Disruption to bus services leaves passengers stranded

By Shelby Wye

Regular commuters of Belleville were lined up on the roads Tuesday waiting for buses that weren’t coming.

The bus service was halted for two separate periods, from 9:30 am to 11 am and 2 pm to 3 pm. The disruption gave Belleville Transit workers the opportunity to vote on their collective agreement.

It was much to the dismay of the dozens of would-be passengers lingering at the terminal this morning.

Carrie Serbinek had to call in to HGS Call Centre, to report that she would be late for her shift.

“I used the bus last night, all the way to 9 pm, and there wasn’t any sort of warning of today,” said Serbinek, ““There should’ve been postings, not just on the buildings, but on the bus.”

After spending $72 for a monthly bus pass, Serbinek was livid that she wasn’t able to use it.

Jessica Issac, stroller with her newborn child in tow, was waiting at the bus stop outside the Tim Hortons on Dundas Street for more than an hour. She was supposed to visit the bank.

“I’m pretty pissed off, because now I have to walk to the other side of town. There was absolutely no warning,” said Isaac.

The collective agreement, according to a Belleville Transit spokesperson, was rejected Tuesday.