People rely on the buses

The Metro Vancouver region relies on its bus system so much and if there are no buses, there will be total chaos.

If no deal is reached between Unifor and Coast Mountain Bus Company before Wednesday, buses will not be running on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Many Langara students take the bus to school like myself. If the buses aren’t running how are we going to get to and from school?

This is an important part of the semester as major assignments are due and exams are coming up. With the buses not running, many students might as well stay home.

Aiding in providing access to these items means we are helping to provide dignity and reduce the stress and anxiety that is associated with not knowing where to get your next tampon or pad.

In a study done by Plan International earlier this year, women and men overwhelmingly encourage making menstrual products free in public spaces.

The bottom line is men and boys have everything they need in public washrooms and women and girls deserve the same, especially if it means by not having these items they are socially and economically put at a disadvantage.

These products should be available in men and women’s washrooms to ensure no one is left out.

OPINION

JOSHUA REY

Not everyone can drive. Taxis are expensive and unreliable and we will probably have high speed rail to Seattle before Uber and Lyft come to Vancouver. If there were no buses on the roads even for a day, it would be total chaos. Could you imagine the traffic? It will be a gridlock. Good luck trying to get to your 9 a.m. office meeting when you are stuck in traffic bumper to bumper on the Granville Street Bridge. There are better ways to strike. For instance, the drivers haven’t been wearing their uniforms but are still operating the buses. I’ve seen drivers wear T-shirts and jackets instead of the uniforms. I have no problem with the drivers not wearing uniforms as long as I can get to school on time.

Here is another way to strike without ruining commutes. In Japan, when the bus drivers went on strike, they refused to take fare from people. That meant free bus rides for everybody. It would be much better if the drivers in Vancouver did that instead of a complete shutdown. Shutting down the system will just cause pandemonium all over the city and there are much better ways to strike. I just hope they resolve this soon.