Saskatoon

Saskatoon bus riders speak out on impact of transit lockout

Bus riders took to social media to vent about lost service at the start of the work week.

Panic in the ridership ranks as work week starts

Saskatoon bus riders hit the bricks

10 years ago
Duration 1:25
The city locked out its transit union Saturday night following unsuccessful bargaining. The sides are reported to be far apart

Wendy Brown-Bruce says she works two jobs to pay her bills and can't afford to pay for a taxi to get to one of the jobs.

Trisha Knorr lives on the west side, but her doctor, dentist and optometrist all work on the east side and all her other appointments are downtown.

Monika Holman says she'll now be biking across the city now, and hopes the warm weather holds during the lost bus service.

These are just some comments posted on CBC Saskatoon's Facebook page this weekend. They're representative of the general fears expressed by people who rely on the city's bus service.

"We don't have any vehicle, so I don't know if I can manage the walking distance, it's too long," said Karan Singh, who lives downtown.

"It's a big deal, transit not going and buses not going."

The city locked out the transit drivers on Saturday night when contract talks broke down.

The issues separating the two sides are wages and pension contributions. Both sides say the other side is misrepresenting the issue.

Plan B for elementary, high school and university students

School boards and the university are all trying to deal with the ripple effect of the lockout.

The city's public school board posted an emergency message on its website. It urged students to walk or bike while the weather holds. It also advised caution around schools because there will likely be heavier traffic.

Cars, bikes and traffic directors were the norm at the U of S on Monday. (CBC)

The U of S is trying to free-up extra parking space on campus for the more than 10,000 students who use the bus to get to classes.

Many on campus Monday car pooled, while others walker or rode bikes. 

"The problem is I have to wait until four or five o'clock to get a ride home, but my last class is at 12:30," said Jamie Bell, who caught a ride to campus with his mom. 


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