DURHAM, N.C. — Bus service, GoDurham has seen an increase in dangerous onboard incidents over the past six months. There have been fights, thefts and assaults on bus operators.


What You Need To Know

  • There have been a total of three incidents on board GoDurham Buses within the last six months
  • GoDurham is looking for ways to decrease these incidents and is installing safety barriers between riders and drivers
  • In addition to onboard incidents, GoTriangle, which runs GoDurham, is experiencing a bus operator shortage


GoDurham is proactively working with police to decrease onboard incidents. According to the letter below from Durham's Department of Transportation to the City Manager, only four GoDurham buses have operator safety barriers.

Rider Jan Cromartie says riders aren't the only people to blame. He has seen an assault happen.

"A guy got upset the bus driver, put on his mask, and he hit the bus driver in the face, and the bus driver had to be out two days," Cromartie said. "I see incidents like that all of the time. It's not just the patrons of the transit system, it's some of the transit people themselves."

Director of Durham's Transportation Department Sean Egan says there were two bus operator assaults earlier this month. Making it a total of three incidents within the last six months.

"The only physical injury to an operator was during the most recent incident that took place during the afternoon on September 8," Egan said. 

All new buses, including eight that will arrive in October, will be equipped with safety barriers. GoDurham is also exploring new options for operators and riders to report criminal activity happening on buses.

In addition to the onboard incidents, GoTriangle, which runs GoDurham, is experiencing a bus operator shortage.

According to Egan, of the 139 bus operator positions, there are approximately 20% vacant or unavailable for service. This caused a reduction in services starting in July with many routes served less frequently.

Rider Sherri Vick says she takes the bus every day from Chapel Hill to Durham. She lost her job during the pandemic and takes the bus to apply for new employment opportunities. She says she had experienced longer wait times, canceled stops and buses aren't running as late, which affects her job search directly.

"So jobs I was looking for that run until 10 at night now I can't take them, and if they start early in the morning, the bus doesn't run early enough anyway, so it's really putting me in a bind," Vick said.

GoDurham has implemented a series of wage and bonus incentives in recent months to improve recruitment and retention.

GoTriangle also runs GoRaleigh, GoCary and others and is currently hiring bus operators. Drivers start at $17 per hour. A commercial drivers license is not required to apply.