'Lay off our Crowns': Saskatoon residents protest STC closure

"I'm a bus rider, not a Roughrider," chanted protesters at the Saskatoon bus depot Friday as they rallied against the end of the Saskatchewan Transportation Company.

Last week's provincial budget brought the announcement that the bus company would be shuttered after more than 70 years of continuous service to some 200 communities.

• Crowd protests STC closure in Regina, call it an 'essential service'

• Speak out to save STC, say bus riders

Shelby Lyn Lowe says STC provided an alternative to the anxiousness and nervousness she would experience when getting into the driver's seat.

"I think the point of STC wasn't to make money, it was to serve the people," she said.

Cindy Hanson stood behind a microphone, leading a crowd of people in chants like, "Hey you clowns, lay off our Crowns."

She said she helped organize the rally after seeing how many people wanted to do something about the closure.

"People in this province are very, very hurt and upset about what's going on," Hanson said.

• STC shutdown leaves cancer patients looking for a ride

• 'It's going to be quite a nightmare': Passengers outraged by STC closure

She added that she thinks MLAs don't realize how much they're hurting their own constituents.

STC's freight service will end May 19, and passenger service will stop May 31.