Thought of the Day - August 4 - Masks: Part of Translink Recovery Plan

As we discussed some months ago, epidemics devastate public transport. Indeed the combination of the fear of infection, lower gas prices/less traffic on the road and corresponding cutbacks in service have severely impacted public transport systems in the past (https://clifffraser0.wixsite.com/covid-19/post/though-of-the-day-may-4-impact-on-public-transit)

Translink is finally fighting back. Anticipating a return to the "new normal" in September, driven by the return to school and the gradual erosion of weather leading to less cycling and walking, the time is right for an aggressive plan to get people back on public transport.

A key part is resuming consumer confidence in sanitation. Here the mandatory use of masks plays an important role. Regardless of where you stand on the value of masks in the fight against COVID-19, they are a specific requirement to restore consumer confidence. Translink has finally taken the important step (that STCUM and TTC did months ago) in making masks mandatory as of August 24th (https://clifffraser0.wixsite.com/covid-19/post/thought-of-the-day-june-22-masks-revisited).

We are so lucky in BC we have not had a severe uptick in cases, thus affording us the time for the softly, softly approach. That said, it is great we are actually taking measures such as this to keep us all safe, physically and mentally.

Cheers

Cliff