Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2011 11:25:59 -0500
From: Chris Jude
Subject: Ghost bus? I think we’re missing the point
There’s been a long list of attacks placed on this horrible government program of a transit bus from PBO to Chapel Hill. I would just like to point out the irony of folks on this list speeding up in the cars on their
daily commute to look at the ’empty’ bus, and of folks driving out to the bus stop to take photos of the ’empty’ bus before they drive north to Chapel Hill to work.
Do you know that Chatham County has one of the largest group of commuters per capita in the state? Did you know that it benefits the county for some of us to go north to Chapel Hill and abroad to earn wages and bring them back to Chatham?
Did you know that the cost of personal transportation is on the rise? And did you know that there are many low income folks in the county and in Pittsboro that are having a tough time finding work in town?
I think we have spoiled a great opportunity to help folks get affordable transportation to and from work, to and from shopping trips and social events. When you are wasting gas speeding up to mock this ‘ghost bus’ you are missing an opportunity to be riding on a clean, safe, comfortable bus, reading a book or the newspaper, catching up on some work or personal business, or even taking a nap.
I’ve lived in several places with good public transportation and felt that it was a HUGE bonus to my quality of life, and a great way to cut my personal budget for transportation.
It saddens me that y’all have wasted this opportunity and that we haven’t done more to promote this public transportation option as a way to make our citizens live’s a little easier and save some money on things like a second car payment, car repairs, insurance, fuel, all of these things while being able to get to work in a town that actually HAS some jobs.
over n out,
Chris ‘public transportation is a good thing’ Jude