Barriers to be tested to protect London bus drivers

London Transit is launching a new pilot project in an effort to improve safety for bus drivers. Three buses will be outfitted with new barriersbetween drivers and customers. The goal is to guard againstpotentially violent riders.

"There has been spitting," said LTC General Manager Kelly Paleczny. "Even just concerns from operators that feel somebody could come up from behind when they're concentrating on driving. There's really no protection there."

Paleczny says the barriers are much like a car door in that they have a solid lower half and a window on top. The window could be opened or fully closed depending on the comfort level of the driver. Some other transit serviceshave bullet proof glass installed as part of the barrierbut that is not being considered in London, she said. She added that London bus drivers also have access to apanic button that canconnect with dispatchers, should emergency services be needed.

The barriers cost about $5,000 each. They'll be installed on three buses as part of a pilot project. Those buses will then be used on various routes to give as many drivers as possible a chance to try them out for the remainder of thisyear.

"We want feedback from our operators. We want feedback from maintenance personnel who have to maintain the buses and we want feedback from our customers as to what their perceptions are with this," said Paleczny.

She points out that barriers are being installed on transit buses in many urban centres, including Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver.

"You know the changing environment out there, we want our officers to feel safe in the workplace," said Paleczny.