News Release
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Janet Sanders
Office: 661.869.6304
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 15, 2020
Golden Empire Transit – “Sound the Horn”
April 16, 2020, at noon (12pm)
Bakersfield CA – On Thursday, April 16, 2020 at noon (12 p.m.), Golden Empire Transit buses will give two horn blasts to honor public transit workers across the region.
Heroic transit workers continue to provide critical service for healthcare workers, first responders, childcare workers, grocery store employees and other heroes who are performing essential work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The #SoundTheHorn campaign idea came from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York. They are urging transit agencies across the country to join in to support transit workers, heroes moving heroes.
Anyone who sees or hears buses sounding their horns are encouraged to use the #SoundTheHorn hashtag and post audio and video and tag GET on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
Public transit systems have moved quickly and implemented many measures to adapt as best as possible to the new pandemic. This includes cordoning off the area around the bus operator, implementing social distancing on the buses using every other row seating, and reducing touchpoints with fare collection. GET has greatly stepped up cleaning of vehicles and facilities, and are providing safety gear when available. GET is stressing that only essential workers should be riding, and urging that riders wear masks while on the bus.
GET realizes we provide a vital role within our community. We are committed to providing a safe reliable service to our community while keeping our employees and riders safe as we continue to monitor the activity of COVID-19.
GET was formed in July 1973 and is the primary public transportation provider for the Bakersfield Urbanized Area. It is the largest public transit system within a 110-mile radius. The District’s legal boundary includes Bakersfield city limits as well as adjacent unincorporated areas. GET has a fleet of 88 compressed natural gas buses equipped with wheelchair lifts and bike racks. GET serves 16 routes, operating 7 days a week and transporting more than 6 million passengers each year with its fixed-route buses. In addition, GET operates 25 compressed natural gas GET-A-Lift buses and 7 microtransit RYDE shuttles. For more information, visit www.getbus.org or call 869.2GET (2438).
