Fewer city buses will soon be travelling up and down streets as London Transit prepares for additional service cuts due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A new scaled-back schedule will take effect on Sunday, the London Transit Commission (LTC) has announced.
Bus service Monday to Friday will run on a Saturday schedule. Routes 33, 90, 91, 92, 94, 103, 104 and 106 are being cut, while Routes 28, 30, 36 and 37 will continue to operate in order to provide transportation to the city's industrial areas. Route 17B to Riverbend and Route 20 through the Beaverbrook/Oakcrossing area are also being pulled.
Community Bus Routes 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 and 56 will no longer operate.
Saturday buses will run on a Sunday schedule and bus service on Sundays will be pared down to levels seen on Christmas Day.
"We apologize for any inconvenience and want to assure our riders that we continue to make every effort to keep a reliable transit service operating for those that require it," London Transit said in a statement. "Though these reductions affect frequency, they continue to provide for the most coverage across the city possible."
Specialized transit is operating with service levels being matched to demand.
Real-time bus information will continue to be available to riders through the LTC Infoweb realtime.londontransit.ca or by phone at 519-451-1347.
London Transit has been urging Londoners to only ride the bus for essential trips, such as those to work, the grocery store, and pharmacy. In an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19 and protect its drivers, the LTC has waived bus fares for the time being and is asking riders to board and exit through the rear door.
Despite these extra precautions, a London Transit driver tested positive for COVID-19 last week.