider the fabrication, placement and invitation for someone who is inherently vulnerable to live in it an altruistic act.
Premier Rankin and Dr Strang gambled on 100% openings and almost no restrictions in early April. Wow, how did that workout? This despite warnings from epidemiologists that variant cases posed a serious risk for relaxed openings and interprovincial travel. I can't help but feel there was a cynical calculation for an election call. Blew up in their faces didn't it? And here we are...ranked in the top 10 in North America for cases per million.
Transit is a symptom of a bigger problem. Class division. The decision makers head home to isolate and promulgate policy to protect their careers at the expense of blue collar/essential workers. This isn't overstatement. I know a transit driver and the stories/anecdotes are horrifying. Management couldn't give a f@$k about the staff. Here is the truth. The mask policy is a farce. A driver refusing a trip to an unmasked rider can face suspension or worse. Management's position is that a rider's "Human Rights" out rank the safety of drivers or fellow riders. I never knew that viruses considered such things before infecting a host. The shield up front is a joke. Riders routinely pull their masks down and stick their face around it. Lets not even start on assaults and abuse. The driver is not provided with a medical grade respirator. So...tough shit! According to Public Health a public exposure on a bus of 15 minutes or greater warrants isolating and a test. Except the driver!? I was told that the top manager was insensitive enough to have exposure notices posted in the break rooms taking great pains to carve out operators as exempt from any support. Was this insensitivity, incompetence or malice? I'd like to know...I have my own theories. The driver may be exposed on that bus for as long as 8 or 10 hours+. Many drivers are in second careers and are in high risk comorbidity categories or, their family members are. Transit went all in during the first wave to their credit. The cupboard has been raided bare and there's no intention of going there again.
I wonder if management/HRM government is attempting to hammer the union down to submission on the eve of contract negotiations. It can be said you can tell alot about a society by how it treats it's most vulnerable. I've reached my conclusions and it ain't pretty! Feel free to reach your own.
I figure OP was referring to Little Tikes Car Gate on Transit from just over 2 weeks ago with Mother of the Year. Slow season during summer...site moderator was just getting around to it. Agree with the sentiment though....that mother was a 3D idiot.
On the morning of July 31 you boarded Halifax Transit bus 740 with your child seated in a toy. That toy is not Health Canada/Transport Canada certified for vehicle conveyance as it is intended to be pushed by hand and under your control at walking speed. Further, it has no provision for securement to a vehicle hard point. The bus on this route operates at the limit posted in this area of 50km/h. Therefore, occupants are travelling at a peak speed of 13.8 meters (45.28 feet) per second. In the event of a collision, any unrestrained object or occupant is propelled at that vehicle speed toward the point of impact.. Despite your assertions that you can restrain this toy/child combo while using a cell phone, Transport Canada and National Institutes of Highway Safety (US) crash testing have proven that impossible. Severe disabling or fatal injuries to your child are inevitable in this circumstance, as your child's head is placed at seat level. Plus, likely injury to other bus occupants inflicted by this. Strollers, or infant carriers, while unrestrained and not ideal are the only compromise.
As your FB video omits this, the bus surveillance video will show the operator of bus 740 requested politely, on boarding, that you remove the child to be seated next to you or, in your lap and safely stow the toy. You refused. Despite being informed that it was for the safety of the child and occupants. As the driver is trained to handle difficult situations, he felt it best to proceed on route to meet a Transit Supervisor. Logistical considerations placed that rendezvous at Mumford Terminal.
The Transit Supervisor confirmed the safety considerations and requested the same. You refused again. Operator and Supervisor having conferred on the platform, the operator returned to the bus to you engaged in a profanity laced tirade directed to your seatmate in a loud voice. This directed in the presence of your children, other underage minors, and all others present. This included 2 F bombs in the same utterance. The Driver advised that this conduct was unacceptable on any transit bus. You questioned the driver's motivation and then ordered the driver to proceed on route.
As you were not in care or control of that vehicle Ms *****, you were in no position to do so. The driver had signed for that bus at the start of work, not you. No public transportation agency in Canada, or anywhere else, would permit that. I suggest you board a scheduled flight or any other conveyance, and attempt to usurp and/or interfere with crew and see what response you'd get. The driver at this point had reached an impasse with you. One with no clear way forward and extricated himself from the situation to avoid further escalation. Approximately 5 minutes later, a replacement bus arrived in the terminal to continue the trip and you were offered it. You refused and remained on bus 740 until HRP constables gave you an epiphany.
Your child's purported disability while unfortunate, is not relevant to this incident. Your sense of entitlement and narcissism are another matter. The disability does not render your child any less injured while seated in a toy car on any transit bus.
Recent Comments
Be careful what you wish for. The bohemian lawlessness occurring downtown can't continue. I'm a tax paying contributing citizen. I very much recall the words of JT's father PET. "Go ahead and bleed!"
Transit is a symptom of a bigger problem. Class division. The decision makers head home to isolate and promulgate policy to protect their careers at the expense of blue collar/essential workers. This isn't overstatement. I know a transit driver and the stories/anecdotes are horrifying. Management couldn't give a f@$k about the staff. Here is the truth. The mask policy is a farce. A driver refusing a trip to an unmasked rider can face suspension or worse. Management's position is that a rider's "Human Rights" out rank the safety of drivers or fellow riders. I never knew that viruses considered such things before infecting a host. The shield up front is a joke. Riders routinely pull their masks down and stick their face around it. Lets not even start on assaults and abuse. The driver is not provided with a medical grade respirator. So...tough shit! According to Public Health a public exposure on a bus of 15 minutes or greater warrants isolating and a test. Except the driver!? I was told that the top manager was insensitive enough to have exposure notices posted in the break rooms taking great pains to carve out operators as exempt from any support. Was this insensitivity, incompetence or malice? I'd like to know...I have my own theories. The driver may be exposed on that bus for as long as 8 or 10 hours+. Many drivers are in second careers and are in high risk comorbidity categories or, their family members are. Transit went all in during the first wave to their credit. The cupboard has been raided bare and there's no intention of going there again.
I wonder if management/HRM government is attempting to hammer the union down to submission on the eve of contract negotiations. It can be said you can tell alot about a society by how it treats it's most vulnerable. I've reached my conclusions and it ain't pretty! Feel free to reach your own.
On the morning of July 31 you boarded Halifax Transit bus 740 with your child seated in a toy. That toy is not Health Canada/Transport Canada certified for vehicle conveyance as it is intended to be pushed by hand and under your control at walking speed. Further, it has no provision for securement to a vehicle hard point. The bus on this route operates at the limit posted in this area of 50km/h. Therefore, occupants are travelling at a peak speed of 13.8 meters (45.28 feet) per second. In the event of a collision, any unrestrained object or occupant is propelled at that vehicle speed toward the point of impact.. Despite your assertions that you can restrain this toy/child combo while using a cell phone, Transport Canada and National Institutes of Highway Safety (US) crash testing have proven that impossible. Severe disabling or fatal injuries to your child are inevitable in this circumstance, as your child's head is placed at seat level. Plus, likely injury to other bus occupants inflicted by this. Strollers, or infant carriers, while unrestrained and not ideal are the only compromise.
As your FB video omits this, the bus surveillance video will show the operator of bus 740 requested politely, on boarding, that you remove the child to be seated next to you or, in your lap and safely stow the toy. You refused. Despite being informed that it was for the safety of the child and occupants. As the driver is trained to handle difficult situations, he felt it best to proceed on route to meet a Transit Supervisor. Logistical considerations placed that rendezvous at Mumford Terminal.
The Transit Supervisor confirmed the safety considerations and requested the same. You refused again. Operator and Supervisor having conferred on the platform, the operator returned to the bus to you engaged in a profanity laced tirade directed to your seatmate in a loud voice. This directed in the presence of your children, other underage minors, and all others present. This included 2 F bombs in the same utterance. The Driver advised that this conduct was unacceptable on any transit bus. You questioned the driver's motivation and then ordered the driver to proceed on route.
As you were not in care or control of that vehicle Ms *****, you were in no position to do so. The driver had signed for that bus at the start of work, not you. No public transportation agency in Canada, or anywhere else, would permit that. I suggest you board a scheduled flight or any other conveyance, and attempt to usurp and/or interfere with crew and see what response you'd get. The driver at this point had reached an impasse with you. One with no clear way forward and extricated himself from the situation to avoid further escalation. Approximately 5 minutes later, a replacement bus arrived in the terminal to continue the trip and you were offered it. You refused and remained on bus 740 until HRP constables gave you an epiphany.
Your child's purported disability while unfortunate, is not relevant to this incident. Your sense of entitlement and narcissism are another matter. The disability does not render your child any less injured while seated in a toy car on any transit bus.
Cheers