Norn : NV customers complain; WV counterparts ride By Robert Galster News Reporter robert@nsnems.com NORTH Vancouver bus rid- ers faced a transportation crunch Wednesday morning as BC Transit employces staged a surprise strike, crip- pling bus service. The picket lines erected ar all Lower Mainland bus depots came down before the dav’s afternoon rush began, but not before some $0,000 nders had been inconvenienced throughout the region. BC Transit spokesman Trace Acres esumated berween 6,000 and 8,000 of those us were from North Vancouver. The West Vancouver ‘Transit 4 tem wes unaffected, with all buses running on schedule. West Van's 60- odd transit employees are represented by a different union than the rest of BC Transit. “For the 30 years I've been here there has been no strike, no walk out, no go slew action,” said Tony Lorage, manager of West Vancouver Transit. yuust plain simple service t2 the pub- ic.” For many North Van commuters who walked to their bus stops with no idea anything was wrong, the severity of the situation came as a shack. Some ept ir sucks.” Scott Craig, 32, also didn't know there was a problem. The North Vancouver resident had just flown in trom Oregon and caught an airport bus to the SeaBus termina! “How come everyone's on strike?” asked Crag. “I tell vou there are a lot of people starving that would learn to drive a bus pie 5 a rial if ed out to several union representatives following a dispute in Coguitiamn. BC Transit’s Acres said the company his receiv from transit users. “When that many people are inconvenienced, naturally there's going to be a reaction,” said Acres. So BC Transit has devised a plan to compensate its riders. Asa gesture of appreciation for the continued support of its customers, BC Transit is offering free transportation during this morning's tush hour. The free service includes West: Vanccuver complaints Friday, August 29, 1997 ~ North Shore News ~ 3 ng strike strands bus riders iim NEWS photo Brad Ledwhkige BC Transit workers rested easy Wednesday morning following wildcat strike. The action left trannit commuters in the lurch. West Vancouver buses were on the roads. Biue Bus drivers belong to a different union. mait in their expired Aagust card and receive $5 which, he said, BC Transit hopes will be used toward the purchase of another pass, North Vancouver RCMP Const. Kathy Heppner was on patrol in the Lower Lonsdale area on Wednesday and said no problems arose as a result 6f the bus interruption. “LT noticed a lot of peuple standing around the bus stops that don’t listen to the news,” stid Heppner. “I imagine the cab dri- vers are getting their fir share of business.” Indeed, several taxis dropping people off at the Chadwick Court loop adjacent to the SeaBus terminal refused to pause iong pretty quick.” The drivers staged th ry track aids slick driver, 19 From page “David was recommended to us by someone else, so we looked at him pretty hard,” said Robertson Wednesday night at a raucous party in David's honor at the Keg Caesar’s downtown. “We tested him for four or five days and he did quite well.” As for his expectations of the rookie driver’s race tomorrow, Robertson says the weather will be the determining factor. “Frankly I hope it stays dry here, because at his stage of development he needs some dry miles,” said Robertson. “Had = you — had Westwood (track) here. still, he'd probably be an ace in the rain.” In his first-ever Atlantic race two weeks ago at a rain-soaked Road America event in Wisconsin, Rutledge qualified sixth and finished lith. Seasoned race observers were impressed that he kept the car on the slick circuit while veterans spun their cars off the track. “If it’s dry, I want to see him on the podium,” said Robertson of tomorrow’s race. He added, gesturing at the cigar-smoking guests wanting to talk to the budding superstar, “He needs to get away from all this and relax a lit- tle bit.” Asked if Rudedge has what it takes to race the elite Indy and FI cars, Robertson exercises cau- tion acquired from years of racing. ike to protest the suspensions hand- and will be in effect until noon. wy spate, “In the early Seventies 1 was watching a kid named Villencuve in the rain in Gimli (Manitoba), and he would get out in the front and spin. And he'd go in the back, and he'd go to the front again and spin. He just kept coming back and coming back,” Robertson recalled of his first sight of the legendary Gilles Villeneuve in action. “If you had sad to me ‘Next year this kid’s going to win As an additional gesture, Acres said me ly pass holders can ae NS an NEWS photo Brod Ledwidge PRAYING for sun ... West Vancouver's David Rutledge does his part to keep away the rain clouds for the Molson Indy Vancouver weekend of racing. The 19-year-old hits the street course circuit today for the first round of qualifying in just his second-ever KOOL/TOYOTA Atlantic race. everything,” I wouldn't have believed you.” What it takes, Robertson added, is “the ability to ger out and live on the edge. This weekend will be just another step for David Rutledge towards that edge. Qualifving sessions for the KOOL/TOYOTA Atlantic event go today at 5 pon., and tomorrow at Sam, with the race set for tamorrew at 3:25 pan. enough to answer any questions before speeding oF. Guaman grahs cash A man brandished a hand gun on Monday during a robbery at Starbucks Coffee at Park and Tilford Centre. The robber confronted a store employee and demanded moncy be placed in a small plastic bag, according toa North Vancouver RCMP spokesman. Police said customers and other employces were unaware that a robbery was taking place during the 12:30 p.m. incident. The robber was last seen run- ning across the road in the direc- tion of Park and Tilford Gardens. The man is described as being Caucasian, in his carly 20s, 5°6’ (167 cm) with blond hair and a stocky build. Anyone with information is asked to call the North Vancouver RCMP at 985-1311 or Crime Stoppers at 669-8477. — Anna Marie D'Angelo