Mayoral Candidates and the Bus System

A question has occurred to me after reading the columns by Bill McEwen about the plans for the local bus services by the two mayoral candidates in the quickly approaching November election.  One thing is missing in their plans: How they plan to change the perception of the bus system.

A little background... I started riding the bus regularly in March, when my only vehicle broke down in a big expensive way.  I both live and work near bus stops, so it is not an inconvenience for me to use the system, as it might be for someone that lives 5 miles from the nearest stop.  When my coworkers first discovered that I was riding the bus daily, they were horrified.  I work in a professional environment, at a regular 9-5 job.

See, I have discovered that many people have a preconceived notion that the bus is for "dirty, low-income" people.  They will not accept my argument that there are others like me (professional, average paid people) riding the bus.

What I have realized is that people are afraid of the unknown aspect of the bus system.  We live in a city where the car is king.  We are not accustomed to using a public transit system as a way of life, as many people in big cities are.  Here in Fresno, we are used to hopping in our car to go to the grocery store a block away.  We drive to the sandwich shop across the street from our office instead of walking.

Yes, there are times that riding is difficult or inconvenient.  Waiting 20 minutes at a transfer point in 106 degree weather is unpleasant, and gets further unpleasant when your bus arrives only to find that it is standing room only and the air conditioning is not working properly.  But, that is the exception, not the norm.  Nearly every day, I step on a bus that is 60 to 70 percent full, where I can easily find a seat, and get to enjoy great air conditioning -- better AC than my 10 year old car has.

Yes, there are often some strange people on the bus.  But, have we as a society become afraid of people that are not like us?  Will sitting next to someone for 20 minutes that makes less money than you do adversely affect your life?  Are you afraid to come into contact with a Vietnam veteran on his way to the VA hospital for a checkup?  What about a transgender male?  The only affect these people have had on me is opening my eyes to the diversity of this city.

People have asked me, now that my car is fixed, do I plan on stopping riding the bus.  The answer is, probably not.  You see, not driving my car all summer has had positive effects on my life.  I've saved innumerable amounts on gasoline during a season of record oil prices.  I've lost weight.  Walking to and from the bus stop each day is a great way to burn off those extra 15-20 pounds we all have and hate.  I've had a small part in reducing pollution in our city.  I don't know how much one car coming off the road will affect the smog levels, but, every little bit has to help.

So, for our mayoral candidates to truly have an impact with the bus system, they need to think beyond faster buses and expanded routes.  They need to reach the minds of non-riders and show them there is nothing to be afraid of.