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Kelowna  

Child's safety at risk

A Kelowna mom says some Kelowna Transit drivers are putting her daughter's safety at risk, and the company doesn't seem to be taking her concerns seriously.

The woman, who didn't want to be identified, told Castanet News these incidents have happened several times over the past year where drivers pull away from a transit stop before she has had a chance to engage the safety brake on her daughter's stroller.

She said it's happened four times, and each time she has lodged a complaint with Kelowna Transit.

"I called (Wednesday) morning to complain again. All they said was we can take your name and phone number and pass it on to a supervisor, but nothing gets done about it," she said.

Concerning the latest incident, when she said she told the driver she didn't have the stroller brake on, "he just looked in his rear view mirror, shrugged, and took off."

The woman indicated she has been promised calls, but has never heard from Kelowna Transit.

She said the last time this happened, she actually fell herself.

"I didn't have the brakes on yet and I was trying to balance the stroller and make sure that didn't roll, and I fell.

"I'm sick and tired of getting on the bus with my daughter and having her unsafe. I can balance myself, but I can't balance a stroller with a baby inside trying to put the brakes on while the bus driver is going."

BC Transit communications spokesman Jonathon Dyck said they are aware of the complaint and indicated Kelowna Transit officials did speak with the woman Thursday.

"We do apologize to the customer for their experience and can assure the customer we are following up internally," said Dyck

"It's our policy that strollers have the brakes engaged, and we do expect our drivers to wait til the stroller is properly secured until they proceed. As with any complaint, our local operating company will follow up through their internal channels as appropriate and they investigate to make sure the policy is adhered to."

Citing privacy concerns, Dyck was not able to speak to the specific incident.



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