After five days without bus service, Sunshine Coast Transit restored service in the loop of Lower Gibsons Wednesday afternoon.
Transit suspended service last Friday due to acts of vandalism to its buses. For the past three weeks, there have been incidents of rocks being thrown at the bus by suspected youths possibly using slingshots.
Transit spokesman Brian Sagman said the service was suspended out of safety concerns for both passengers and drivers.
"We were very reluctant to pull service in the first place. But this is a unique situation where the safety of our passengers and our drivers is our top priority," said Sagman. "After speaking with the RCMP Wednesday morning we were satisfied with the steps they were taking and the progress of their investigation, so we restored service around 1 p.m."
Cpl. Max Fossum of the Sunshine Coast RCMP told Coast Reporter that police have a couple of solid leads they are investigating.
"We're taking these incidents very seriously," Fossum said. "The file will remain active. We'll be stepping up patrols in the area. Citizens on Patrol will be getting more active. We'll be using our police dog in the area and if we have to put an officer on the bus, we'll look at that too."
Fossum said police are hoping the public will come forward with any information that could aid in the investigation.After an attack during the evening of Feb. 15, service was suspended for the remainder of that shift. Last Friday another attack occurred at 3:30 p.m., at which time service was suspended completely.
During the Friday attack, a rock was shot at the bus, shattering a side window. The driver reported that during the trip one hour earlier, two strollers with infants seated in them were in the exact location where the rock and pieces of glass landed. This is often the same area where elderly passengers sit on the bus.
During one of the attacks, one passenger received superficial cuts to his neck, but did not require medical assistance.Sagman said he regrets the inconvenience that was caused to transit users in the area.
"It's unfortunate that things had to come to this, but we felt we had no choice," Sagman said.
At Tuesday's meeting of Gibsons council, Mayor Barry Janyk said the matter would be discussed at the regional district policing committee meeting on Monday.
"The only individuals who are hurt are the people of Lower Gibsons," said Janyk. "It's a shame that a few kids with some rocks can disrupt so many people's lives. I know it was a tough decision for Transit, and I have several questions I expect Mr. Sagman to answer on Monday. Personally, I'm disappointed the situation had to come to this."
-With files from Karen Ardy
