Feel Good Friday: Tina Deetz is helping the riders and drivers of Eau Claire Transit
by: Daniel Gomez
Posted: Dec 3, 2024 / 02:04 PM CUpdated: Dec 3, 2024 / 02:04 PM CSHARE
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) – With the darker nights and colder temperatures, Winter can make the ride to and from work a little tricky. No one is more aware of that than the hundreds of people that utilize Eau Claire Transit. First News at Nine’s Daniel Gomez is sharing how one of the supervisors is helping riders and drivers alike.
Morning and evening routines are harder to set in the winter when your time revolves around the bus schedule. Tina Deetz is a supervisor with Eau Claire Transit and she says, “Once in a while, the bus driver will have to call in that they almost pass up a person at a bus stop because they couldn’t see them.”
Driver Even Figg adds, “I was driving at the crack of dawn, and it was dark out. Someone was wearing all black. They had to for work, and, I almost missed them because they were standing a little off from the street. As they should.
Deetz says there are more well-lit stops than not but leaving any rider in the dark doesn’t sit right with her. “Well, we handed out about 100 of these little bus flashlights, they’re really cute.”
The small lights are part of a “Be Seen, Be Safe” campaign. It’s to encourage more riders to flash their phones. Wear reflective gear. Anything to help bus drivers see them. Figg says, “Those little key chains, I have seen plenty of those around. They work very well. It’s just a tiny light, but that small light really alerts us.”
Daniel Kasten rides the route to Altoona. He explains, “We got a streetlight in a general area but that area is kind of dark. There’s no shelter there, nothing.”
In addition to the key chains, riders were also given hats so they could stay warm while waiting for the bus. Kasten says, “I think that’s a really good idea. And the fact that they are marketing themselves that way to the public, I think that’s a really really good idea. I come from Milwaukee and their transit system is much bigger and they don’t have time for that kind of stuff.”
Deetz adds, “Transit does have a marketing budget. And this is something we like to do just to make people aware that Eau Claire transit is here. It’s nice just to be out with the public. When you come down to the transfer center and get to talk to the passengers, you really know what a good public service you’re offering here for the City of Eau Claire.”
A heartwarming gesture, to keep Eau Claire moving this Winter. In Eau Claire. Deetz says she plans to hand out more winter hats in the future. Although there are no more key chain flashlights, she says if there are safety concerns at a bus stop those are brought up to a safety committee to explore possible ways to address concerns.
