2008 Woodie Awards
B.G. Transit keeps rolling along
City transit system sees increased usage compared to last year
By: Andy Ouriel
Issue date: 8/27/08 Section: Local
As gas prices top over $4 a gallon, more and more passengers are climbing aboard the B.G. Transit.
The B.G. Transit, a public transportation system for the city of Bowling Green, has had an 8 percent increase for the first six months of 2008 compared to the same time frame in 2007.
So far, there have already been over 18,000 passengers to use the B.G. Transit this year.
One of the main reasons for an increase is the reliability the B.G. Transit provides to its customers, owner of Express Transit Scott Potter said.
"The biggest thing we can do is be reliable and efficient," he said.
Potter said the B.G. Transit was close to being 99 percent on time for pick-ups, making this one of the main reasons why people continually use the system.
"If you want to go to a specific address, we will take you right there. If that's what you need, we would be the right choice for you," Potter said.
Two demographics that consistently use the transit are the elderly and disabled, which consists of nearly 75 percent of the transit's customers. Elderly and disabled recieve a discount of $1.75 per ride.
A reason why the elderly and disabled population use the transit system is because the B.G. Transit advertises in places where they congregate, including the community center, said Tina Bradley, grant administrator for BG Transit.
"One of the things I felt important for the transit system was to get the word out to let people know we have it," she said.
The transit provides the elderly and disabled with transportation to doctor appointments, pharmacies and to activities and events across the city, Bradley said.
In response to the increase in passengers, Bradley said a Transit Advisory Committee was formed. The committee bounces ideas off of one another and continually seeks improvement within the transit system.
There is also a sense of friendship that is developed between the workers and the passengers, B.G. Transit Manager and Driver Mike McCoy said.
"You get to be friends with [the passengers] and talk to them. I enjoy it very much," McCoy said.
And though B.G. Transit is pleased with the increase in numbers, they are still looking to gain more passengers throughout the later part of 2008 and beyond.
"I truly believe we can meet the demand no matter how high it gets," Bradley said.
For more information, visit www.bgohio.org/grants/transportation.html.
The B.G. Transit, a public transportation system for the city of Bowling Green, has had an 8 percent increase for the first six months of 2008 compared to the same time frame in 2007.
So far, there have already been over 18,000 passengers to use the B.G. Transit this year.
One of the main reasons for an increase is the reliability the B.G. Transit provides to its customers, owner of Express Transit Scott Potter said.
"The biggest thing we can do is be reliable and efficient," he said.
Potter said the B.G. Transit was close to being 99 percent on time for pick-ups, making this one of the main reasons why people continually use the system.
"If you want to go to a specific address, we will take you right there. If that's what you need, we would be the right choice for you," Potter said.
Two demographics that consistently use the transit are the elderly and disabled, which consists of nearly 75 percent of the transit's customers. Elderly and disabled recieve a discount of $1.75 per ride.
A reason why the elderly and disabled population use the transit system is because the B.G. Transit advertises in places where they congregate, including the community center, said Tina Bradley, grant administrator for BG Transit.
"One of the things I felt important for the transit system was to get the word out to let people know we have it," she said.
The transit provides the elderly and disabled with transportation to doctor appointments, pharmacies and to activities and events across the city, Bradley said.
In response to the increase in passengers, Bradley said a Transit Advisory Committee was formed. The committee bounces ideas off of one another and continually seeks improvement within the transit system.
There is also a sense of friendship that is developed between the workers and the passengers, B.G. Transit Manager and Driver Mike McCoy said.
"You get to be friends with [the passengers] and talk to them. I enjoy it very much," McCoy said.
And though B.G. Transit is pleased with the increase in numbers, they are still looking to gain more passengers throughout the later part of 2008 and beyond.
"I truly believe we can meet the demand no matter how high it gets," Bradley said.
For more information, visit www.bgohio.org/grants/transportation.html.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
karen
posted 8/27/08 @ 9:17 PM EST
It's nice to know that there are services for the elderly and disabled that allow them to be more independant. I like the fact that Bowling Green is committed to improving public transportation. (Continued…)
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