Laketran joins new safety campaign

OPTA campaign highlights public safety initiatives

“Keeping public transit safe is a mutual commitment between us and our riders. We provide free masks and hand sanitizer on board, limit our seating to six feet apart and continue to sanitize our buses daily. We ask that our riders self-monitor, practice safe hygiene and please don’t take transit if you are sick.” — Ben Capelle, Laketran CEO

In an effort to highlight safety initiatives as novel coronavirus cases continue to increase statewide, Laketran is joining with the Ohio Public Transit Association to launch the “Ride Easy Ohio” campaign.

According to Laketran, “Ride Easy Ohio” highlights safety protocols to uphold public transportation as a safe and practical option, even in amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Best practices include wearing facial coverings, proper social distancing, cleaning and sanitizing vehicles and facilities, practicing safe hygiene, and employee selfmonitoring.

“We want people to know that public transit is safe,” said Laketran CEO Ben Capelle. “As far as we know, there have been no cases transmitted on board our buses to date and in a recent survey of our busiest route, 98 percent of our customers said they felt safe riding Laketran.

“Keeping public transit safe is a mutual commitment between us and our riders,” he added.

“We provide free masks and hand sanitizer on board, limit our seating to six feet apart and continue to sanitize our buses daily. We ask that our riders self-monitor, practice safe hygiene and please don’t take transit if you are sick.”

Laketran has also joined the American Public Transportation Association’s Health and Safety Commitments Program and pledged to meet national standards alongside over 175 transit systems nationwide.

Laketran stated it is committed to five safety protocols:

• Following public health guidelines from official sources

• Cleaning and disinfecting transit vehicles daily and requiring face coverings and other protections

• Practicing social distancing by monitoring passenger loads and capacities

• Keeping passengers informed and empowered to choose the safest ways to travel and pay fare

• Putting health first by requiring riders and employees to avoid public transit if they have been exposed to COVID-19 or feel ill

“Laketran is pleased to be a part of ‘Ride Easy Ohio’ and the

national effort to bring awareness to safety initiatives that keep public transit as a viable option during these unprecedented times,” Capelle said.

“An increasing number of

riders are using Laketran for their essential trips. We encourage you to join them. Be assured, we are taking every precaution possible to make your ride safe.”

SUBMITTED Laketran maintenance team member John Trunck sanitizes one of the transit agency’s vehicles at the company’s headquarters in Painesville Township. Laketran recently joined OPTA in launching “Ride Easy Ohio” to heighten safety protocols.