Freedom Flyer 29

By EVA JANSSEN
Free Press Reporter

Another route and more minivans have been added to a free transportation service in London on Monday. Fifteen minivans will take residents downtown from the city's east and west ends during the day. The planned day of protest by the labor movement will shut down regular transit, as well as many institutions and businesses. Volunteer drivers also will transport passengers along Wellington Road from White Oaks Mall to Galleria London.

12 HOURS: The 12-hour service, to begin at 7:15 a.m., is coordinated by the London-Middlesex Taxpayers' Coalition, which opposes the labor-led protest against the provincial government of Premier Mike Harris.

Originally 10 vehicles were scheduled to take citizens downtown. The vans also will pick up passengers from the Cherryhill area, which is home to a high proportion of elderly residents.

The service is not illegal or particularly risky since many people already share rides with friends, relatives or coworkers, city officials said.

Nevertheless, the coalition has $1 million in liability insurance and all vans will be fully insured, said Jim Montag, who chairs the coalition.

Each will have a cellular phone and surveillance equipment will be placed in several vans.

VOLUNTEERS: Since the coalition's announcement Thursday, many have volunteered to drive, said Craig Stevens, the coalition's vice chair.

By late Friday, the coalition had 30 volunteers.

"We've got more volunteers than vehicles," said Stevens.

"It's crazy here."

Drivers who sense there may be problems will travel on side streets but homemaker Janet Fridman, who volunteered to drive, said she's not afraid. "We re out there trying to do some good for somebody - that's it."

Labor officials insist the majority of protesters will be residents of the city and will cause only minor inconvenience to citizens.

A committee organizing the day is working closely with London police and training 500 marshals for the event.