It's SRO on the GRTC

In the six months or so I have been riding GRTC to work since I started the new gig, I have seen two things happen: gas has gone up 40% and ridership on my route has gone up at least that much.

It doesn't matter whether I get on the 7:20 or the 8:15 or any bus in between, it is way more crowded every week as people are checking out the bus and seeing that it is a good alternative to driving. I get more reading done now that I have in forever with just the little amount of time I ride each day. And I spend maybe $30 a month in gas unless I road trip.

And contrary to popular belief/Richmond myth, riding the bus will not give you the cooties or cause others to think you are a freak because you are using public transit. It seems like more and more people are realizing that.

In fact, the other day I saw for the first time ever on Route 16 standing room only as people had to stand in the aisle and hold on to the rails as we left downtown around 5:30 until some others got off near VCU (luckily I had gotten on early and was in the back).

Ironically, though, I saw a posted notice on the bus that the 16, along with a few other routes, might be cut off. GRTC will host public meetings at City Hall July 22 and July 28 to discuss elimination of underperforming routes based on their recently completed Operational Analysis.

I know John Lewis is the cream of the crop, and in his three years at the helm he has taken GRTC to the top as the best transit company in the nation for a city our size.

I certainly hope people that are now taking advantage of the system speak up for it because I know a lot of people that will be back out on the road driving if the 16 is taken away.

And the more Richmond drivers we keep off the roads the better.
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