Opinion: City not clearing bus stops of snow

This is a letter written by Amanda Syvret, of North Bay.

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I don't drive so I mostly bus around town with my 4-month-old. I've found a lot of the bus stops are not maintained properly by the city.

For example, stop 1055 on Mckeown, right by the A&W. Just to get to the stop you have to walk on the road which is dangerous for someone walking, let alone with a stroller. 

The bus stop itself is a hassle to stand at because there is nowhere to stand, it's basically a giant embankment. I had to get my boyfriend's help to pull the stroller up onto the side, trying to do it quickly while cars speed past us. 

Then I had to dig holes to stand in so my stroller didn't fall into incoming traffic.

When the bus showed up I asked who's supposed to be clearing the bus stops. He explained that I'd have to call the city (who's supposed to maintain it) because city bus drivers have already asked the city to clear this particular stop multiple times and they still haven't. The bus driver said he was embarrassed to drop people off here because they have to either walk in traffic or climb over the embankment once they get off the bus.

God forbid someone in a wheelchair needs this stop. It is impossible for them. It's not safe and it shouldn't be like this. The city needs to make this street safer and the stops more accessible considering how many pedestrian car accidents there has been on this stretch of road.

Amanda Syvret