To the editor:

I see posted on the city website that eating, drinking and littering is prohibited on city buses.

On Aug. 29 I witnessed a bus rider attempting to get on a city bus near downtown. The rider was initially denied access. He stepped out of the bus, put a drink down on the street next to the curb and then was allowed on the bus. The drink was in a clear plastic cup with a plastic straw and plastic lid. There is a good chance this litter will end up in the river.

Because the bus system will not allow open food or drinks, we have bus riders littering our streets. It is a common occurrence to see trash collecting by bus stops.

I find it interesting that the city is considering charging for plastic grocery bags in an effort to help the environment, yet city bus policy indirectly reinforces littering of our city! In this case the bus rider could have found a trash can, but he would have missed the bus.

Richard Miller,

Lawrence