Last Updated on June 1, 2020 by CCAR Staff
Omnitrans started collecting bus fares again Monday, June 1, after halting fees in March to implement new social distancing guidelines in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
As of Monday, protective plexiglass barriers have been installed on all buses to provide a shield between drivers and passengers, making fare collection possible with minimal contact, the transit agency wrote in a news release.
When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and county health agencies issued guidelines in March to slow the spread of the virus, Omnitrans started requiring riders enter and exit buses through the rear door, where there are no fare boxes.
That way, passengers could get to their destination while remaining as far apart from drivers as possible.
Due to low ridership amid the pandemic, Omnitrans, which serves much of the San Bernardino Valley, cut the number of trips on its 32 routes in half, with buses running every 30 minutes and every hour.
Such schedules will remain in place, agency officials said Monday.
While returning to some semblance of normalcy this week, Omnitrans still encourages riders to use transit services for essential trips only; not ride if they are sick; wear a face covering and maintain 6 feet of social distance at bus stops and aboard the bus; wash hands with soap for 20 seconds before and after riding; cover mouths and noses when coughing and sneezing; and be courteous to other riders and bus operators.
Omnitrans will continue disinfecting high-touch areas in all vehicles.
For more information, visit omnitrans.org.
