Our Thanks Belong To Mother Nature
I know I write a lot about the weather, but really? If this is global warming...maybe, just maybe...I mean for some of us, it's not that bad a deal. 60 degree's in early March? I'll take that.
Poppa Jeff is up to his back pocket in writing. Thank you, Urban Milwaukee.com and Rider Insider (MCTS Newsletter).
This week, the bus company merged a couple of routes. The changes are small, but the confusion this kind of thing can create is enormous. Numbers on the bus change, Stops on the route change.
It's like, I don't know when I missed the memo, but apparently, Apple has discontinued I Tunes. Where's my music? Anyway, unlike f***ing Apple, some of us volunteered to ride the busses and help people navigate the change. I'm planning on doing an article for Rider Insider about riding the bus on some routes, so this was a good warmup
What a great experience it was. Even the people that knew about the change thanked me for helping. No one was rude or upset with my contribution. Some of them, including one bus driver, shared their concerns with me. Most all of my riders respected that I was the messenger and recognized that killing me got them nothing. I even had one guy who thought that wasn't getting enough attention from a group of young people. Once he inserted his commanding adult voice, they did listen, and one of them even thanked me as he got off the bus.
Off the bus and back in the walking world, I was contemplating the comment that's sometimes made, that the bus is for poor black people. First of all, Milwaukee is a majority-minority city. While a significant number of white people do ride the bus.
Statistically, it not unusual to have a bus full of people of color. I have been the only white guy on a bus many times.
Secondly, one of the biggest reasons for people to use the bus is to get to work or school. A significant number of people, black or white that live in the city do not own cars. If they don't live close enough to their job or school, they take the bus.
Third reason: I've used Uber and Lyft a few times in the city. It is a vital link in the transit grid. However, almost any trip I make with a shared ride service is far more expensive than the bus. Example: Round trip from my apartment to and from the North Ave area on a bus is $2.00. It means I have to walk about a block and a half to and from the stop.
A shared ride is a little more than $7.00 one way. Uber and Lyft pick up and deliver front door service. Why would I take a shared ride? This is Wisconsin people! I take a shared ride to avoid waiting for a bus in below zero wind chill and walking on ice-covered streets, both of which could kill me. Enough said.
I know I write a lot about the weather, but really? If this is global warming...maybe, just maybe...I mean for some of us, it's not that bad a deal. 60 degree's in early March? I'll take that.
Poppa Jeff is up to his back pocket in writing. Thank you, Urban Milwaukee.com and Rider Insider (MCTS Newsletter).
This week, the bus company merged a couple of routes. The changes are small, but the confusion this kind of thing can create is enormous. Numbers on the bus change, Stops on the route change.
It's like, I don't know when I missed the memo, but apparently, Apple has discontinued I Tunes. Where's my music? Anyway, unlike f***ing Apple, some of us volunteered to ride the busses and help people navigate the change. I'm planning on doing an article for Rider Insider about riding the bus on some routes, so this was a good warmup
What a great experience it was. Even the people that knew about the change thanked me for helping. No one was rude or upset with my contribution. Some of them, including one bus driver, shared their concerns with me. Most all of my riders respected that I was the messenger and recognized that killing me got them nothing. I even had one guy who thought that wasn't getting enough attention from a group of young people. Once he inserted his commanding adult voice, they did listen, and one of them even thanked me as he got off the bus.
Off the bus and back in the walking world, I was contemplating the comment that's sometimes made, that the bus is for poor black people. First of all, Milwaukee is a majority-minority city. While a significant number of white people do ride the bus.
Statistically, it not unusual to have a bus full of people of color. I have been the only white guy on a bus many times.
Secondly, one of the biggest reasons for people to use the bus is to get to work or school. A significant number of people, black or white that live in the city do not own cars. If they don't live close enough to their job or school, they take the bus.
Third reason: I've used Uber and Lyft a few times in the city. It is a vital link in the transit grid. However, almost any trip I make with a shared ride service is far more expensive than the bus. Example: Round trip from my apartment to and from the North Ave area on a bus is $2.00. It means I have to walk about a block and a half to and from the stop.
A shared ride is a little more than $7.00 one way. Uber and Lyft pick up and deliver front door service. Why would I take a shared ride? This is Wisconsin people! I take a shared ride to avoid waiting for a bus in below zero wind chill and walking on ice-covered streets, both of which could kill me. Enough said.
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