By Marilyn Brennan Santa Monica
Regarding the article in SMDP on April 12 (“A rough ride for Council,” page 1), I just wish to thank the council and city manager for increasing the bus fare for students and no more free transfers. Thanks a lot. They just made it a rough ride for the rest of us. This is the way to encourage people to ride?
At the present moment, I am a senior citizen on a fixed income who uses the bus to go to work and to the grocery store. Right now, I pay 25 cents, which is one of the few bargains left in this city. I do need to transfer. So now, what I pay 50 cents a day for, I will have to page $1.25 a day for. That happens to be more than double.
I am a busy person and do not wish to utilize the day pass to, as Stephanie Negriff, director of the Big Blue Bus stated, “Get off, enjoy a cup of coffee or some lunch, and then hop on the same line without having to pay again.” Wow. Big deal.
On principal, I will not be riding with the Big Blue Bus after July. Students and others just may start driving again. This is no way to make traffic, exhaust, etc., go away and entice people to ride the bus.
What a greedy little city it is!
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 14, 2007. Read the original PDF.