Greyhound announces new security measures
12/5/2008 at 1:34 PM
Following the brutal "Greyhound Stabbing" in Manitoba (even if they claim it's the the real cause), Greyhound Canada has decided to implement new security measures that are not only laughably ineffective, but infringe on privacy rights and will make bus travel like hell, in addition to possibly cause property damage.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2008/12/02/greyhound-security-screening.html?ref=rss
First: Passengers boarding in Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg will be screened with a metal detector to avoid having people bring weapons inside. Okay, I didn't know Greyhound boarded passengers only in three cities... If someone wants to bring a metal object onboard will simply board in any other of the hundreds or boarding points across Canada... and I don't want to live in a Big Brother state like that. As a good citizen, I shouldn't be subjected to privacy-invading searches like that because ONE horrific incident happened.
Second: Carry-on baggage is now TOTALLY BANNED, without exceptions. Not only this is totally unrealistic, it's just plain wrong. While that MIGHT work well for short one-hour trips, what about people travelling long distances? What if I planned to go to Vancouver by Greyhound? I would have to stay without any food, spare clothes, spare underwear, toothbrush, hygiene items or any other object for days? Hundreds of people have done these trips and it's very comfortable if only you can have your bag with you. Are they going to ban water bottles too? Come on. What about laptops and other fragile items? Apparently you will have to put them under the bus too. Seeing how staff handle baggages, I'm not too reassured. Additionally, this will slow down travel as drivers will have to remove bags from under the bus at all bus stops.
Apparently, fruit is also already banned from Greyhound buses, for an obscure reason.
Why should I not be allowed to bring these items aboard a bus because ONE crazy psycho committed a hideous crime that was "one of it's kind"?
I do sympathise with Tim McLean's family, but I think these measures are totally ineffective and counterproductive for Greyhound.
What do you think of that?