Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, September 12, 1995                   TAG: 9509120073
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DAN CASEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

GIGANTIC 5-YEAR-OLDS CAN RIDE THE BUS FREE

Roanoke City Council on Monday rejected a proposal to substitute a "height bar" on Valley Metro buses for a rule that allows children under age 6 to ride buses for free - meaning that tall tykes can get a ride, gratis.

The issue arose at a meeting of the Greater Roanoke Transit Co., the city government subsidiary that administers the government-subsidized bus company. Council sits as its board of directors.

Valley Metro General Manager Stephen Mancuso asked council to approve the change because bus drivers occasionally get into arguments with parents over how old their children are.

It would be easier to install 47-inch-high bars and allow only children who don't measure up to ride without paying, he said. Statistics show that the average heights for 6-year-old boys and girls are 46 inches and 45 inches, respectively. By adding an inch, virtually all 5-year-olds would still be permitted free rides.

Council, however, wasn't buying it.

"Trust me, there is an age variance of 8 to 10 inches within that age bracket," chimed in Councilwoman Linda Wyatt, an elementary school teacher.

"What about a huge 5-year-old?" asked Councilman Mac McCadden. "It's discriminatory. I tell you right now, I'm going to vote against it."

It never got that far. The proposal never got a second, killing it. Wyatt also suggested some human relations training to help drivers avoid arguments with passengers.

"I'd be happy to withdraw the issue for some rethinking, perhaps some survey work," Mancuso said.