For many, Muni's lifting of mask requirements signals an vital step in pandemic recovery. But for those who've had to hunker down longer and harder due to a higher risk of infection, lifting mandates can mean choosing between health and destinations.
Susan Kitazawa, who is legally blind, wears a KN-95 mask as she boards the 67 Bernal Heights Muni bus on Bernal Heights Boulevard on Wednesday, May 18, 2022.
On May 13, Bay Area health officials from 11 counties and Berkeley recommended people resume COVID-19 safety protections including indoor masking due to the recent increase in cases and hospitalizations. “I would prefer clarity across the systems. I’ll probably continue to wear it, to be honest,” said a Muni rider named Max during a trip on the 36 bus line. “Especially with public transit, you don’t want to block anyone out.”
Particularly impacted by the mask mandate changes are riders who rely on the SF Paratransit system, a public van and taxi program for people who struggle to use public transit due to disabilities or critical health conditions. Approximately 1,070 trips happen daily on SF Paratransit, including 460 van trips and 610 taxi trips, according to a spokesperson for Muni.
Masks are strongly recommended on both Muni and SF Paratransit, and a majority of drivers and riders continue to voluntarily use them while onboard. High-touch surfaces are cleaned every night, and drivers are offered masks at the start of shifts.
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