KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Community advocates said Thursday that people waiting to catch a ride on a Greyhound bus are facing extreme temperatures. They're waiting at a bus stop shared with Knoxville Area Transit riders, so space and shelter are limited.
In 2022, Greyhound sold its station at the corner of East Magnolia Avenue and Central Avenue. The Knoxville stop was moved three times that year. Now, it's located at the Knoxville Area Transit Superstop on Kirkwood Street. But East Knoxville community leaders say it needs to change because there are many problems with the current stop.
"You can't go to the bathroom, you can't have shelter from the storm, and we expect these people to stay out here, sometimes two days, waiting on the bus," said Keira Wyatt, the executive director of Connect Ministries. "It's ridiculous.''
The stop is located at the Kirkwood Street Superstop operated by KAT. There is only a shelter and a bench for those who are waiting.
"The bus comes, drops off, people, then they transfer, and another bus may come and may not come," said Finch. "You have a lot of people traveling to and fro, trying to get transferred. You have mothers there. Sometimes there's mothers and babies, there's seniors, there's college students that are coming to this bus drop off."
Sharing a stop with KAT riders also means it could get crowded.
"It is unfair to those that are local public bus riders, because when they come there's a crowd, there's no place to sit," said Finch. "You see, there's only one seat here. We need assistance."
Finch said she often sees people waiting outside, sometimes even overnight.
"Every day, they come to our building thinking we're the bus station," said Finch. "They are sleeping on the church steps. They're sleeping on the front of the bank building."
Finch and Wyatt said they've been bringing water and snacks to people who wait in the hot weather, and they said others can help too.
"If you're driving in East Knoxville and you're coming down Kirkwood, have some waters in your car, have some snacks, because somebody needs them," said Wyatt.
She said she wants people to put themselves in the travelers' shoes.
"We have given water, we have provided meals, and when you've got people that are out here with children, that are disabled and in this type of heat in weather that is unpredictable, and this has been going on for almost two years now, something needs to be done," said Wyatt. "What would you do if it was your family members? If you were in a position of making decisions and your children or your grandkids were out here, exposed to all these elements and danger?"
WBIR reached out to the Greyhound media team with the following questions.
- Is there a comment on people having to wait 24 hours for a new bus ride if their bus never comes? Also, are there plans to build a new station?
- People waiting are without food, bathroom, and water since the business around are private. Also is it a liability to have children and adults waiting around in the sun when it's this hot outside?
- Why are there many bus cancellations with little to no notice for bus riders?
The Greyhound media team responded with the following statement.
"We recognize that the current situation in Knoxville is not optimal and are working to find another location as soon as possible."