Letter to the Editor: Longtime rider slams Woodstock Transit changes

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Dear Editor,

It has been two months since Woodstock Transit was overhauled. I am a longtime rider.

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Letter to the Editor: Longtime rider slams Woodstock Transit changes Back to video

The routing is convoluted. Buses left streets where people routinely rode. They now meander through sparsely populated outskirts in hopes of gaining riders, traversing desolate roads with few stops

The worst component of the system is the policy of not waiting for transfers. Transfers mid-route are possible; however, due to protracted routes and managerial pressure to return to the terminal, this is an impracticable option. Those riders in industrial areas they hoped to attract must either risk not being on time or have their day extended due to this policy.

The new system has allowed mayor and council to abdicate their governing responsibility by offering up ill-planned solutions to real problems faced by citizens.

I hope everyone remembers next municipal election the shambles the current crop of politicians has made of our city.

Sincerely

Marianne Park Ruffin

Woodstock 

Booster booking

Talk about confusing.

Hope I can detail this in a way that describes the confusion. So second shot was June 20, 2021. Enter website and put that date in, and it allows me to continue down to bottom, where it says that I can book an appointment on or before Dec. 5, which is 168 days past second dosage. That’s fine, so I check that I’m not a robot and continue to calendar.

Now, here is where it gets tricky.

So the calendar appears with a note at the top saying only allowed to book 21 days in advance. I look at the calendar and select December. The only dates available are Dec. 1 to Dec. 3. Each day, another date opens on the calendar so I’m patiently waiting until Dec. 5 becomes available. I would think it would make more sense to have the dates available for booking in advance.

The system tells me Dec. 5, but it’s not available yet? Very confusing.

Linda Vanhorne

Dorchester

Respect for all

There are two sides to every story, but only one has been told. Several people have written about their frustrations about protest rallies, noisy rants and of those who choose their rights. As humans, we may not agree on all subjects but do need to keep an open mind and let others speak their concerns and feelings. The decisions that we make for ourselves pertaining to health are ones we do not take lightly and will do what we feel is best for our lives.

One person has said “rights only extend to a point until they infringe on the rights of others.” It is an individual’s right to say “no” to a medical treatment which does not infringe on anyone else. One person is not responsible for another’s health, call them selfish if you like. An individual does not base their own health on the rights of others, it is what they feel will be best for their health, making decisions based on others means their rights are being infringed upon as well.

Whether a person decides not to take this vaccine doesn’t mean they aren’t responsible. Most have had the childhood vaccines that were given once and will protect them for life. This latest vaccine is using new technology and has a waning efficacy, which may make some people apprehensive and will need further data before taking it. Let’s be honest, the principal goal of getting vaccinated is to protect yourself.

Good and bad decisions are made all the time, but when it comes to a person’s own body, it should be theirs to make. Everyone wants this pandemic to end but we can’t lose sight of our rights and freedoms. There may come another time when you want to say “no” but your voice is silenced.

Abby Darling

London