New Drivers

Today is the day we say goodbye to our regular drivers and look forward to new driver and route changes. Every end of March and September there are route and driver changes. So this is a bitter sweet time for regular bus riders. Bitter because we get attached to our regular drivers (and they to us) but sweet anticipation of incraesed routes and timelier schedules. For instance, even though one of my favorite drivers is leaving the bus route I take to work and school, they are adding a bus to the route which will mean more opportunities to ride and less wait time between buses.

Bike and Ride

Our spring break finale was a 10 mile bike ride my son and I took today. We wanted to ride and needed to meet friends in Donelson, so we decided to take the greenway from Shelby Bottoms to the Stones River greenway. My son was such a trooper, going from initial doubt that we could do it to being my leader and motivator when I began to doubt. Along the way we met several people who guided and encouraged us. I can't describe the feeling of triumph when we realized we made it; I think I heard the theme song from Chariots of Fire!
After we met our friends and visited for awhile, we headed to the other side of Lebanon Rd. to catch the bus home. We put our bikes in the racks on the front of the bus, and visited with the driver while heading back toward town. Did I tell you my son is a beast on his bike? He didn't want to ride the bus back to the depot, so when we got close to the Shelby St. walking bridge, we exited the bus and rode our bikes home! We are tired, but rejuvenated, and convinced that what we put our minds to, we can do. Our spring break included a focus group and television interview about the bus. A round trip bike and bus adventure just seems like a great wrap up to an eventful week!

MTA Has New Buses

MTA has purchased several new buses recently. Many are to replace buses lost in last year's flood. We have noticed them on routes that are frequently traveled and really needed the upgrade. They even have that 'new bus smell'. Anyway, the improvement in comfort and overall experience is remarkable. It seems that people who might otherwise take riding the bus as matter of fact ride with greater pride. I know we do.

We Made the News!

Well, in case you missed our news story, here's the link to the video footage: http://www.wsmv.com/local-video/index.html?grabnetworks_video_id=4592158 What a fun experience and opportunity to share what we are passionate about. Hopefully, we will inspire other Nashville residents to 'think outside their cars' as the reporter aptly put it. As I have mentioned several times throughout this blog, we have gained more than we have given up. Just the fact that we have made this connection and many others is testament that we are not the only ones who benefit. Thanks for reading and sharing this journey with us.

Mayor Dean Rides the Shelby Bus

That's my bus! We didn't happen to be on the bus at the same time as the Mayor, but here's the link: http://www.tennessean.com/videonetwork/820010770001/Mayor-Dean-rides-the-bus
What a nice confirmation of the safety, affordability and convenience of bus service in Nashville.

Focus on Improvement

I just finished participating in a focus group discussing ways to improve public transportation in Nashville. Finally, someone is willing to pay me to do something I do unsolicited all the time: give my opinion! Also, it is nice to know that for all the ways public transportation is great, there is still room for improvement. Looking for ways to make life better is what makes life interesting, right? The focus group ranged in experience from frequent bus riders to those who never ride. I think we all walked away with some good ideas and new perspectives; who knows, maybe our ideas will become initiatives. Hopefully, those who participated will consider riding more often. Either way, it was a great experience, and a chance to share my blog with some really interesting folks.

Good News

In the light of some negative press about the safety of the bus, I wanted to share some encouraging news. In case you haven't heard, a female bus driver was robbed one evening last week. Unfortunately, this happened on the route near our home. Thankfully, the driver is fine and the robber was caught and her items returned. And in all fairness, any of us could have the same experience in our car, home or while shopping.
But despite the reality that there are those out there with harmful intentions, we must believe that there are also people around with good motives. The same week as the robbery and on the exact same route, my son lost his cell phone. We searched high and low, and then one evening while my husband was riding home another passenger overheard him talking about the lost phone. The passenger told my husband he had found the phone, recognized our son's picture, and turned it in to the MTA office! In spite of the not so positive events, we are comforted to know that there are still good people out there, and some of them happen to ride the bus.

More Riders on MTA and RTA

MTA announces ridership is increased over this time last year! Please see attached link.

Confession Time

OK, I finally confessed to the ladies in my office (they're the ones who encouraged me to blog) and so now have mustered up the courage to put it out there: my husband bought a car. Gasp! I know! This without my knowledge or consent, and what am I to do? Admittedly, what I find fun and adventurous about being car free, he found laborious and demeaning. And I understand that this has become 'my thing', the unique challenge of figuring out how to get from point A to point B. I get it!
But, now I am forced to re-evaluate my status. Am I really car free if my husband has a car? My son even asked me if I would still take the bus everywhere since, 'Daddy has a car?' I decided Yes, I am car free and loving it; the freedom, convenience, and friendships I have gained far outweigh any discomfort. I enjoy saving money by not paying the ever increasing cost of gas, insurance, car payments and repairs. I respect my husband's decision, and he will be responsible to finance it, but in my heart and activities, I am still car-less and carefree. Cha ching!