The Manatee County Transit Area’s fleet was to mask up after President Joe Biden’s mask mandate for people on public transit went into effect Feb. 1.
But some have questioned whether MCAT is enforcing the requirement.
Bradenton Beach resident Lynne LaMarca emailed The Islander Feb. 15 to report that some boarding MCAT’s Anna Maria Island trolleys failed to follow the federal order intended to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus.
“While riding on the trolley several times this year, I have noticed that only a few people were wearing masks,” LaMarca wrote. “The trolley provides free masks but despite this, the mandate is not enforced.”
“It is a matter of health and safety for passengers during this difficult time that riders obey the mandates,” she added.
Face masks act as a barrier to prevent the spray of respiratory droplets — which play a large role in spreading the virus — from reaching others.
Before the mandate, safety measures included offering hand sanitizers onboard MCAT’s fleet, sanitizing buses daily and cleaning facilities twice a week.
This reporter from The Islander rode one of MCAT’s island trolleys Feb. 17 on an hourlong trip beginning and ending at the southernmost stop at Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach and reaching the northernmost stop at Anna Maria City Pier in Anna Maria.
Of the 23 passengers who boarded the trolley over 21 stops, each wore a face mask upon entrance and throughout the duration of the ride.
The trolley driver refused service to two people without face masks at a stop near Cortez Beach.
An automated announcement informing passengers to wear face masks was aired over the trolley’s intercom system once throughout the ride.
Signage informing passengers of the mask requirement was posted to the side of each trolley door and at every stop.
County strategic affairs manager Ogden Clark wrote in a Feb. 17 email to The Islander that most MCAT passengers have complied with the mask mandate.
“So far, face mask usage is increasing and this compliance is very important,” Clark said. “Compliance through cooperation is the MCAT approach, as the continuing safety of MCAT employees and passengers is the ultimate goal.”
MCAT’s drivers have been instructed to educate passengers about the face mask requirement and remind those who remove their mask that it must be worn, according to Clark.
However, he noted that people who cannot safely wear a mask due to a disability defined by the U.S. Americans with Disabilities Act are exempt from the mandate — and trolley drivers aren’t allowed to ask about such “protected/privileged information.”
Transit riders can contact MCAT at 941-749-7116 to report complaints about passengers who refuse to comply with the mask mandate and drivers who fail to enforce the requirement.
Clark wrote that, “If there is an obvious, repetitive compliance problem or issue,” MCAT staff can investigate by reviewing the onboard security video. Then, they discuss how to move forward, which isn’t always clear.
He continued, “The transit division manager might refer a compliance matter to the Transportation Safety Administration in a situation where a passenger simply refuses to comply. Each situation must be handled according to the facts presented without infringing on personal privacy rights.”
Transit riders with questions can go online to www.mymanatee.org/departments/mcat.