I ride the bus, because Al Gore said if I didn't that everyone would die. Add to that, my car just passed 172,000 miles and the last $800 repair bill almost broke me (thank goodness for credit cards with 20% interest rates). I kid myself in to thinking that each day I ride the bus, that is one more day my car will last.About four times a week I ride the 57 from Waldo to downtown, to drop off or pick up my kids, then ride back before my transfer pass expires. Kids under 6 ride free, my 7 year old has only been carded once and that driver was a real witch anyway. Overall, KC bus drivers are some of the most courteous city employees I have ever met. They give out more directions than a gas station attendant and have to listen to more than their share of chatty passengers and crazy people.
The folks that ride ride the bus are mostly low income to middle class. Then sprinkle in a few non-conformist kids and crazy people. About every fourth trip their is a crazy person on the bus. Usually its not a big deal, your run of the mill talking about aliens type (last month a guy told me the world would end this September, keep your fingers crossed.) Every now and then it is the creepy kind of crazy and you wait patiently for your stop to come.
You might think that I would be a light rail supporter. But I have never met a light rail supporter that actually uses public transportation. The light rail proposal runs the same route as current bus lines. No one has said rail will run faster, cost less or have longer hours. So why would KC want to spend so much on light rail that doesn't have any obvious benefits? Some folks say that rail creates "destinations" and there are studies that some people who think they are too good to ride the bus, will actually ride light rail.
Maybe instead of spending the hundreds of millions on light rail we should expand the current bus system. That would help the people that need it most.
But hey, what do I know. So if you have never ridden the bus, then you should give it a try. If you are one of those that rides the bus, then Al Gore and I thank you.
