COLUMBUS, Ohio — COTA will no longer be stopping at the intersection of Hamilton and East 20th avenues after a bullet hit a bus on Tuesday.
“We just think that it is important until we know this is a safe environment for our buses. We need to look out for our customers and employees and make sure they stay safe,” said Jeff Pullin, Public and Media Relations Director COTA.
Pullin said they are not abandoning the area but rather trying to make a safer environment for everyone involved.
“The South Linden area is very important for transit customers. It’s a neighborhood where a lot of people rely on public transit so we aren’t going to leave that area,” said Pullin.
Pullin said they are going to wait until police give them the OK to resume routes in that intersection. He wants to ensure people that COTA does have protocols in place.
“You can have no weapons on our vehicles. We have cameras on all of our buses they point every direction inside and outside so that’s a preventative tool,” said Pullin.
They also have street supervisors and strategic response specialists that can respond to any incident, quickly.
Ralph Carter with We are Linden said the shooting is disappointing.
“We don’t want anyone to get hit by a bullet, a stray bullet when they are trying to travel home, travel to work or any activity they are doing,” Carter said.
He doesn’t agree with COTA rerouting the buses in South Linden. Carter said a lot of people rely on COTA, and its not fair for everyone to be punished for the shooting.
“I’m not the one that you know shot off and did it so why am I being affected now with my livelihood on the line with trying to get to and from work or get my kids to school?” said Carter.