Pelham Parkway resident
and bus driver discusses
working during COVID-19
BY JASON COHEN
Pedro Torres worked
in security for a decade
and recently became a
bus driver for the city.
While still fairly new to
the job, COVID-19 did
not scare him off.
Torres, 34, of Pelham
Parkway, had wanted
more stability in his life,
so he made the career
change in October and
feels it was the right decision.
For the past 14
years, he has also been
a part of the 48th Precinct’s
auxiliary police
team, but the program
is on hold because of the
pandemic.
The pandemic has not
changed his outlook. He
wears a face mask and
gloves and sanitizes the
wheel and fare box often.
While riders are suppose
to only come on if they
are essential workers
and wearing masks, he
can’t control everything.
“It’s a little scary
when you go on the bus
not knowing what you’re
going to touch,” he said.
Torres drives in the
city and said ridership is
down in Lower Manhattan
but spiked in Harlem
and Spanish Harlem.
While he knows he
is risking his health by
not quarantining, Torres
is providing a valuable
service.
“I’m born and raised
in the Bronx,” he said.
“I like helping the community.
As long as I
know I’m doing my part,
I don’t care what other
people are doing.”
Torres got tested
for the coronavirus
and was negative. He
explained that he can
usually identify essential
workers if they
are wearing scrubs, so
if he sees someone running
to the bus who is
a health care professional,
he will make
sure to wait.
“I think about those
things, she just wants to
get home,” he remarked.
BRONX TIMES REPORTER,8 MAY 29-JUNE 4, 2020 BTR
Pedro Torres of the Bronx who drives a bus in the city. Photo Courtesy of Pedro Torres
“You do see the stress in
their eyes and what they
have to go though.”
He recently recalled
that one gentleman told
him he was not an essential
worker, but badly
needed to get home, so
he obliged.
“There was a time I
thought why are these
people going on buses,”
Torres said. “New York
State told them to stay
home.”
Buses right now are
only allowing people to
enter from the rear and
if they reach capacity of
30 people cannot pick up
more riders.
Torres said he has
not been stressed or
nervous about being exposed
to the virus. He
shared that he misses
seeing his grandparents
and sister.
“I know who have
passed away from
COVID-19,” Torres commented.
“I go to work
with a smile on my face.
I’m just doing the job
that I was hired to do. I
keep that bus moving.”
Pedro Torres of the Bronx who
drives a bus in the city.
Courtesy of Pedro Torres
����������������������
����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
��������������������������������������������������������������������������
������������������������