West Vancouver bus drivers say they are the latest to experience violence on the public transit system.
A statement from United Transit Alliance Local 134 said a “violent, bloody” fight broke out Wednesday on the West Vancouver Blue Bus, a subcontracting system that is part of TransLink, the Greater Vancouver Regional Transit Authority.
A rider harassed a passenger and assaulted another who tried to intervene, the statement said.
Police were called and the union said the suspect was overpowered on the bus and arrested.
There have been four other violent attacks on Metro Vancouver’s transit system in the past few weeks, including the throat slit of a man and the stabbing to death of 17-year-old Ethan Bespflug on Tuesday.
Local 134 officials said the attack was another strong warning that the blue bus system needs better security measures.
“Even in West Vancouver, our drivers and passengers need more safety measures to minimize the potential for violent incidents on our buses or bus loops and stops,” Local 134 President Cornel Neagu said in a statement. .”
He also wants to see more action by the provincial and federal governments to address the growing mental health and addiction crisis.
“Our drivers are seeing escalating problems with passengers who have serious drug, alcohol and mental health issues and rely on our buses for transportation,” Neagu said.
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