Concerns raised about B.C. Transit policy after maskless Kamloops man allowed to ride bus

A Kamloops woman is speaking out after an incident on an intercity bus she was riding this week.

Taylor Rae said she was on the number seven bus to Aberdeen in Kamloops, Oct. 5, when a rider came onboard and he refused to wear a mask. Rae said she was concerned about the potential COVID exposure because her mom is fighting lung cancer and chemotherapy has weakened her immune system.

Rae said she rides the bus regularly to the Thompson Rivers University campus.

“This is not the first encounter I have experienced where people have removed their masks on the bus but it is the first incident that escalated,” Rae said. “Multiple users of the bus requested this person put on their mask or leave the bus.”

READ MORE: Mask, vaccine conflicts descend into violence and harassment

Rae said the driver pulled over, opened the door and called a transit supervisor over, who spoke with the unmasked rider.

“Multiple bus users, including myself, stated that he (would) just take the mask off again,” she said. “The supervisor stated that even though (masks are mandatory), he has no authority and he is not authorized to remove someone from the vehicle.”

Rae said some patrons and the driver voiced their concerns and wanted the rider removed.

“If people who are required to wear a mask can then just opt out if they feel like it, it is not safe for the driver or any bus passenger,” Rae said. “The transit supervisor looked at the driver, said his name and told him to drive the bus and he would talk to him later.”

Rae said she sent a complaint to B.C. Transit and received a phone call back.

"B.C. Transit called me… but they didn't leave me a number to call them back at," she said. "They said they forwarded my complaint and that someone is supposed to get ahold of me. I want to escalate this issue until the bus drivers have the authority to remove dangerous riders, including people who don’t think the mask mandate applies to them."

READ MORE: All B.C. students will have to wear masks at school starting on Monday

The use of face coverings on all B.C. Transit buses and at bus stops was made mandatory for a second time on Aug. 25, according to the B.C. Transit website.

B.C. Transit Communications Manager, Tessa Humphries said in an emailed statement the company's focus is on education rather than enforcement and drivers are advised to not challenge any passengers who board the bus without a mask.

Humphries said transit operators can report noncompliance to their supervisors, who are to encourage compliance from the rider, but must obtain the assistance of police to enforce any non-compliance challenges.

"Accommodations are made for people that cannot wear a mask for medical reasons and for children under the age of twelve," she said in the written statement. "We have implemented a number of educational steps to raise awareness of the mandatory face covering policy."

B.C. Transit is asking its customers to be kind.

— This story was updated at 10:58 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021 to add comment from B.C. Transit.

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