So how cool to be able to get that kind of information as I commuted on the bus home tonight. 

It started with one lady talking to a just arrived seatmate, asking her what she thought about ‘next Tuesday’s inauguration.’  I couldn’t hear the lady’s response but the questioner became very animated about her excitement. ‘I can’t wait to see him sworn in, it just feels like life is better than I ever thought it could be.‘ 

Then a guy on the other side of the aisle started chiming in about how he thinks businesses will begin hiring again even if the economy doesn’t change all that much nationwide.  He said ‘Clevelanders are a hardy and hopeful bunch. It is going to help, Obama is, you just watch.‘

I doubt these comments came from the elite or from any economists or sociologists. You never know, but they seemed like regular folk like the rest of us; on the bus in the cold, getting up every day, doing what we need to do to get by.

It was fascinating to hear the optimism. I’m going to start chatting up people when I’m in the store and on the street — may as well do this even if we aren’t able to go to Washington on Sunday.

I’ll keep you posted either way.  What kind of discussions have you heard about the change in leadership?  Peace Out – 3C

What about using that same money to increase methods of public transportation available to commuters?

Here is an article from BNET reprinting a story by Carolyn Hirschman on commuter relief plans in effect in different places. When I say ‘places,’ sometimes that is government but sometimes it’s private industry’s creativity in offering solutions. Like van pools. Excerpt:

“….Maryland, for instance, gives employers a 50 percent tax credit, limited to $50 per employee per month, for the costs of plans that meet Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules. The Maryland tax break also applies to guaranteed-ride-home programs, which ensure that employees using the vans have a ride home in emergencies or if they work late, and parking cash out, in which employers offer employees cash to give up their employer-subsidized parking spots….”

It’s mentioned in the above article (and well explained) how the IRS tax relief kicks in for companies that offer viable help/alternatives for transportation. This part seems like a great idea to me.

And here is a CBS news story on another Legislator’s efforts to get tax relief for bike commuters.

What say you?  Peace Out – 3C

1. The Toyota Prius. They can’t keep them on the lots and are apparently being redesigned.

2. The Honda Civic Hybrid.  Sigh.

3. The Smart4Two.  I saw this car a few winters ago in London and was enamored. Someone drives a white one in the Ohio City area on occaision. Great price ($12k?) and so small you can park it in a motorcycle space (okay I may be exaggerating a bit).

4. Nissan Ultima Hybrid.

5.  Toyota Camry Hybrid. I have to admit I haven’t liked the body design of this car since the mid ’90s when they (IMHO) tampered with a good thing. But heck who cares, it gets great mileage and in this day and age that’s what counts. I mean seriously, is the Civic sexy like a Mini? Nope! But I was considering it!

6. VW Jetta TDI. It gets (supposedly) 30 city and 41 highway – and this is for a six speed manual – makes sense it would get better mpg if it’s a manual I didn’t like that my last car was going to cost a fortune if I got a manual transmission.  It should be a standard option and I think manuals, because of their fuel economy, are going to become more popular again.

7. Ford Escape Hybrid.  I just sent my Ford to the great beyond (okay the junk dealer) and at one point I had a Mustang.  I feel like I did my duty as the daughter of a Ford worker and now I’m done.  I know, never say never.

8. The Toyota Yaris.  Car and Driver says this one is more responsive than the Smart4Two and the price is about the same, $12k. I saw my first Yaris parked in front of my office yesterday – it’s really what got me to the Car and Driver site tonight. Seems like an economical decision. But don’t they (whoever ‘they’ are) tell you not to buy a car when the model is new and wait for the kinks to be worked out?

9. FINALLY the Mini Cooper/Mini Clubman.  The Clubman is larger and is already selling well (according to the Mini dealer I harass frequently). Good mileage on the Mini (37 highway) and the price, which includes lots of good standard ‘stuff’ (like manual transmission!) is based at $18,700. Not bad….not as good as $12k.  But not bad. When I look for used Mini’s the prices are almost the same as the new ones, which shows you how popular they are.  And it’s so far been impossible to find a used yellow one. Okay and I still haven’t made up my mind….and we still haven’t done number ten which is…

10.  The Honda Fit.  I don’t think I’ve seen one of these out on the roads yet but Car and Driver voted it most likable, er, best economical easy on the gas car. They say the base price is around $16,400 and I just have to reprint their quote on the style: “…oodles of usable space—this thing is like a clown’s bottomless suitcase….”

Tomorrow I have an office meeting, client work, a broker’s open – so I probably can’t do this until Wednesday, but….I’m going to make one more attempt to see if City Wheels  and I can come to a meeting of the minds. I’ll keep you posted.  Peace Out – 3C

RTA is planning their own audit and you can read about it here in a blog post  by Sarah Hollander of the PD.

Sometimes the bus driver has his/her palm over the swiping machine, nodding at me to just get on. Sometimes there is someone ahead of me having difficulty getting a dollar bill accepted and the bus driver motions me (and anyone else in line) to get on.

Friday there was a line of people getting on at 117th and as I sat in my seat I watched the driver waive three or four people by – he didn’t start ‘the count’ again until that pesky dollar a rider was using got accepted.

Yesterday I took the #26 bus from Detroit and 54th to the West Blvd. rapid station. I swiped my card. Since it was Sunday, you swipe your pass or pay your money on the rapid not at the turn-styles. When I got on the rapid I did swipe but I noticed (and I was only on the rapid for two stops) that two other people who got on with me did not and at the W. 117th stop four more riders got on and only one swiped. I was ready for this post even before the PD article because I was wondering about the numbers too, after RTA announced potential cuts last week.

Granted, my daily treks are small potatoes compared to the grand totals, but it all still got me wondering. On the bus, in most cases, when we are told or ‘motioned to’ not swipe and just get on and sit down, it seems to be because the driver is trying to keep the flow going; they see that you have a pass in your hand, in fact sometimes they look at the dates on the pass, presumably to satisfy themselves that it’s a valid pass.

Since numbers crunchers are going to decide if routes get cut, it may be better for the drivers to not make exceptions to the rule?

Peace Out – 3C

How do we make a system that is sustainable? The first two comments (OK the only comments when I read the PD blog post) were truly negative, how much of a waste RTA is, how it should just be shut down. Obviously relying on auto transportation is not the answer.  So what is?

RTA claims, as usual, there will be public hearings before any cuts are written in stone. Oh and by the way, it seems to me that RTA is saying they couldn’t handle more than a 10% increase in ridership because of money woes.  What’s wrong with this picture?

What do we need to do to the system (and I’m asking a real question, not a rhetorical one!) to make it viable? Oh, and the rates might go up too.

I say again, bah humbug! Peace Out – 3C