Monday, June 28, 2010
Bus Buskers and Food Vendors...Bus Fun in Mexico
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Mockingbird Entertainment at a Beautiful Bus Stop
I wasn't sure where the nearest bus stop was, but didn't want to stand around in the 90 degree weather in the hot sun to find out. I knew there were several stops on Clingman so I walked there. The first stop on Clingman was maybe a tenth of a mile away, but it was in the sun and the bus wasn't due for 15 minutes or more. So I walked another tenth of a mile or so down to the next stop where I knew there was shade. This spot might be the prettiest bus stop in Asheville. See what you think.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
A Challenge
Sunday, May 30, 2010
The Passenger by Art Brut
Be sure and check out the youtube video. There just aren't that many songs out there about public transportation! Have fun!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vxo9iDj5Hw
The Passenger
by Art Brut
I'm a determined passenger
I never learnt to drive
But don't worry, I'm not asking for a ride.
Some people hate the bus.
Not me, I can't get enough.
Some people live in the fast lane.
Not me, I take the train.
I love public transportation.
Train or bus, they're both amazing.
I don't take a book
There's no time to read
It's a long journey but there's a lot to see.
Back left window, upstairs
The view alone is worth the fare.
If I wanna sleep
Gonna miss my stop
I use my phone as an alarm clock.
Some people hate the bus
Not me, I can't get enough.
Some people live in the fast lane.
Not me, I take the train.
I love public transporation
Train or bus, they're both amazing.
I know there's somewhere I'm supposed to be
And I'm gonna get there eventually
But when I'm traveling from A to B
I'm avoid my responsibility
And I love the thrill of being last
Bus and trains don't go that fast.
Some people hate the bus
Not me, I can't get enough.
Some people live in the fast lane.
Not me, I take the train.
I love public transportation.
Train or bus, they're both amazing.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Sad News
http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20100418/NEWS01/100417021
I did learn something from this news article that I didn't know--that the drivers aren't city employees, but are from a company the city contracts with. Interesting.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Two News Items of Interest
http://www.mountainx.com/news/2007/021710buzz2/
Now the bad new: The bus shelter near Fuddruckers, which had been built by volunteers, was dismantled at the restaurant's request. So all you folks who want to wait for the bus on Charlotte street and stay dry, you're just out of luck. But you'll probably be able to smell all that expensive cow cooking. Former councilman Carl Mumpower says "decapitating" the bus shelter is moving in the wrong direction for a city that claims it wants to increase bus ridership and, for once, I agree with Mumpower. The wonderful covered bus shelters throughout the city were his Top-A-Stop project, and a very nice one at that.
http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20100327/NEWS/303270029
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Asheville Looks at Slashing Bus Wait Times
http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20100306/NEWS01/303060022
Here's a link to the Citizen-Times story. This is good news. It would cut wait times on the main roads from an hour to 30 minutes. Actually I have been kind of spoiled on Haywood Rd. because there are two lines that serve it and I could get them about 30 minutes apart. Even this small improvement will cost money though, so the city has to find a way to come up with the cash. Increasing costs for passes is one way. A car tax is another. I'm sure the out-of-town consulting firm that they hired to do the studying for the Transit Master plan had some ideas. Seems like one that one of the consultants talked to me about involved license plate fees. How about some cash from the new building downtown...the nice boutique hotel should have chipped in...all the condos should help out.
The article points out that ridership is up. But I'd like the city to come up with more creative ideas for increasing ridership even more. Only when there is a huge public demand for decent bus service will we ever get it. (Particularly a middle class demand I think). And we need the city to make a commitment to it. A shorter wait might help. But it's going to have to get to the point where riding the bus is convenient before most people are going to try it.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
What Happened to All the Great Things the Transit Master Plan was going to do for us?
There are now two of us at work who would ride the bus if it went down Long Shoals Rd. We live in different parts of the county so we can't carpool with each other. He rides the bus sometimes anyway, but has to walk almost a mile from the bus stop to the library. Part of the walk has no sidewalk. When the weather warms up, I will do it, just so I can write and bitch about how inconvenient it is.
What can we do? Let's start with City Council and ask them what happened to the Transit Master Plan.
And really, some of the things I'd like to have in a transit system weren't even addressed in the plan. For example, it would be really nice to be able to ride the bus into downtown on weekend nights and be able to get a late bus out of town, say midnight or so. But no, if you're a bus rider, you have to call it a night at 9:30.
Here is a link to a story from the Los Angeles Times: "Riding the Bus Changes Her View."
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/feb/27/local/la-me-bus-snob27-2010feb27
This link is for the Snob on a Bus blog mentioned in the article.