I am writing this to appeal the decision made to take out the 10:45 p.m. departure run from the Red Deer Transit.

As I believe that having taken out this time has been a great disservice to many of the patrons that depend on the City transit transportation.

I don’t think or believe that adequate through and information went into this decision, due to the large negative impact that it has had on those who rely on the transit system.

There are people who are left stranded, have to try and save money to take a cab to get to places, have to move, and have to change availability.

The effect of this is even greater in the winter months when waiting outside for long periods of time can be agonizing and sometimes even dangerous.

Even more so when there are children involved.

Another thing would be many people who take the buses are low income and do not have the money to take a cab to work or back home.

I worry for those who have to make a trip to emergency and have tired, crabby kids because they have no family or child care and finally get to go home and the clock says 10:10 p.m.

Now instead of having the children home and into bed, they have to wait that much longer inside or outside to not get the children home until 11:30 p.m. or later.

I am concerned for those especially in the cold weather, that get off work in between that time, specifically those who work where they do not have the ability to wait inside or have an outside shelter.

As well as those on the very south or north end that could get off work at 10 a.m. and would have already missed that bus and have to wait until about 10:55 p.m. to get on a warm bus to make it home or wherever they need to go.

I also believe that in a country that is trying to reduce emissions, trying to go green, trying to encourage a healthier ecosystem that is trying promote people to take the bus or walk or ride a bike, Red Deer is making decisions that make that harder for people to travel and afford public transportation.

I also know that I am not the only one who feels this way, since this decision has been made there was three of us that got together and collected signatures to petition against this decision.

I have been told that some of these have been misplaced or lost, however I know that getting more would not be an issue if there was not a time constraint.

It is my hope with this information that the care driving people making this decision will take a better look on the negative aspects on the people who actually take, use and rely on the transit system and make some changes to better the system, not make it worse.

Cherise Piercy

Red Deer