ECAT Encouraging Riders To Wear Masks

May 31, 2020

Beginning Monday,, passengers will be encouraged to wear face masks while riding Escambia County Area Transit buses.

If a rider does not already have a mask, ECAT employees will offer a mask to the passenger during the month of June to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. ECAT operators will also continue to wear masks.

Also beginning Monday, ECAT employees and operators will have their temperature taken when they arrive to work as a precaution. ECAT continues to implement safety measures such as limiting ridership to 10 bus passengers and increased bus and facility cleanings. ECAT lobby areas are open at 25% occupancy (two people in the front lobby and eight people in the customer service area). Beach trolleys have seating spaced to accommodate social distancing.

“Our priority remains the safety and health of our employees and passengers, especially during this pandemic. Since March, we have been implementing health and safety measures such as frequent and daily cleaning of buses, limiting the number of passengers to 10, and boarding buses in a manner that promotes social distancing,” Escambia County Mass Transit Director Tonya Ellis said.

Since April 6, fair collection has been suspended for ECAT bus services.

Bus passengers have been instructed to enter and exit through the rear doors only and sit behind the accessibility-reserved seating area. Front-door access is permitted only for passengers needing the boarding ramp or operator assistance to access the bus. ADA accessible seating space near the front of the bus is reserved for individuals in mobility devices, individuals in need of special assistance and families with children in strollers.

Comments

5 Responses to “ECAT Encouraging Riders To Wear Masks”

  1. Brwildered on May 31st, 2020 4:18 pm

    Susan, actually I have nothing against masks. the point I was making is either enforce it for all occasions (Especially in so called hotspots) or not at all.. If all these cities that tolerated the riots experience a sharp increase in Corona infection cases, we all have to suffer the consequences. It might be alright with you to shut everything down again, but some people value their freedom of movement.

  2. Susan on May 31st, 2020 3:08 pm

    @ Bewildered: Clearly you have the means not to need the bus. Social distancing is often not possible. What has rioting got to do with the bus system in Pensacola? My neighbor is a bus driver. She cannot social distance. The photo shows employees in hazmat wear in this hot weather just to do their job. Asking folks to wear a mask is a courtesy. Go back to watching Faux news and calm down.

  3. tim on May 31st, 2020 11:43 am

    Give the riders an option: no mask, no ride.

  4. Paul on May 31st, 2020 11:40 am

    Here’s a comment from a selfish specimen of a human yesterday on NE.com

    “Have not worn a mask or glasses nor have I washed my hands more than I used to and will continue to travel on my job. By the way I still shake hands therefore that probably means I don’t practice social distancing. Yep it has been and will always be business as usual”

    Good luck with the encouragement to wear a mask. .

  5. Bewildered on May 31st, 2020 8:52 am

    Wear masks to curb exactly what? If you watched the demonstrations yesterday most thugs had their uncovered mouth wide open screaming and yelling in the immediate vicinity of their cohorts.. You are no longer allowed to call a thief a thief because you are called out as a racist – I guess to demand social distancing falls now into the same category. New York as the epicenter of the corona virus – please !!!