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« Restaurants pull tomatoes; FDA investigates salmonella | Today | Woman testifies that Entwistle was loving father » June 10, 2008Too many turn out for RIPTA's free beach bus / VideoPROVIDENCE -- The heat, all 93 degrees of it, is on -- and so were the masses of people in Providence trying to get on free RIPTA buses to the beach. Supervisors in Kennedy Plaza this morning were telling would-be riders that buses were more than full, and asking them to step off because they could not drive buses with so many people aboard. Some passengers at one point refused to get off an overcrowded bus. RIPTA staff were "having a hard time today because the weather is really bad," RIPTA spokeswoman Karen Mensel said. If "there's too many people -- it's a safety issue," she said. All buses and trolleys that can be in use are, Mensel said. But buses that need repairs to such things as air conditioning are not. Adhering to a vehicle's capacity is important, she said. The free rides exclude special services such as the Providence to Newport ferry. There are other ways to stay cool today as well in the city. The Providence Emergency Management Agency has opened an emergency shelter at the Da Vinci Center, 401 Charles Street, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Providence Community Action announced today that the Elmwood Community Center at 155 Niagara St. will be open as a cooling center for seniors residing in the Elmwood and Washington Park Neighborhoods. The center will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and tomorrow. Providence city officials have encouraged residents to visit one of the following Providence Public Library branches anytime between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.: -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal photographer Bill Murphy * Rochambeau, 708 Hope St. * Mt. Pleasant, 315 Academy Ave. * Central Library Branch, 150 Empire St. * Fox Point, 90 Ives St. * Olneyville, 1 Olneyville Square Providence Mayor David Cicilline's senior services office has "reached out to all of the city’s high rises and senior centers" to offer help and to encourage those living in units without air conditioners to go to community rooms, according to a news release yesterday. The senior services office will also start distributing fans to seniors in need today, the release stated. CORRECTION: Knight Memorial, 275 Elmwood Ave., is not one of the air-conditioned libraries available. It has been closed to the public today. Also closed today due to the heat are Smith Hill Branch Library, 31 Candace Street; and Washington Park Branch,1380 Broad Street. Posted by Mike McKinney CommentsHarold Young | June 10, 2008 12:39 PM link With the Price of gas rising every day and our taxes going up and we still have proplems can't souza | June 10, 2008 12:46 PM link I just watched the video and it looks like its all kids that are trying to get to the beach, and therefore causing the problems. Maybe they should be taking some lessons on courtesy and respect instead of refusing to get off the bus when asked by the RIPTA officials. Kevin Piatek | June 10, 2008 2:15 PM link I tried to take the 5:40 p.m. 54 bus yesterday afternoon. After being pushed by a lot of teens trying to get on the bus and watching as they almost knocked over an elderly man and a woman with a baby in her arms, I did get on the bus which was standing room only. The bus driver, after letting everyone get on the the bus -- both front and rear doors -- then announced that there were too many people on the bus and that people had to get off. He then shut off the bus and left it with it packed in 95 degree weather. I finally got off as did only two other people and then the bus driver got on and drove off. I then waited for the next bus at 6:10. Again, I was nearly run over by teens scrambling to get on the bus, but did manage to get on a get a seat. The bus was packed and the driver did nothing to control the masses nor was there any supervisor anywhere to be seen. I guess they don't need to be out in the heat and figure it's every person for themselves. It doesn't surprise me about today's beach buses. That is why they should not be free. I understand free buses on ozone days and have no problem with that. The problem I do have is when drivers won't take control of the passengers and supervisors hide out in the air conditioned terminal and don't do their job. Dorothy | June 10, 2008 4:15 PM link souza, RIPTA is operating in the red. They are not in the business to supply free beach rides. People need to learn to accept what is available to them and appreciate what they can get and live with what they cannot. Perhaps RIPTA could benefit from the funds generated by those people who are eligible for and receive free monthly bus passes yet choose to sell them for personal profit. Maybe those profits could be used to fund some additional beach buses. I think RIPTA did a poor job of managing the situation and I hope that they have learned from this experience. My heart goes out to the drivers. Alison | June 11, 2008 9:03 AM link Post a commentPlease be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish. |
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ProJo 9 to 5 News Blog
Oct 2005 - March 2006
Why are the buses full....or better yet why aren't these people working? It is amazing that my tax dollars are being used to send people to the beach free when myself and many others are hard at work. I will be waiting in line tomorrow morning so I can take the free RIPTA to my job ....oh wait, that will never happen.