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Starting Thursday (March 19) public transit users will have to get used to some changes on our city buses.

Until at least April 6, HSR customers will be asked to board buses from the rear doors only and to keep a fair distance from the bus operators and other customers.

Only customers with personal mobility devices (PMD) will be permitted to enter and exit through the front door, the city announced in a press release sent Wednesday (March 18).

As a result, HSR will not be collecting fares until further notice.

Customers are asked to stay behind the yellow line at the front of the bus and to keep the seat(s) behind the operator free at all times.

HSR continues to be a safe method of travel, the city says, and this is a precautionary measure in an effort to increase social distancing, particularly for bus operators.

"I would like to thank our operators for their continued dedication," said the city's transit director, Debbie Dalle Vedove in the release.

"I can't stress enough the professionalism they have shown in the face of ongoing uncertainty. We have been working with their Union executive to ensure we are able to provide a service that meets their needs and the needs of our customers."

In addition to promoting safe social distancing, the HSR has increased their sanitation efforts and are performing regular hard surface wipe downs and antimicrobial fogging treatments, the release says.

There are some other changes to scheduling in the coming days as well.

Starting Monday (March 23) the HSR will be using a Saturday schedule from Monday to Friday, across most routes.

Current Saturday and Sunday schedules will continue and remain unchanged. Where required, revised timetables are being finalized and will be available by March 20, 2020.

Schedules and route details can be found here.