bus riders in New Jersey say the service is unpredictable and oftentimes unsafe that's why they're demanding a Bus Rider's Bill of Rights a laundry list of protections that Riders say are long overdue the list of improvements were outlined in a bill that would provide for more frequent and reliable bus service clean and safe buses more Equitable fares and better trained bus drivers Raven Santana was at an assembly Committee hearing yesterday to hear the complaints from Riders during the open discussion period on the bill we frequently hear Riders are concerned with buses that never show up buses that are late operators who are unable to accommodate Riders accessibility needs advocates in New Jersey Transit Riders shared their laundry list of complaints about NJ Transit bus service for members of the assembly transportation and Independence authorities committee an extreme problem with people being packed in buses there wasn't enough buses on the line line um people took videos I even sent one to New Jersey Transit of people having long lines and everybody being stuffed into the bus their testimony was in part to help push the passage of the bus riders Bill of Rights which would ensure frequent and reliable service clean and safe buses while train drivers and an equitable fare structure New Jersey Transit bus passengers often are the Forgotten passengers they're left at the side of the road waiting for a bus sometimes it doesn't come sometimes that that comes late and is full right and this is about giving them a voice and giving bus riders a Bill of Rights and also saying to make things better at New Jersey Transit we need reliable dedicated funding to ensure that we can have more bus service Transit is critical to the livelihoods and to the basic functioning for any person existing in society and when it doesn't exist it does not just impact work we have to stop thinking just about work if you can't see your grandma if you can't see your kids if you can't get to a doctor's appointment in a rational amount of time it's going to be really hard you are physically stuck in place blind veteran Peter ranjo shared his experience being abandoned at New Jersey Transit bus stops Rancho is also a representative for the blinded veterans association he shared his frustration not just about the lack of service but also the lack of transparency when I try to figure when I try to find specific bus routes coming back drivers just blow off yeah what but what boss is this well you can't see it I'm sitting there without with my red and white cane you can't you're asking why you can't see what bus I am and they closed the door on me his frustrations echoed by more Transit Riders including a Committee Member used to be a frequent bus rider but I gave up when the services were not reliable they are not updated their carpet footprint is horrible if my husband's not with me or no one you know can help me lift my stroller I it's not easy for me to get in writers I spoke with shared why they're calling for a bus Rider's Bill of Rights they're also calling for governor Murphy to come and ride the bus with them to see what they experience firsthand um we might see is definitely the bus um Shadows the bus shelters are not properly maintained and they're not properly cleaned Bill sponsor assemblyman Dan Benson says it's now important to recognize that the quality of service needs to be from the writer's point of view we see when we invest in transit particularly bus that it helps everyone in the community not only those transdependent but it helps businesses get a larger pool of employer employees and it just Spurs Economic Development so when we make buses win everyone wins and that's what this bill is about the governor's office says he has invested in making public transit more affordable and accessible and noted that fears have not gone up in four years New Jersey Transit declined to comment Advocates say it's important that bus service is viewed as a necessity not a convenience for communities they say the bill is entirely dependent upon getting more funding from NJ transit to get better service for NJSpotlight News I'm Raven Santana