4 — Friday, December 19, 1997 — North Shore News Passengers rally round bus dri Claims of mistreatment questioned News Reporter tan@nsnews.com PASSENGERS have rallied to the defence of a bus driver they say was unfairly maligned in a News story last week. The story concerned rider Tanya Ciezki, who says her bus driver told her ro quiet her two-year-son or she would be kicked off the bus. Ciezki said she ended up crying and shaking duc to the driver's verbal tongue lashing. Last Friday, when the News printed the story, B.C. Transit ‘had just started an investigation and didn’t have the driver’s side of the story. However, carlier this week B.C. Transit spokesman Trace Acves said the driver’s report differs significantly trom Ciezki’s. “From mv reading of his report at nu time did he request her or her child to leave the bus,” Acres added. Acres said the driver reported Ciezki approached the bus while the driver was taking fares. The driver said he suggested to Ciezki that she and her son wait for the next bus in 12 minutes. In the meantime, she could try to settle her son. She boarded the bus anyway. The child continued to scream — and make noise, so the driver suggested she may want to get off the bus and wait for the next bus, again, to settle the child, said Acres. The driver called transit control to ask a supervisor to visit the bus and carried on. At one point, the bus driver stood up and asked if he could do anything for the child and the child apparent- ly quieted down, said Acres. The driver cancelled the “He may have asked her to shut him up, but I cannot fault him.” ~~ Passenger Max Roy request for the supervisor and Ciezki and her son got off at 27th. Acres said he had nothing to indicate the driver stopped between two stops. He added that from the outset the driver saw the child screaming and he used his best judgment to try to avoid an “uncomfortable sit- uation” on the bus. Acres said he hadnt read Ciezki’s letter to B.C, Transit and he would not release the name of the driver. Ciezki con- tinues to stand by her story. She savs the bus driver did not politely ask her to wait for the next bus. She says the driver was trying to throw her off the bus. Ciezki said she needed comfort as well and won't stop taking the bus because her child is upset. While an acquaintance of Ciezki's agreed with her story, other bus passengers Canadian Made! Malden Mills Polar Fleece sided with the driver. Max Roy said he was on the same bus that day He said Ciezki’s son was seream- ing and creating a very annoying scence, The driver received com- plaints from bus riders and warned the mother to con- trol her child or she would have co leave or cake the nexr bus. “He may have asked her te shut him up, but I cannot fauk him under these cir- cumstances,” Rov said. He did not see the child hit his head on a pole when the driver stopped the bus, as Ciezki claimed. Roy said Ciezki should apologize to the other pas- sengers on the bus and be thankful the driver allowed her to stay on the bus, Another passenger on the iver § bus said the child was screaming and screeching uncontrallably when the bus arrived at Phibbs Exchange. Ciezki should have just waited until her child fad calmed down and then taken the next bus, the passenger said, adding that the driver should be commended for trving to save the sanity of See More page 12 Low Level Road Construction Traffie Pattern Changes s part of the Low Level Road construction, Welch Street is temporarily losed at West First Street. Please use West First Street and Pemberton Avenue to bypass the closure. One way traffic eastbound will be re-established once traffic patterns have adjusted to these changes. For further information, contact the Engineering Department at 990-2450. Weich Street Closed @ Pemberton Ave Welch St Waterproof/ breathable. » Full mesh maliner! oe 4 full pockets A and pit zips!} . 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