I don’t generally go to public meetings or protests. I’ve usually steered away, having other things I choose or have to do.

But I made a point of attending the meeting in front of the bus terminal in Owen Sound last Monday. I’m glad I went.

I was convinced to go by the words of a few wise members of my congregation. People who are well into their mature years and steeped in wisdom of life.

None of them were happy about the closing of the bus terminal and the reduction of bus routes from four to three.

For them, the bus was and is a necessity. Their uses are significant. They travel to medical appointments, the hospital, grocery shopping, community events and more. They have no vehicles, preferring to save the annual $5,000 operating cost of a car and use public transit.

But they get cold. They might have to use the washroom before they get home. The bus terminal allows a place to stop and get warm in the winter or cool in the summer and to use the necessary facilities.

These people were very annoyed with the city council about the decision to close the bus terminal.

Don’t mistake their annoyance for anger. These are purposeful, principled and very determined people. They are concerned as I have not seen before.

What was surprising to me that the bus station meeting was the broad number and cross section of people who were there.

I saw three members of city council. There were members of community service clubs and city business people attending.

There were former politicians present. There were young mothers with children and grandfathers with canes. There were people with mobility scooters and those who had no visible disability. Everyone felt the same. This has been a bad decision. I was startled to hear people who know these kind of things say that by closing the bus terminal we have closed one of two accessible public washrooms in the downtown area. I was also surprised to hear that transit ridership has declined from 450,000 per year to 150,000 in the last few years.