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Article: Fewer bus drivers are being assaulted even as Metro Transit ridership rises; Incidents like the beating of a driver this month aren't common. The number of assaults is down 41 percent from 1994, and there are 12 percent more passengers.(NEWS)
- Article from:
- Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN)
- Article date:
- January 22, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Star Tribune Co. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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When people came out of the cold and onto Kathy De Plana's No. 16 bus, they were greeted with firm eye contact and a charming half-smile.
Most of the time, passengers read or silently watched the lights glide past. The only sounds were the roar of the heater and the voice of Metro Transit driver De Plana as she called out each stop.
"University."
"Malcolm."
"Eustis."
Once or twice, small groups of passengers became raucous, shouting conversations many of their traveling companions probably would rather not have overheard. De Plana intervenes when she has to, but all but the rowdiest passengers usually settle down by themselves.
Despite the assault ...