By Austin Wright
When Trancill Roberts had his driver's license suspended for traffic violations, he was forced to ride the bus.
More than two years later and with his license back in hand, he's still riding the bus.
"I'm not paying $4 for gas," he said. "It's crazy."
Roberts, 32, is a Navy man who spends half of his time at sea. On land, he doesn't mind the additional travel time on the bus because he saves hundreds of dollars in gas each month.
"The bus takes about 10 to 15 minutes extra," he said while riding to downtown Norfolk. "But it doesn't matter, as long as I get there."
More people are joining Roberts. Last month, Hampton Roads Transit said that from January to April, ridership on its express routes increased 32 percent from the same period last year. Overall, HRT reported modest ridership gains.
Express buses, which take HOV lanes directly from large transfer centers to major work sites such as Norfolk Naval Station, are a good gauge of public reaction to gas prices, HRT spokesman James Toscano said.
"Express buses appeal more to those who have the option of whether to take a car or take the bus," he said. "We don't expect to see major increases on local buses because someone trying to save a couple bucks on gas isn't going to add another hour to their commute."
Conversations last week with passengers on Hampton Roads buses indicate that Toscano has a point. Most of the local- route passengers interviewed said they would ride the bus regardless of high gas prices - because they either don't have a driver's license or cannot afford cars. Still, some said they've started riding buses to save on gas.
Nearly all the veteran riders interviewed last week said they've noticed more passengers in recent months.
One of the new riders, Barbara Cummings, said the high price of gas pushed her to take the bus, doubling her commute time.
"I couldn't pay my brother to bring me to work anymore," she said on her way home from a job at a McDonald's. "At first, I was paying him $20 every two weeks, but because of the way gas prices are, he wanted $40.
"And I ain't slaving away all day over burgers to pay for gas," she said.
As Cummings rode the daytime route from downtown Norfolk to Portsmouth, other riders discussed politics, chatted with the driver and joked noisily in the back. The bus meandered through the city, picking up a few people at most stops. Some riders listened to iPods while others slept.
Helen Martinez, 27, was on the bus for the first time, traveling from her home in Chesapeake to work in Portsmouth.
"It's kind of scary - I don't know where I'm going," she said. "It takes a lot more time, but I don't have a choice."
When her car broke down, Martinez and her husband decided not to make repairs or buy a new one. She estimates she can better support her two children by paying $1.50 for a bus ride instead of $4 for a gallon of gas.
Many of Martinez's friends are doing the same.
"Everything's so expensive," she said. "When gas is expensive, everything's expensive."
HRT is adjusting to rising gas prices as well. In a move that HRT officials say will bring in
6 to 10 percent more revenue, the agency is raising fares.
From mid-June to early October, express routes will be replaced by a larger commuter system called Metro Area Express, or MAX.
Some express route s, which cost $1.50 one way, will be converted to MAX buses that will cost $3 one way and $5.50 for a daily pass. These will be long commuter routes with few stops, and MAX buses will have more leg room, higher back seats and wireless Internet.
Some express routes will become local routes.
As for local routes, free transfers will be eliminated Oct. 1 and replaced with day passes that cost $3.50. The passes allow passengers to travel all day on any local route. A one-way ride with no transfers will cost $1.50.
Currently, passengers pay $1.50 every time they ride to a new destination and are allowed free transfers within two hours.
The changes won't discourage veteran bus rider George Beale, who on Thursday afternoon was waiting to catch a bus at a stop on St. Paul's Boulevard.
For the past 3 1/2 years, Beale, 54, has been taking buses three times a week to his dialysis appointments. He said he's never seen buses as crowded as they are now.
"We'd rather use somebody else's gas instead of using our own," he said. "I ain't driving no... vehicle until the gas prices go down."
Austin Wright, (757) 446-2667, austin.wright@pilotonline.com
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Zulu
I checked this board to see your reply. Your funny. I like how you add topics to the arguments that I never broached. Your a race baiter. Nothing more. You shouldn't get so worked up. It's not healthy.
BTW, my pint of flying to South Africa had more to do w/ the fact that you display a lot of anger towards people who are different to you here in the states, while showing your pride as a Zulu. It just seems that if you have such a problem with your contemporaries here inthe states, your vast knowledge would be useful to a now developing nation such as your "homeland."
Jealous you say? You have made alot of posts spouting the inequality in America but you have done fine. I am confused by your statements. If you could do it...couldn't another?
another thing about bus germs
For an hour or long you are surrounded by people in your personal space. Elbow to elbow! During gold and flue season, it's not a healthy enviroment. Not to mention the dirty seats and hand rails as I previously stated. I do think HRT could do a better job of keeping the buses clean, but nothing they can do about close contact of others.
A worse than a plane with recycled air?
Seriously!
a word about bus germs
I have to agree there is concern for "germs" on HRT buses. The buses are not all that clean. Places where you have to put your hands are sometimes sticky, the seats are not always clean. It is a fair concern, and should not be taken lightly.
Germs?
Germs spread on the bus? Oh then I guess you can't take the 15 to Greenbrier or the 44 to Chesapeake Square. People spread germs in the malls too (yes: anyone would be laughed at for even thinking that). An elevated monorail? You know how quickly you'd be laughed at? Yes, I'm fully aware Chesapeake doesn't give a crap about transit (they're the only city that won't send a current City Council member to the HRT Board, TDCHR). Should Chesapeake change its mind, I'd be more than happy to work with them. And for all the racist and naysayers: I'm white, can fully afford a car with all the extras (gas, insurance, maintenance, etc), but take the bus by choice. Michael Ragsdale, HRT User Citizens Advisory Committee member, City of Virginia Beach
Public Transportation
I've been on a few metropolitan public transportation systems (mostly in Europe). Those worked fine to get around a big city and I found them to be rather cost effective. Here, although the 7 cities are in relatively close proximity, why not institute something like an above ground subway/monorail? I'd consider riding that, if push comes to shove. I'd prefer that to the tunnel congestion any day. As it stands now, I'm not too keen on the bus thing. Of course, living in Chesapeake, you don't see too many HRT busses out this way as it is. My biggest peeve about public transportation is the germs people spread. Sometimes, there just isn't enough Purex!!! Of course there's always the safety concern, but if you hire some rent-a-cops (sort of like air marshalls), maybe we can control that...
credentials
I'm much more impressed with common sense
I'd use P.T. if it gave me what I needed
My daily work routine includes a stint from Deep Creek to Western Branch, from there to Little Creek, from there to Deep Creek and back to Western Branch again. Light Rail anyone?
buses
I have been thoroughly enjoying the banter about racism on the buses, and I feel valid points have been made on all sides.
I used to take the bus, but found that none of the bus lines are convenient to any of the better paying jobs. Not only that, but it takes forever to get to your destination. I think better planning needs to be done when it comes to the bus routes here. This area is too large to not have a better planned mass transfer system. It is due to the lack of better bus routes that it is practically necessary to have a car to live in the Tidewater area.
I also feel that sometimes you do catch a crazy element on the buses (this generally depends on the time of day you catch the bus).
I also feel that there is racism when it comes to the planning of the bus routes. (Have you ever noticed that access to some of the upwardly mobile areas is cut off after a certain time?) Considering that a vast majority of the jobs here are in the call center industry, with hours that run to midnight (some later), it would be nice if someone could take the bus to and from work if they needed to. This should be regardless of where you live.
Just a thought.
Is there racism on the buses?
You better believe there is. I know because I use to ride them. You have rude black drivers, who look at you like you are out of place if you are white and riding a bus. They won't even speak to you. When asked they won't even give you the time of day. One day there was an attractive, well dressed white lady on the bus, when she got off at her stop, a black man just across the isle from me asked what is she doing on here. His tone was she is out of place, and should not be riding a bus. Like it's for blacks only. Get a grip people the drivers and many passangers are racist on HRT buses. It's bad enough some drivers are racist it's even worsts when they are rude. I can't tell you how many times I called and complained. Do you get results? Only if you keep calling and talk to the same supervisor on a regular basis.
Do bus drivers drive with a cell phone to their mouth? Yes indeed they do! Again I called and called, you need the bus number, the time of day and the direction the bus is headed, and you will get results, but you have to stay on top of it.
your kidding
7 hour ride from Portsmouth to Great Bridge no thank you I enjoy my job WAAAYY to much for that Ill stick with rolling pennies to put gas in my SUV
I used to ride the public bus
back in high school to get to and from my after school job. I would do so again if it were plausible. Unfortunately I live 27 miles from work and it would take me about 3 hours total to get there. This week I have to work on the peninsula. If I keep my speed at 60 mph my car averages 21-22 mpg and that's what I've been doing for the past month. I tried to do that today riding in the right lane across I-664 south and the MMBT but the traffic behind me was right up on my bumper. I had to travel at 70-75 mph just to keep up with traffic. There are some of us in this area that are trying to make do with what we have because we're in a situation in which we have to drive. It's several other idiots out there that make it difficult. Just a shout out to the driver of the white Mastec company Ford truck that was riding my bumper across the MMBT at 70 mph- if it wouldn't hurt or kill other drivers around us your company came VERY close to having a new owner today....
Racism Goes Both Ways
Try living in Portsmouth where the white person is a minority. Try going to the local Family Dollar and watching the black cashier greet and be friendly to the african-american customer in front of me, however, when I go up to the register and smile and try and be friendly, I get my stuff thrown into a bag, a frown, and no greeting. Or how about at the local Hardees, McDonalds, etc., same treatment. Probably doesn't differ much on a bus either. I think reverse racism is becoming a reality here in our area as well. I'm sick of the racism either way.
oh and ira....
It's 2 Master's degrees and a Master's certificate. And dang, not one of them came from NSU either! Get it right.
cut off...
Yes, I have done very very well without any assistance from the government and everything! Go figure, a black person that has never been on welfare, highly educated, great profession, living the "American" dream and has no problem confronting racists. So you point out what I have, what's the point? Jealous?
Game?
"Please believe that I will “prop” him up and every other good black man and woman every chance I get because there are always people who try and tear us down every chance they get."
Yup, true statement and I still stand by it. So what's the problem and why does that make me a racist because I choose to support my people do better?
Get over yourself! All I do is point out the obvious. Why is it a problem for you? Don't talk to me about my heritage. You don't know me or anything about me other than what I allow you know. FYI:I travel very frequently back to my homeland and am in very good touch with my ancestry. You see, I am the true African American (my mother is full blooded Cherokee and my father full blooded African from Africa).I was born and partially raised in Africa and the rest of my youth spent in NYC and the rest serving my country in the Navy. Trust me, I don't feel any sense of persecution again, I just point out the obvious and blatant racism. Because you choose to keep your head buried in the sand is your problem. Denying it's existence or ignoring it does not make it go away. Yes, I have done very very well without any assistance from the government and everyt
I am white and middle class...
...and I sure as heck would ride a bus if it was reliable and timely.
However, I would like to make a statement: when my daughter was in college, before she had a car, she was routinely ignored by bus drivers who passed her by and didn't stop to pick her up.
When I called to complain, it turned out that apparently she wasn't the ONLY white passenger who experienced this. So, is there racism on the buses? According to the supervisor at HRT with whom I spoke, there is!
Yeah...I know your game
"Please believe that I will “prop” him up and every other good black man and woman every chance I get because there are always people who try and tear us down every chance they get."
It's all you do is shout racism. Funny you tout yourself as Zulu. A tribe that beat and scattered their own people out of greed for land. They are successful today in South Africa. A person with a brain as large as yours, and a sense of persecution here in the states would do well to fly over and reclaim your ancestry. It seems to me as a black female you have done quite well here in the U.S. with your "McMansion", "SUV", and "Masters certificate." Enough with your crying racism.
You seem to left out the cost to build the roads and bridges everywhere for your car to be able to save you so much money. State police, traffic lights, traffic court, jails, run off collection...
C'mon
I've tried to take the bus and it's not just 15 - 20 minute difference than driving it's more like 1 - 2 hour difference and that's not including the walk to your final destination since the bus stops are limited.
Uh, you guys are missing the point
If the fare reflected the true cost of operating the mass transit system, instead of shoving it off on someone else hidden in their gasoline taxes (14.7% of fuel taxes goes to subsidize mass transit), driving would be cheaper than riding the bus or train. It would be about $5 each trip.
Even at today's gas prices, that's a 25 mile commute just to break even on fuel.
And that doesn't count the value of your time, which is about twice the time to drive.
If riding transit were a true economic choice, made on an even comparison without subsidy, then fine, but it isn't. Transit remains a scam.
childish
?
last sentence correction...
It should have said: So who is trolling? (I know the spell check and grammar police will be all over that one).
Ira Tateu...
You know what? "Troll the boards?" No sweetie, my profession does not allow me time to "troll the boards" (and even if it did I have better things to do). I simply read the comment and posted. As for racism perceived or racism in reality, it's here, I don't have to look for it. I know the mere mention of race is like Kryptonite to some of you but that's your problem not mine. I addressed georges's comment not intending to incite anything but to clarify what he was saying. He did that just fine without any intervention from you. Since you have time to worry about what I'm doing, go back and look at the posts that I have made on this board and you will see that they are few and far between and you'll also probably find that you post 100 times more than I ever will! So who trolling?
Gas is the small savings from riding the bus
Really, riding the bus is only going to save you a couple dollars a day in gasoline. My daily transportation cost in fuel is still well less than the cost of lunch. The real savings is in not having to pay for a car and insurance. Buying a new car is how a lot of people prevents themselves from becoming financially secure.
An alternative to the bus
How about biking to work? I know Norfolk and VaBeach don't have real bike friendly roads, as I have ridden them when I used to live there. I now live in Williamsburg (a very bike friendly town) and bike 9 miles (one way) to work. Happily, for my coworkers, we have a shower and locker room. And no, you don't have to be young...I'm 54 and do it an average of four days a week!
Get real
Maglev? It was billed as experimental technology. Apparently it is still being experimented on. Do not try to tie this to the current trains that are running succesfully all over the world.
old dogs and new tricks...
Why I don't use public transportation
1. I need my car for work.
2. It's a 3 hour bus ride each way. That includes walking time- 1 hour to walk to a bus stop from home and 20 minutes to walk from the bus stop to work.
georges
Sorry man but sometimes the truth hurts.
Maybe
Maybe VB should hire the same folks that put the magical floating rail at ODU. Then again I don’t know which is slower the line of traffic to get through he midtown tunnel at 8:00am or the ODU Rail. The wave of the future will be "the home office". If everyone that could work from home did I bet that would take a third of the cars off the road. Not to mention open up a lot of space since office space would not be needed.
I wonder
How the people who do ride the bus like being referred to as 'scum"? I know I wouldn't!