What Do Most of These Banned COTA Riders Have In Common?

I’ve had the unfortunate experience a few years back of Cedric plopping his drunk butt next to me on the bus coming home from downtown. Thank God the bus driver pulled the bus over and told him to get off, but Cedric just happened to leave a calling card of peeing his pants while seated right before he got off the bus. To say the least I found another seat. Now to work on the pan handlers both on the bus and at bus stops downtown.

One of the riders, whom COTA identified as Cedrick Benard Green, was banned for life, “That actually took years of being a continual nuisance,” said COTA spokeswoman Beth Berkemer. “(Green was) assaulting passengers and operators.”
This year, police have jumped on the buses thousands of times and sometimes with K-9 dogs. The extra presence has resulted in quicker response to capture riders who get out of hand, Ramos reported. In 2008, 117 arrests were made on COTA buses. Eight of the riders were banned. This year, there have been 181 arrests, an increase of 54 percent. Seventeen riders were suspended, Ramos reported. The arrests ranged from assault to intoxication. Other repeated violent acts on a COTA bus can get passengers banned. more from 10tv news