Buddy Bus Has a Few Bumps Before Attending Port Hope Council

Pete Fisher
1 year ago
• Categories: News

Port Hope Council was supposed to get a first hand look at the Buddy Bus on Tuesday, September 5, 2023.

But as the owner of the Buddy Bus which is part of the BuildX Community, Jordan Stevenson was making his was to council along County Road 28, just north of Port Hope he was pulled over for an inspection by MTO officers.

BuildX is a for profit company that builds tiny homes and the Build X Community is a non-profit organization which built The Buddy Bus.

The Buddy Bus is a unique multi-purpose solution providing emergency shelter overnight and a variety of resources during the day.

It has four-beds, a kitchenette, air-fryer, microwave, USB chargers, high-speed internet, work spaces and more.

Stevenson had to tell council about the Buddy Bus instead of showing them as a result of what he found out by the MTO.

Stevenson’s license was suspended for an unpaid fine, but he said he never was notified.

“I got dinged by the MTO,” said Stevenson just after receiving the ticket at the MTO Compound just north of Highway 401.

“Apparently you’re supposed to get a registered mail and I never did.”

The good news is MTO checked the bus thoroughly and everything is good.

“MTO officers were super nice.”

“These are the types of kinks that come along with such a project.”

“This is a new venture for me and there is no template for this.”

Stevenson said he had previously been at the MTO office getting the proper licenses for the bus and was never told about his license.

The license plates to the bus were removed by Stevenson because the bus was in his name and talking with MTO officers it would be better if the bus was in the non-profit name.

“It makes sense that I’m going to the MTO so I might as well get it done all at once.”

Stevenson describes the bus as “cutting edge” and said he’s “super excited” to share it with people.

“It’s something that’s going to be looked upon by other communities how to implement.”

Stevenson told council his background is software and he’s even installed a weapons detection system on the bus.

Stevenson said the idea came from what happened at an encampment in Cobourg where a shot was fired.

The system installed on the Buddy Bus is able to detect weapons including knives and guns. If a person approaches the bus with a knife or gun, the bus goes into lockdown immediately.

An alarm sounds, the doors lock, flashing strobe lights and notifying authorities.

Stevenson said not only is the bus a useful tool, but added it’s recycling.

“1,800 buses go to scrap every year. So this one was diverted from scrap and is serving a second life.”