Moving buses is best memorial

Published February 12, 2004, in issue #0306 of The Hook

I was a bit taken aback when I heard that CTS suspended its services due to the death of its founder, Helen Poore [News, "Bereaved: Funeral strands bus riders," February 5, 2004].

As a former bus driver for the University Transit Service, I understand how truly important public transportation is to the citizens of Charlottesville, and I can't believe Helen Poore would have wanted to inconvenience the passengers she spent so many years striving to continually serve better.

When a fellow UTS driver was killed in a car accident a few years ago, many newer drivers and those who didn't know her very well came through and covered shifts to keep services running smoothly so that those who were normally scheduled could attend her funeral.

We all felt that we were doing what was right by her as well as the community by not suspending service, and some felt that this was the best way to honor the memory of someone who loved driving a bus as much as the rest of us.

Leaving people stranded in cold weather is a misguided idea of a tribute to a woman who understood only too well the responsibility her organization has to the riding public.

Amy Karasz
Charlottesville

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