Route 40 Revisited
Posted by Jennifer Norman May 7th, 2008 .
What fun my littlest guy and I had riding the bus downtown!
Graham and I sat on the bench and caught the CARTA bus at 9 a.m. The bus was on time, so our wait was minimal. We boarded, paid $1.25, and rode route 40 downtown. Graham was comfortable and quiet on my lap, until we drove over the Ravenel. Then for the first time, I had fun with my little guy pointing and observing all the action in our beautiful harbor.
Graham and I got off the bus at Meeting and Mary Streets. We visited the Children’s Museum, had a snack, and waited for the bus home. It was on time again.
The Good News: I created less carbon emissions that day. I did not have to park my car or pay for parking. The bus driver was friendly and capable, and she performed some amazing maneuvers. Even Graham was impressed. We sat back and enjoyed the ride, and will do this again.
The Bad News: There are many problems that could keep future passengers away. There is only one CARTA bus route in Mt. Pleasant, so fitting the times into busy schedules can be tricky. The lack of signs and benches is disgraceful. I certainly do not want to stand with my children by the side of Hwy 17 waiting for the bus. Also, there is no drop-off by the library, which is a key public resource for both the young and old.
Perhaps the best way to fix the lack of accessibility is to continue raising awareness, which is a major goal of Go Green. We will continue to ride and spread the word. I wonder what the mommies will think of this one? I wonder which will ride with us first?
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“Perhaps the best way to fix the lack of accessibility is to continue raising awareness, which is a major goal of Go Green.”
Bloggers can help bring these issues into the discussion forums of folks who have the ability to impart real change. Keep it up!
Alas the view of the harbor from a CARTA bus. You sit a good 6.5′ off the ground (gross estimation) allowing magnificent views of the entire downtown peninsula and up past the navy yard. On a clear day every single church steeple can be found glimmering on Charleston’s horizon. On more Zen-like days these views alone make the whole darn trip worth while.
We’re ecstatic to finally read other writers’ experiences surrounding public transit in Charleston. Also, we’re on the same team, so let’s ask them to fix it. Eh?
It’s agreed that the bus stops must be attended to. A trash can would be nice to inhibit LITTERING. Maybe some landscaping? And they must ALL have a bench under some shelter limiting expoure to the elements (esp. for mothers with children of which there are a good many). Above all, the immediate need is a few key ADDED bus routes into Mt. Pleasant. It would be a dream if they ran on the half hour at least during morning and lunch time rush hours. However, let it be noted CARTA recently cut some routes back to save money, so all these daydreams may not arrive anytime soon.
Later, when Charleston gets really hip, we might have the fortitude to request LED lighted maps with a red tracking dot noting the bus’ location (then we’d know if we missed it). Now, that would be awesome.
Take care and keep having fun.
Happier outside the Box,
Stacey (and Harry too)
Y’all, I have to chime in to this! I think it’s great you’re riding CARTA. I think it’s great to fantasize what CARTA could be like. But don’t you think it could be better? Don’t you think it should be better? Shouldn’t the City be trying to make CARTA better every single day; more rideable, more transparent, better advertised? With our traffic problems getting worse by the day, gas prices skyrocketing (and proving they’re here to stay), and climate change showing its face now more than ever, shouldn’t the City be using public transit to save the day? It’s an easy fix to so many problems!! I know it’s not a cure-all, but boosting rider levels and expanding CARTA encourages sustainability, stimulates the economy, generates revenue for the City, reduces traffic problems, and just plain makes for a higher quality of life!
I can’t help but complain about CARTA as I’ve experienced it so far. The services are confusing, the routes are inadequate, the pickup times are infrequent, and information on CARTA is hard to find. I demand better. We should demand better as a community. I’m sorry to sound like a Negative Nancy amidst y’all’s praise, positivity, and optimism, but I just can’t help but feel like there is a better way. I know no one in my life who sees CARTA as a viable option for getting to work, school, or the store as a primary means.
Jennifer, you take the bus occasionally as a novelty on the weekends, right? Harry/Stacey, you live downtown, right? Can you honestly tell me y’all would be riding CARTA to work/school every morning and home every evening if you had to get on and off the peninsula? Or if you had to get from Mt. P to W. Ash, or if you had some other sililar commute? Think about how early would you have to leave you home in the morning to get to work/school. I live on James Island. I have to be downtown at 8:45AM on weekdays. I’d have to bike/walk 3 miles from my house, leaving at 6:30AM to get to my closest stop by 7:01AM. The next bus doesn’t arrive for another 90 minutes. To get home, I get out of work at 5PM, my bus picks me up at 6:26PM (almost 90 minutes to kill in b/t), I get to my closest stop at 7:16PM, I walk/bike 3 miles home by 8PM. I have 2-3 hours to spend with my wife (my newborn would be asleep already) until I have to go to bed to get enough rest to spend 13.5 hours away from home the next day. Think about that! If I want to take the bus, it adds 5.5 hours to my work day! That sounds miserable to me.
Can you rely on CARTA to get you home after a night on the town? The latest I can get back to James Island on a Saturday night is 8:46PM! Then I’d have to walk/bike 3 miles home! Not to mention I’d have to be picked up downtown no later than 7:56PM–before the sun even sets in the summer! Kinda takes the fun out of getting dressed up with your wife and going out to eat, ya know? I’d have to leave my home at 3:45ishPM to be make dinner reservations downtown by 5:30. We’d have exactly 2 hours downtown. YAY! Once you consider the extra hours we’d haveto pay the baby sitter, that $1.25 oneway fare doesn’t seem so inexpensive anymore.
Once again, I hate to complain. I know y’all are focusing on the positive sides of all this. I don’t want to offend anyone–lease don’t see it that way. But let’s really look at things. There has got to be a better way. How do we speak up for this? How do we demand meaningful change? Any ideas?
Josh Mueller
843.276.6574
jdm843@gmail.com
http://www.citizencollaboration.org