A township resident writes about the lack of substitute bus drivers for Cherry Hill Township’s free senior citizen/handicapped bus service.
Editor’s note: This letter to the editor was submitted to the Cherry Hill Sun by resident James Camilli
I’d like to complain about a problem that has come up regarding Cherry Hill Township’s free senior citizen/handicapped bus service. For those who don’t know, this service allows those who might not otherwise be able to get out to do food shopping, keep medical appointments, etc. Normally, there are two different buses for each side of the township (west and east). Both buses normally operate five days a week, except for holidays and emergencies.
The problem I am referring to is what happens when one of the drivers calls out sick or goes on a vacation. When this occurs, the remaining driver has to abandon the regular schedule and race back and forth between east and west, trying to cover the entire township (double his normal load). This results in a lot of stress for the driver and a much reduced bus service for passengers, who now get only two days of service a week instead of five (two days for each side of the township).
My complaint is why hasn’t the township figured out some way to cope with this problem? Is it really that difficult to find substitute drivers who can pinch hit in an emergency? Why is this so difficult? And why are township official, who “feel no pain,” allowing handicapped and elderly residents to be victimized by this constantly recurring problem?
Currently, one of the drivers has been out sick for over a month. The remaining driver has said, ‘I’m about ready for a nervous breakdown,’ and ‘This stuff is way out of my league.’ One elderly lady became emotionally distraught when she was told that she wouldn’t be able to bring her aluminum walker along due to overcrowded conditions and another poor fellow was left stranded at a doctor’s office for two to three hours before he could get a return trip home. The remaining driver is overwhelmed.
So my message to Cherry Hill Township officials is, can you please do something about this problem? Earn your pay — get on the stick!
James Camilli
