Page 5 - The Wayne Dispatch

Transit still available for seniors/disabled

By Carolyn Marnon there day in and day out. We are con-
Nankin Transit is still helping sidered essential workers. I take my
seniors and the disabled get where hat off to the drivers and our dis-
they need to go during the COVID-19 patchers that handle the phones. We
pandemic. Riders are required to haven’t had to lay off anybody so that
wear a mask or face covering during is a good thing. It’s a difficult time for
a trip. For those riders who do not them because they have families too.
have a face covering, Nankin Transit We’re trying to keep everyone safe
has a limited supply that may be and the system running.”
available. William Shaaf, a Nankin Transit
Executive Director Jim Ridener driver and a resident of Wayne, said
says the pandemic has affected “We went from no worries (before
Nankin just like it has affected every- COVID-19) to constantly trying to
thing else. Whereas Nankin was make sure we are doing everything
doing 300 trips a day before the humanly possible to make our buses
virus, they are now down to about 50 as clean as possible for the safety of
trips a day. They’ve lost about 80% our drivers and passengers.” He
of their ridership due to an abun- added that the riders “are very coop-
dance of caution since the senior erative, most of them board our
population has been hardest hit by Nankin Transit driver William Shaaf buses already wearing their masks.
the virus and cleaning supplies. Nankin is capacity,” said Executive Director Ri- I have given a mask to two passen-
All drivers have masks and able to stay on top of personal pro- dener. “We had to cut the drivers gers in the last week and a half, and
gloves according to Executive Direc- tection equipment despite the items down to 6-hour days, but we are still they had no problem wearing them.”
tor Ridener. The buses are wiped being hard to find. covering the same amount of time.” If a senior or disabled member of
down every time someone gets on or Operating hours have not “Our drivers are doing a great job the community needs a ride to the
off. A company disinfects the buses changed. Drivers begin at 8:00 a.m. during very difficult circumstances grocery store, doctor, or other essen-
once a month, but the drivers clean each day and are done driving by trying to keep them healthy and our tial ride, call Nankin (734-729-2710)
them daily. 5:30 p.m. “When you lose 80% of customers healthy. I have to give for help with transportation. Fares
Drivers are given protection gear your ridership, that leaves us a lot of kudos to the drivers that are out are $3 one-way.

The Wayne Dispatch · May 2020 · 5