Riding the bus isn’t for everyone. Some people need their cars at work, others don’t live near a bus stop or don’t work near a bus stop. And some people use other green options, such as walking, riding a bike or carpooling.
In the last week I met several people who bike to work. They turn brunch time into crunch time, getting a little workout before the workday. I’d like to encourage wearing helmet.
Carpooling – what a fun option (or not depending on the carpool partners and the driver’s ipod library). Last Friday I rode KielyGo, my friend’s version of IndyGo, much smaller, seats four, doesn’t stop nearly as much and the driver is very cute. Post comments if you are interested.
It was classic, she pulled up to the street corner where I waited, I got in the passenger seat, paid her $1.50 for the ride, and she dropped me off at my door. We had lovely conversation in between. All of that is true with the exception of the $1.50.
If you can’t ride the bus everyday, that doesn’t mean you can’t be green, or at least a little greener. There are several options to help reduce your carbon footprint. For the record, KielyGo is not for hire, and I reserve that mode of transportation.
Please post suggestions and green options in the comments. Good ideas are out there. Let’s share them, or should I say, let’s reuse and recycle them.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Fire alarms and guns
From about 40th Street to 21st Street the IndyGo bus fire alarm (or some other alarm that sounded like a building fire alarm) sounded. The driver didn’t say anything about the alarm. She simply stopped the bus around 25th street, got out, checked something on the front of the bus, got back on, started IndyGo up, and the alarm stopped.
Then it started again. We just laughed. Our driver stopped again at 22nd street, and checked things on the outside of the bus again. Some of the riders looked at each other. The lady in front of me was trying to sleep. I figured if the driver wasn’t alarmed (pun intended) I wouldn’t be alarmed. It stopped. These drivers are great. No one said a word about the alarm.
I didn’t expect a fire alarm to sound on the bus, but as we know from previous blogs, nothing surprises me about IndyGo anymore.
I was surprised last night at a popular northside hangout. I went with two friends, and we met for drinks. We met early, and as the night went on, the crowd got trashy and rowdy. Four or five guys started to get into a fight near our table, and one kept lifting up his shirt to show off his gun. This was the moment we knew we wanted to get out there. We were shocked to see a guy with a gun at Keystone at the Crossing. Maybe we are naïve. I jokingly said, I don’t even see guns on IndyGo.
Then I thought about perceptions and reality. Everyone I know thinks Keystone at the Crossing is completely safe. However, many people I know think that IndyGo is unsafe and sketchy. Perception. Reality. I’ve never seen a gun on IndyGo. I’ve never even seen a fight. Most people keep to themselves, with the exception of me, who is making friends. I always feel safe on the bus. I’m going to think twice about going to Champps.
Then it started again. We just laughed. Our driver stopped again at 22nd street, and checked things on the outside of the bus again. Some of the riders looked at each other. The lady in front of me was trying to sleep. I figured if the driver wasn’t alarmed (pun intended) I wouldn’t be alarmed. It stopped. These drivers are great. No one said a word about the alarm.
I didn’t expect a fire alarm to sound on the bus, but as we know from previous blogs, nothing surprises me about IndyGo anymore.
I was surprised last night at a popular northside hangout. I went with two friends, and we met for drinks. We met early, and as the night went on, the crowd got trashy and rowdy. Four or five guys started to get into a fight near our table, and one kept lifting up his shirt to show off his gun. This was the moment we knew we wanted to get out there. We were shocked to see a guy with a gun at Keystone at the Crossing. Maybe we are naïve. I jokingly said, I don’t even see guns on IndyGo.
Then I thought about perceptions and reality. Everyone I know thinks Keystone at the Crossing is completely safe. However, many people I know think that IndyGo is unsafe and sketchy. Perception. Reality. I’ve never seen a gun on IndyGo. I’ve never even seen a fight. Most people keep to themselves, with the exception of me, who is making friends. I always feel safe on the bus. I’m going to think twice about going to Champps.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Mom Rode the IndyGo Today, Get Free Passes from Me
Back on the bus today! A little twist to the usual route – In my efforts to spread the word about IndyGo, I traveled north to ride the bus with my mom. That’s right, mom is official on board. Pun intended.
My mom says I’ve inspired her to try the bus, and as many people probably feel, she wanted to “test run” the route. I had an early a.m. appointment in Carmel, so it worked out for us to meet at Meijer and test run the IndyGo Commuter Express (ICE). My mom rode IndyGo back in the day, back in the 1970s. It is not exactly like riding a bike, but you know what I mean.
The ICE is really nice. It is a luxury motor coach. And everyone is really quiet. The ICE was packed with professionals, and I saw a lot of laptops. I don’t see that many laptops on my IndyGo route.
The motorcoach has several TVs, too. I think someone should bring DVDs to watch on the ride. How fun would it be to watch half of Hoosiers on the way to work and then catch the rest on the route home? If you ride ICE, I suggest bringing something to entertain yourself, because the experience isn’t nearly as fun or exciting as regular IndyGo. I’ll be back tomorrow with more exciting city stories.
I was jealous of the ICE route because it is packed with riders. I wish the regular IndyGo routes were that consistently full. They are getting fuller and fuller, which is great. Hopefully everyone reading will talk about IndyGo options, ICE and regular, and consider giving IndyGo a test run, just like my mom did.
If you want to try it and ride IndyGo for free, post a comment to me. At the mass transit meeting last night a representative from IndyGo offered me Clean Air passes to give to people who wanted to try IndyGo free of charge.
I am happy to help you figure out how to try the bus, and maybe we can start riding together. Get on board.
My mom says I’ve inspired her to try the bus, and as many people probably feel, she wanted to “test run” the route. I had an early a.m. appointment in Carmel, so it worked out for us to meet at Meijer and test run the IndyGo Commuter Express (ICE). My mom rode IndyGo back in the day, back in the 1970s. It is not exactly like riding a bike, but you know what I mean.
The ICE is really nice. It is a luxury motor coach. And everyone is really quiet. The ICE was packed with professionals, and I saw a lot of laptops. I don’t see that many laptops on my IndyGo route.
The motorcoach has several TVs, too. I think someone should bring DVDs to watch on the ride. How fun would it be to watch half of Hoosiers on the way to work and then catch the rest on the route home? If you ride ICE, I suggest bringing something to entertain yourself, because the experience isn’t nearly as fun or exciting as regular IndyGo. I’ll be back tomorrow with more exciting city stories.
I was jealous of the ICE route because it is packed with riders. I wish the regular IndyGo routes were that consistently full. They are getting fuller and fuller, which is great. Hopefully everyone reading will talk about IndyGo options, ICE and regular, and consider giving IndyGo a test run, just like my mom did.
If you want to try it and ride IndyGo for free, post a comment to me. At the mass transit meeting last night a representative from IndyGo offered me Clean Air passes to give to people who wanted to try IndyGo free of charge.
I am happy to help you figure out how to try the bus, and maybe we can start riding together. Get on board.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Drove Past My IndyGo Bus and Waived
I made it downtown via my own car. I saw my bus on the way.
I wished I were on the IndyGo, leisurely and bumpily observing the nice and not so nice homes of Indy’s north and near north side.
I talked with my dad this morning. He was disappointed I wasn’t on the bus. He tried to reason with me about catching the bus from the library, and I explained that I could have figured out how to get from my work bus stop to the Central Library. The challenge is getting from the Central Library to my route home. I reminded him I didn’t know when the meeting would end, and my evening route runs once every hour. He agreed that this proposed a challenge.
This is one of the challenges I hope we discuss tonight. Reminder: Central Library doors open at 7 and meeting starts at 7:30.
I wished I were on the IndyGo, leisurely and bumpily observing the nice and not so nice homes of Indy’s north and near north side.
I talked with my dad this morning. He was disappointed I wasn’t on the bus. He tried to reason with me about catching the bus from the library, and I explained that I could have figured out how to get from my work bus stop to the Central Library. The challenge is getting from the Central Library to my route home. I reminded him I didn’t know when the meeting would end, and my evening route runs once every hour. He agreed that this proposed a challenge.
This is one of the challenges I hope we discuss tonight. Reminder: Central Library doors open at 7 and meeting starts at 7:30.
Irony - Can't Ride Bus to Mass Transit Meeting
Anyone looking for a funny bus story today, just gets an ironic, but true story.
I plan to attend the Mass Transit meeting at the Central Library tonight, door open at 7, starts at 7:30.
I can ride IndyGo downtown this morning as usual.
But I don't know how to get home...for a few reasons.
I checked www.indygo.net to try to figure out which lines could take me from downtown to Central Library. There are two maps of the system online, the downtown loops, and the entire system at a glance. The first map is too tight, and doesn't show Central Library, the second is too big, and I can't tell which lines stop by Central Library.
Even if I made it to the Central Library via IndyGo after work, I don't know what time the meeting will conclude, and I don't know which lines would connect me back to my neighborhood. Above all, I feel comfortable riding my line to and from work, but I don't feel comfortable riding IndyGo later in the evening. It could be fine, it may not be, but I'm uncertain.
This situation is probably what most people feel like when considering riding IndyGo. It's inconvenient. I don't know how to do it. I can't figure out the routes. What if I don't know what time I will be done, and then I don't know if there will be a bus at that time.
Indy Gets Green is my real life situation, and while I promote IndyGo and Indianapolis's public transportation, I also know it is important to tell the pros with the cons. I don't think this is reason to give up on the system. I hope everyone sees this as a reason to try harder to make public transportation a real alternative.
All of this is why I chose to drive to work today. I drove my car and didn't ride public transportation, so I could attend the mass transit meeting. Ironic.
I plan to attend the Mass Transit meeting at the Central Library tonight, door open at 7, starts at 7:30.
I can ride IndyGo downtown this morning as usual.
But I don't know how to get home...for a few reasons.
I checked www.indygo.net to try to figure out which lines could take me from downtown to Central Library. There are two maps of the system online, the downtown loops, and the entire system at a glance. The first map is too tight, and doesn't show Central Library, the second is too big, and I can't tell which lines stop by Central Library.
Even if I made it to the Central Library via IndyGo after work, I don't know what time the meeting will conclude, and I don't know which lines would connect me back to my neighborhood. Above all, I feel comfortable riding my line to and from work, but I don't feel comfortable riding IndyGo later in the evening. It could be fine, it may not be, but I'm uncertain.
This situation is probably what most people feel like when considering riding IndyGo. It's inconvenient. I don't know how to do it. I can't figure out the routes. What if I don't know what time I will be done, and then I don't know if there will be a bus at that time.
Indy Gets Green is my real life situation, and while I promote IndyGo and Indianapolis's public transportation, I also know it is important to tell the pros with the cons. I don't think this is reason to give up on the system. I hope everyone sees this as a reason to try harder to make public transportation a real alternative.
All of this is why I chose to drive to work today. I drove my car and didn't ride public transportation, so I could attend the mass transit meeting. Ironic.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Indy Star Article Confirms IndyGo Ridership Up due to Gas Prices
Gas prices fueling surge in bus use
Some routes so full that people are turned away
By Christine Wonchristine.won@indystar.com
Indianapolis commuters have parked their cars and turned to buses in surging numbers this spring as gas prices soared past $4 a gallon.
April saw about 160,000 more one-way rides on IndyGo, the city's bus system, than in April 2007 -- a 24 percent increase.
New express lines running from Fishers and Carmel are often so full that people are turned away, and IndyGo officials are considering looking for more spaces to handle all the cars parked at the suburban stops.
Talk to the office workers, students and others who have become mass transit believers, and they'll point to one powerfully persuasive number.
"$4.19," said Katy Gentry, 26, Fishers, who has been taking the express bus to work at Bose McKinney & Evans in Downtown Indianapolis. "That's the reason."
Commuters across the country are embracing mass transit in numbers unseen for 50 years. According to the American Public Transportation Association, people rode the bus 30.4 million times more in the first quarter of 2008 than in 2007. In freeway-mad Los Angeles, commuter rail ridership set a record last week, and the California Department of Transportation reported a dip in freeway traffic.
The surge in interest offers some hope for IndyGo, a beleaguered system that in the past four years has had to cut jobs, trim routes and increase fares as it struggled with a tight budget and generally declining ridership since 2000.
But IndyGo officials say they can't afford to expand service any further. The system has a 15-year plan that includes adding routes and buses, but at this point, there is no way to pay for it.
"Ridership continues to go up," said IndyGo spokeswoman Ronnetta Spalding, "but there are not enough resources to meet those demands."
Spreading the word
Emily Hancock is one person who has done more than her share to boost ridership. She's persuaded about 15 of her colleagues from the Family and Social Services Administration to start taking the bus.
"I got one person to switch right on," said Hancock, 54, who lives on the Northside and has been taking the bus into Downtown Indianapolis every day for about three years. "But it wasn't until the gas price crunch that people started listening to me."
She uses the bus to attend meetings out of the office and has no regrets about embracing mass transit.
"Now I take the bus everywhere."
The system has 29 routes in Marion County and added the two regional express routes in the past year. A basic fare is $1.50, and the ride in from Fishers or Carmel costs $2 each way.
Those who make the switch say saving money is just the start of the benefits.
"There's no wear and tear on your car, or you, either," said Jim Osborn, 55, Fishers, who takes the express every day to work at M&I Bank. "I just sit back and relax and (don't) worry about having to fight the traffic."
David McConaha, 32, Carmel, takes the Carmel Express to Downtown three times a week. He drives the other two days, when it is his turn to pick up his 3-year-old son from day care.
"It's great because as a research analyst, I have a lot of material to read," McConaha said. "So I take advantage of the free time on the bus."
The suburban commute may take 10 or 15 minutes longer by bus than car, but riders say they don't mind.
Jacqui Gardner, 30, Carmel, is a mom of three children ages 4 to 8, so she enjoys what she calls precious "me-time" on the almost hourlong commute. She even saves time getting ready by doing makeup on the bus. Gardner started taking the bus the day the Carmel Express launched in March.
Her biggest worry was being stuck Downtown if an emergency came up, but IndyGo has help for those cases.
Its Central Indiana Commuter Services offers a free ride home to carpoolers and transit riders who unexpectedly encounter a problem during the day, such as an illness, personal emergency or the need to work unexpected overtime.
Wanting more
In the six months since it launched, the Fishers route has seen ridership almost triple, from 3,400 in October to 9,400 in April. The Carmel Express also almost tripled from 2,700 to 7,100 in one month after its launch in March.
Commuters report the express buses are so popular that sometimes not everyone can get on in the mornings. Then folks might end up driving anyway.
In the evenings, buses may skip stops when they're full, leaving riders to wait half an hour for the next bus. Some commuters walk to one of the first pickup spots rather than risk being left behind by a full bus.
Steve Gelwicks, 49, Fishers, waited one evening last week at the third stop, then found out the bus was full. He wasn't going to take that risk twice.
"I walked six blocks from the third stop, on Pennsylvania and South, to the first stop, on Pennsylvania and Ohio," said Gelwicks.
The popularity has caught others by surprise, too.
Tammy Sander, 34, missed the Carmel Express the first morning she tried to take it because the bus was full five minutes before it was scheduled to leave.
"I didn't know it was this popular. I could not believe how many people were in the parking lot," Sander said.
"Carmel is a wealthy city, so I didn't think they'd be affected by the gas prices, but we all are -- we make that drive every day. It doesn't matter what your economic income is -- it's about the impact on your wallet at the end of the week."
Some routes so full that people are turned away
By Christine Wonchristine.won@indystar.com
Indianapolis commuters have parked their cars and turned to buses in surging numbers this spring as gas prices soared past $4 a gallon.
April saw about 160,000 more one-way rides on IndyGo, the city's bus system, than in April 2007 -- a 24 percent increase.
New express lines running from Fishers and Carmel are often so full that people are turned away, and IndyGo officials are considering looking for more spaces to handle all the cars parked at the suburban stops.
Talk to the office workers, students and others who have become mass transit believers, and they'll point to one powerfully persuasive number.
"$4.19," said Katy Gentry, 26, Fishers, who has been taking the express bus to work at Bose McKinney & Evans in Downtown Indianapolis. "That's the reason."
Commuters across the country are embracing mass transit in numbers unseen for 50 years. According to the American Public Transportation Association, people rode the bus 30.4 million times more in the first quarter of 2008 than in 2007. In freeway-mad Los Angeles, commuter rail ridership set a record last week, and the California Department of Transportation reported a dip in freeway traffic.
The surge in interest offers some hope for IndyGo, a beleaguered system that in the past four years has had to cut jobs, trim routes and increase fares as it struggled with a tight budget and generally declining ridership since 2000.
But IndyGo officials say they can't afford to expand service any further. The system has a 15-year plan that includes adding routes and buses, but at this point, there is no way to pay for it.
"Ridership continues to go up," said IndyGo spokeswoman Ronnetta Spalding, "but there are not enough resources to meet those demands."
Spreading the word
Emily Hancock is one person who has done more than her share to boost ridership. She's persuaded about 15 of her colleagues from the Family and Social Services Administration to start taking the bus.
"I got one person to switch right on," said Hancock, 54, who lives on the Northside and has been taking the bus into Downtown Indianapolis every day for about three years. "But it wasn't until the gas price crunch that people started listening to me."
She uses the bus to attend meetings out of the office and has no regrets about embracing mass transit.
"Now I take the bus everywhere."
The system has 29 routes in Marion County and added the two regional express routes in the past year. A basic fare is $1.50, and the ride in from Fishers or Carmel costs $2 each way.
Those who make the switch say saving money is just the start of the benefits.
"There's no wear and tear on your car, or you, either," said Jim Osborn, 55, Fishers, who takes the express every day to work at M&I Bank. "I just sit back and relax and (don't) worry about having to fight the traffic."
David McConaha, 32, Carmel, takes the Carmel Express to Downtown three times a week. He drives the other two days, when it is his turn to pick up his 3-year-old son from day care.
"It's great because as a research analyst, I have a lot of material to read," McConaha said. "So I take advantage of the free time on the bus."
The suburban commute may take 10 or 15 minutes longer by bus than car, but riders say they don't mind.
Jacqui Gardner, 30, Carmel, is a mom of three children ages 4 to 8, so she enjoys what she calls precious "me-time" on the almost hourlong commute. She even saves time getting ready by doing makeup on the bus. Gardner started taking the bus the day the Carmel Express launched in March.
Her biggest worry was being stuck Downtown if an emergency came up, but IndyGo has help for those cases.
Its Central Indiana Commuter Services offers a free ride home to carpoolers and transit riders who unexpectedly encounter a problem during the day, such as an illness, personal emergency or the need to work unexpected overtime.
Wanting more
In the six months since it launched, the Fishers route has seen ridership almost triple, from 3,400 in October to 9,400 in April. The Carmel Express also almost tripled from 2,700 to 7,100 in one month after its launch in March.
Commuters report the express buses are so popular that sometimes not everyone can get on in the mornings. Then folks might end up driving anyway.
In the evenings, buses may skip stops when they're full, leaving riders to wait half an hour for the next bus. Some commuters walk to one of the first pickup spots rather than risk being left behind by a full bus.
Steve Gelwicks, 49, Fishers, waited one evening last week at the third stop, then found out the bus was full. He wasn't going to take that risk twice.
"I walked six blocks from the third stop, on Pennsylvania and South, to the first stop, on Pennsylvania and Ohio," said Gelwicks.
The popularity has caught others by surprise, too.
Tammy Sander, 34, missed the Carmel Express the first morning she tried to take it because the bus was full five minutes before it was scheduled to leave.
"I didn't know it was this popular. I could not believe how many people were in the parking lot," Sander said.
"Carmel is a wealthy city, so I didn't think they'd be affected by the gas prices, but we all are -- we make that drive every day. It doesn't matter what your economic income is -- it's about the impact on your wallet at the end of the week."
Gas at 4.25, More People Ride IndyGo
IndyGo was early today. I almost missed the bus! Imagine me running, waving at driver. To change it up today, I sat in a different seat. New views.
Because the bus was early, we were a little light on passengers for the first half of the route, then he slowed down and we were back on schedule.
We got passed by an IPS yellow bus, and cut off by a Honda Pilot this morning. We almost took out the Pilot. I suggest being cautious of the IndyGo. It is bigger than most vehicles, and we run on soy or corn or something else very intimidating.
A new rider joined us this morning. He talked on his cell phone the whole ride about how gas was $4.25, and while he has gas in his tank, he is not using it at $4.25 a gallon. He asked another person about a month pass. FYI: Money-saving 7-day and 31-day passes are available at City Market, located on Market between Alabama and Delaware. For more information go to www.indygo.net. 31-day passes are only $55 for regular riders, and $27.50 for students and seniors. And no, to any of my friends wondering if I dressed up in my Halloween costume as the old lady to get the half-price fare.
Because the bus was early, we were a little light on passengers for the first half of the route, then he slowed down and we were back on schedule.
We got passed by an IPS yellow bus, and cut off by a Honda Pilot this morning. We almost took out the Pilot. I suggest being cautious of the IndyGo. It is bigger than most vehicles, and we run on soy or corn or something else very intimidating.
A new rider joined us this morning. He talked on his cell phone the whole ride about how gas was $4.25, and while he has gas in his tank, he is not using it at $4.25 a gallon. He asked another person about a month pass. FYI: Money-saving 7-day and 31-day passes are available at City Market, located on Market between Alabama and Delaware. For more information go to www.indygo.net. 31-day passes are only $55 for regular riders, and $27.50 for students and seniors. And no, to any of my friends wondering if I dressed up in my Halloween costume as the old lady to get the half-price fare.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)