Our region can't afford to be mired in 20th-century transportation strategies in 2010 and beyond. Yet most Triad commuters continue to drive to work solo, despite heavy costs for gas and car maintenance, and tax dollars for road maintenance, and that's not to mention the pollution driving creates. More people should take advantage of an inexpensive, environmentally responsible alternative: Take the bus.
Ridership on Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation buses was down about 2 percent last year. The service, which began in 2002, had about 454,000 boardings in 2009. That might sound like a lot, but not when one considers that PART serves an eight-county area.
PART ridership rose with gas prices a couple of years ago. Now that gas is remaining well below $3 a gallon, fewer people are using the service.
More people, particularly those who travel to work across county lines, should get on the bus. For a $2, daily one-way fare, you can ride clear across the Triad. Passes good for unlimited rides for 31 days cost $60. Many commuters couldn't even fill up their tanks for one week for $60. Not to mention car-maintenance costs, and the price we all pay for maintenance of heavily traveled roads.
Some workers require a car for their jobs. And for many people with modest incomes, the buses are a necessity. But for many others, PART buses are a good alternative.
The authority has ironed most of the kinks out of bus riding. The buses generally run on time, although they are occasionally delayed by heavy traffic and wrecks -- but so are all vehicles. Commuters find that they can get work done on the bus. Other passengers read, strike up conversations with their fellow passengers or sleep.
To lure new riders, PART is considering decreasing its fares or even waiving them. Decreasing fares might be in order on a temporary basis, but waiving them isn't practical. PART's transit service, which costs about $3.1 million a year, is supported by federal, state and local money, as well as the fares. The fares bring in about $770,000 a year. The authority might be able to replace that with potential increases in federal and state money to encourage mass transportation, but there is no guarantee that money will come through.
Instead of waiving fees, the authority should concentrate on enhancing its marketing efforts to lure more riders.
Given all the advantages of bus riding, it's hard to understand why more people don't ride PART buses. We can't afford not to use this valuable service.
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