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!