I can deal with it just fine, except that before I was able to catch a bus every 30 minutes, and now it's only every hour, and Sunday service across the entire county has been eliminated. I have a car and can drive if I have to, but what about those who were using the bus to get to work on Sundays, or church? They are now out of luck.
There was a public hearing about the cuts to bus service, and one way or the other the county was going to have to reduce service by about 14%, and cutting one full day of service was the best way to go, since fewer bus drivers and other staff would have to be laid off and everything can be closed for the day. Now they are looking at eliminating transfers, which means every time someone gets on the bus it will cost them $1, even if they are transferring to another route to get across town.
For me, as a senior, I only pay $35 for a quarterly pass that I can use for unlimited rides from the Canadian border all the way down to Mt. Vernon. But for those who use the bus to get to work and are not yet 65, they pay double that amount for a quarterly pass. At the bus stop this morning, I talked with a woman who uses the bus to get across town. She will still pay a $1 each for two buses to get to work, because her husband picks her up at the end of the day and works out to be cheaper than spending $70 for a quarterly pass, or $25 for a monthly pass.
The hard part, to me, is that whenever there are cuts to be made, the reductions in service hit the people who are least able to afford them. The gap between rich and poor grows wider, and more and more cars are forced onto the road, whether or not someone wants to use the bus. It's a vicious cycle, don't you think?
:-{
Aww,so sad to hear this.You make some good points here.Hope things improve soon so all can ride the bus daily.Have a good day D-Jan!
ReplyDeleteI think this is becoming quite common. It's sad. But now they're saying the recession is over?!
ReplyDeleteI struggle with this issue. We want the poor to work, and then proceed to take away their transportation. Makes no sense to me.
ReplyDeleteOur school system no longer provides bus service for high school students.
ReplyDeleteIt is no accident that the gap is widening between the poor and the wealthy. Decisions like these do make it harder for low-income people to work, and when the economy returns bus service won't necessarily be restored....
ReplyDeleteoh this stinks...the peope that really need it and rely on it should get it...and wonder exactly what the money is going for...get this some of the school here are reducing their routes which is killing parents...
ReplyDeleteThe rich gets richer and the poor get poorer...it's the American way.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear this DJan...and from some of the comments it seems this is a problem in other parts of the country. Bummer.
ReplyDeleteThat's disturbing to hear. I couldn't help notice the difference in fares between your part of the world and mine. Here it costs $25 for one week's worth of tickets.. adult - not senior. A single cash fair is $3. A monthly pass breaks the bank!
ReplyDeleteIt's really getting harder these days. Bus overcrowds the streets here in the metro and there are designated areas where they can load passengers but the problem is the rising cost of fuels which makes bus companies to raise the fare, everytime there's a change in price is followed by the raise in fare. Oh well.
ReplyDeleteSome days I can walk a block; somedays I can't.
ReplyDeleteOut the front door, four steps, open car door, slide in, close door, affix seat belt, turn ignition and...go. Some days that's all the exercise I can handle.
Works for me.
The recession has caused a dramatic drop in revenue for cities, counties and states. We were all at bare bones last year, and now the cuts will get very painful. Public transportation is a subsidized convenience. It does not begin to pay for itself in ridership. Libertarians call these kinds of public services part of the 'nanny state'. I guess the cuts are making someone happy.
ReplyDeleteThis is disturbing. What is the answer? I'm sorry that your route has been cancelled; I know how much you enjoyed the convenience.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. We talk the talk, but we don't walk the walk when it comes to weaning ourselves from oil. Public transportation is necessary and should be encouraged, not discouraged.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I agree. Just when you need the bus service most, that's when they cut the services. We have a very good service over here but even so, there have been cuts. We have had the Sunday service cut, which affects mostly older people without cars who want to go to church. That's not fair, is it! Our senior citizens of 60 and over ride the bus for free, even as far as London, which is 31 miles away. As I am not yet 60, I have to pay the whole price which works out quite expensive, but we do have a bus every fifteen minutes, which is welcome.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Star
Sorry to hear about all the cuts in bus service in your area DJan. Living in a small town bus service is limited and no buses come into our neighborhood so it is not an option for me. Driving is the only way to get across town.
ReplyDeleteHave you noticed that as all these cuts are being made our property taxes continue to rise.
My husband takes the bus to work every day. It's so much cheaper than paying for parking. You are right. That's really too bad for those who can't afford a car. Or for those who are trying to be greener.
ReplyDeleteIt is a vicious cycle. You are correct about the services cut affecting the people who have the least means. Hubby and I share one car and we rarely use it except for a trip a couple times a month for groceries and odd appointments. Some day we will give up the car and all the expenses associated with owning a car and pay for the senior bus available in the area. If it is still available at that time. Strange that in a college town the bus service is being cut.
ReplyDeleteThat's too bad. Here in Hawaii, a lot of people take the bus. However, I have not ridden on one since 1989, driving a car, instead.
ReplyDeleteNow, an elevated rail system will be built in the near future. I am looking forward to it, as I can't see myself driving way into the future.
Yes!! It is a vicious cycle!!! So awful!! I'm glad you are speaking up here...you never can tell what kind of impact your blog may have!!! ~Janine XO
ReplyDeleteI too, have a car, but prefer to walk or use public transportaion when available. An elderly woman was having a loud conversation with another recently while I was out picking up milk, saying that she can't even afford the city bus pass for seniors, and the "senior bus" only picks up individuals who have doctors appts.
ReplyDeleteLocal government really needs to get the priorites straight.
You are absolutely correct DJan, the gap between the rich and the poor is largest in the US and from among all the western countries. I believe it will stay this way because so many people do not understand politics. They keep voting for conservatives who tell them they will cut their taxes but in really they are helping big business and corporations, not the little people. I came back from Norway where I hardly saw any homeless people, no one panhandling. They pay higher taxes yes but they don’t pay to go to school, to get health insurance and even housewives get a retirement pension. On top of that their life expectancy is one of the highest as well as education level. I did read that Bellingham was one of the top 10 cities to retire to.
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