After reading the article on increasing gas prices in the Monday March 22 issue I noticed a Debbie Duffey was quoted as not having mass transit as an option. Hagerstown has had a transit system of one kind or another for nearly 100 years. It spawned Allegheny Energy as Hagerstown Electric Trolley.
For the past 8 years I have repaired and maintained a fleet that I thought were being used for mass transit. They are buses with County Commuter written on them.
It amazes me how this community regularly ignores and/or misuses its assets.
As gas prices soar the "big" white buses offer more and more opportunities to get from point A to B for less. But if we do not have mass transit in Hagerstown why have I and other mechanics been busting our humps to keep transit buses safe and reliable?

C. Doppel

because you get paid...the transit system only goes from point A to B..it does not go from D to E or whereever else though..thats why 3-4 people are on it at a time...heck, it doesn't come anywhere near where I live--I guess a mile away or so is close..

cdauto, you're doing a great job, and it certainly isn't your fault that the CC isn't being used. But a lack of regularly scheduled routes, regularly scheduled stops, and more coverage of the county/city would certainly result in an increase in ridership. Like txexpatriot pointed out, the CC goes from point A to point B but that's basically it. We need the CC to go to other places, on regularly scheduled routes at regularly scheduled times. The closest stop to me is 2 1/2 miles away and goes no where near where I need to go at the time I need to go there. Kevin's done a good job of administering what he has to work with, and I know everyone there at CC does a tremendous job -- we just need more coverage and more routes.

I think one way to increase visibility would be to mark regular stops along the route with a schedule of the pick-up times. I had a fella ask me where the nearest bus stop was, and I had no clue as to where or even when the bus would come. Guess I've been babied with the excellent service provided by my college town, and yes, even LA!