tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29082865423199844452024-02-19T10:33:45.396-05:00Carfree CharlestonThe challenges and benefits of living carfree in the Lowcountry.Kathi Dubuquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086478998644851816noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908286542319984445.post-26596117052345080612012-10-13T22:51:00.000-04:002012-10-13T22:51:44.957-04:00Disclaimer...<span><span style="background-color: #6fa8dc;"></span></span><b style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><i>I joined the carfree movement by accident, literally. Becoming carfree was not something done out of concern for the environment, as a lofty experiment, as a means to simplify my life, or because I'm anti-</i></span></b><i style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><b>automobile. When I unexpectedly found myself carfree for an indefinite amount of time</b></i><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">, </span><b style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><i>it became a way of life. Through research I then discovered that carfree living is a lifestyle that many embrace by choice, while even more have no other option. </i></b><br />
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<i><b>There are blogs I follow that celebrate the carfree lifestyle, and those that advocate improvements in public transportation as well as walkability and bicycle access for towns and neighborhoods. One of many things I have learned in more than three years of bus-hopping, walking, and bicycling around the Charleston area is how far behind we are when it comes to our public transportation and providing safety for people who walk or ride bikes. Charleston, North Charleston, Moncks Corner, West Ashley, Mount Pleasant - I have traveled all by bus and/or on foot. </b></i><b><i>What I have seen and experienced is a lack of customer service, poor scheduling, and inefficiency. </i></b><i><b>As the economy worsens and ridership increases, </b></i><a href="http://www.ridecarta.com/" target="_blank">CARTA</a> <b><i>cuts routes and services while increasing fares</i></b>. </div>
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<i><b>While I now have a car and quite happily commute to work, I am so much more aware of how many people I see out walking along Rivers Avenue, particularly late at night. I noticed that the stop at Dial America has finally gotten a new trashcan. On my way home at ten-thirty one night I see a family with young kids and lots of shopping bags waiting at the stop</b></i> <i><b>in front of Northwoods Mall. Poorly lit and nowhere near a building but at least it has a bench and shelter. However, I'm not sure bus 10 runs past the mall that late. </b></i></div>
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<i><b>Cab fares have become prohibitive over the last three years as well, with a fuel surcharge added to the cost, as well as minimum fares that range anywhere from $4-$15 or higher depending on the cab company, the driver (some don't charge the minimum), where you start from and what your destination is. Out of habit I note where bus stops are and what buses travel through the areas I'm in. I know there is always the possibility that I could end up relying on public transportation again, in an emergency, on a temporary basis or long term. Truthfully, at this point if I had to I would rather give up my home and live in my car in order to avoid the long term option.</b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">My mother continually pointed out that "normal" people don't live carfree. In her world that may be true, but in reality there is a huge carfree population. I gave it up and pushed to get back on the road because, quite honestly, I got tired. In the beginning I accepted it as a necessity, and took it as a challenge. I was determined to maintain as much of my "independence" as possible, in that I didn't want to have to rely on friends and family to get to work, go shopping etc. A friend pointed out once that despite my lack of a car, I got around more that most people. But after six months of struggling to either find rides to all my doctor appointments, or spending most of the day bus-hopping for a visit that lasted all of ten minutes, I wasn't feeling so independent. In fact, I was totally dependent on the limitations of the bus scheduling and whether or not they would actually run on time. </span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">My schedule when I returned to work put me in the car-lite status. Unless I wanted to wait two hours for a bus home I had to either find a ride with a coworker or catch a cab. And when I became ill with salmonella poisoning at the beginning of the year I was too weak to walk to the bus stop and made numerous trips to Nason Medical Center via cab. </span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="color: #351c75;">Eventually I realized that I was no longer thriving as a carfree person, but just struggling to get through each day. I was back in survival mode and not liking it much. The thought of going anywhere other than work drained me. It was just too much effort. And I began feeling like I was imposing too much on friends and coworkers. So it was time for a change. Though I still hav<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"></span>e to remind myself I can just jump in the car and run to the store if I need something, or want to go out for lunch, I'm sure it will eventually sink in. </span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="color: #351c75;">Meanwhile, I am still pro public transportation and still want to see changes made so that people in my community can walk and bicycle safely on our streets. Kudos go to William J. Hamilton of </span><a href="http://busec.org/" style="color: #351c75;" target="_blank">East Cooper Straphangers</a><span style="color: #351c75;"> for the strides he's made in improving bus services on his side of town. There are also strong local organizations like </span><a href="http://www.charlestonmoves.org/" style="color: #351c75;" target="_blank">Charleston Moves </a><span style="color: #351c75;"> working to make sure things like bike lanes are included in road construction and improvements. I have hope that things will change for the better, but while I'm still living in Charleston, I hope even more strongly that I won't be forced back into a carfree lifestyle!</span></b></i></div>
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<br />Kathi Dubuquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086478998644851816noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908286542319984445.post-90136819250895171732012-09-29T22:22:00.001-04:002012-09-30T12:12:50.458-04:00Car Free No More!<div style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<b><i>I have been quite remiss in not keeping this blog up to date. Over a year ago I became more of a carlite person instead of car free, and my circumstances have made bus-hopping more of a struggle than an adventure. Last April I returned home from Texas in extreme pain due to a ruptured disc. I seriously considered NOT coming home as planned due to my lack of transportation. How was I supposed to get to the Spine Institute, local pharmacy etc. when I was unable to walk half a mile to the nearest bus stop? Suddenly the idea of being stranded at home with no transportation was rather terrifying. However, I needed to see my own doctors and after several deep breaths, common sense prevailed. Last time I had a back issue it took one epidural injection and some physical therapy, and I was fine for two years. I have friends I can rely on for transportation in an emergency, and <a href="http://www.ridecarta.com/" target="_blank">CARTA</a> has <a href="http://www.ridecarta.com/riding-carta/accessibility/tel-a-ride" target="_blank">Tel-A-Ride</a> services I could look into. If I could get the pain and back spasms under control, I could still do this, right? </i></b></div>
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<b><i>So I made it home, after a kind young man at Continental Airlines arranged for wheelchair service at both the Houston and Charleston airports. I was very impressed by the kindness and efficiency of the people who assisted me. A plea for help on facebook got me a ride home from the airport along with a stop for dinner with one of my many awesome friends. Arrangements were made for a ride to a nearby walk-in clinic for the next day. And then the fun began! I contacted <a href="http://www.ridecarta.com/" target="_blank">CARTA</a> to find out whether their <a href="http://www.ridecarta.com/riding-carta/accessibility/tel-a-ride" target="_blank">Tel-A-Ride</a> service was available for people with a temporary disability. Yes it is, and they could mail me the application, which also needed to be filled out by my doctor. However, it takes approximately three weeks for CARTA to approve or deny my request. I didn't even question how long the appeal process would take if it was denied. The cost round trip would be $6.00 and no guarantees of getting anywhere on time (this I deduced myself based on experience with the night and special route buses that no longer exist). </i></b></div>
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<b><i>I waited to fill out the application, believing I would be up and running, or at least bus-hopping within three weeks or less. Unfortunately, I was way off base, and ended up out of work on short term disability for six months. Unable to walk, sit, or stand for long periods, getting to the bus stop and riding the bus was more than a little challenging. I could manage it on my better days. But for the most part I had to rely on friends, family, and acquaintances to shuttle me to my doctors appointments, the pharmacy, physical therapy, and little things like grocery shopping. I am blessed to have a great support network, and there is no way I could have survived those six months without their help. When I did return to work, my schedule was such that I would have to wait two hours to get a bus home at night. Again, awesome coworkers stepped up to help me out for the past year. My company hires some amazing people!</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Fast forward to the past few months, and my need for independence has grown along with frustration over late buses and inefficient scheduling. While I am still, and will always be a proponent of public transportation, currently there is a huge gap between the need for and the availability of a good system here in Charleston. And the daily struggle to get from point A to point B via <a href="http://www.ridecarta.com/" target="_blank">CARTA </a>is so time consuming and exhausting that I don't have anything left to fight for reforming the system. And to tell the truth, when I did have the energy and ambition to try, all attempts seemed to fall on deaf ears. <a href="http://www.ridecarta.com/" target="_blank">CARTA</a> and local governments like <a href="http://www.northcharleston.org/" target="_blank">The City of North Charleston</a> show no interest in working to improve our local public transportation. They respond to home owners and car drivers who complain about the inconvenience of having to wait a few minutes at a bus stop, but ignore the renters and people without transportation who need that bus stop. (And yes, we pay taxes too!)</i></b></div>
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<b><i> I will continue to keep track of what's happening with <a href="http://www.ridecarta.com/" target="_blank">CARTA</a> and which of my elected officials are pro public transportation. Because even as a bus rider, I always found a way to the voting booth, as do many passengers who rely on the service. Going to public meetings, writing blogs and letters, and signing petitions may not get results. But voting out those elected officials (who are also the board members and decision makers for CARTA) will make a statement that can't be ignored. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>As of a week ago I rejoined the world of car drivers, commuting to work and running my errands in a fraction of the time it took by bus. Like many others who have utilized public transportation out of necessity or as an experiment, I have found car free living in to be an unsustainable lifestyle - here in Charleston. That is, unless you live and work in the downtown Charleston area. There bus stops are plentiful, service is frequent, shuttles are free, and the almighty tourist dollars take precedence over the needs of local taxpayers. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>I will be keeping the blog active, as I now have more free time on my hands. For those of you who are interested in what good public transportation looks like, check out blogs and websites related to cities like Seattle and Portland. They have the right idea!</i></b></div>
<br />Kathi Dubuquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086478998644851816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908286542319984445.post-17654927468118442202012-01-23T16:06:00.000-05:002012-01-23T16:06:56.563-05:00Up and Running?<i><span style="color: #351c75;">Contrary to the prior post, CARTA has just recently gotten their new website with google transit option up and running. Now you can plug in the address you're leaving from and going to in order to get the bus route info you need. However, accuracy again is an issue. While I understand as William J. Hamilton of</span></i> <a href="http://busec.org/">East Cooper CARTA Riders</a> <i><span style="color: #351c75;">states that it's a huge project and there are bound to be some glitches, you would think they would update their list of bus stops rather than sending incorrect info to google transit. In fact, in response to one of my comments about them taking longer than announced to get google transit up and running Mr William answered, </span></i><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"><i><span style="color: #351c75;">"Nobody really understands CARTA. Many of our stops are matters of opinion." Bingo! And therein lies one of the biggest obstacles to being a regular commuter via CARTA. While I am encouraged that after more than two years of riding CARTA, they seem to be making some improvements, they still have a long way to go. Check out </span></i><span style="color: purple;"><a href="http://www.ridecarta.com/">the new website.</a></span></span><br />
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<span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"><span style="color: purple;"> </span></span>Kathi Dubuquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086478998644851816noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908286542319984445.post-69714002603625212772011-09-21T21:45:00.000-04:002011-09-21T21:45:48.132-04:00Finally!It finally sounds like CARTA is taking their website issues, and the needs of it's customer's seriously according to <a href="http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2011/sep/21/carta-team-google-transit/">the Post & Courier</a>'s recent article on CARTA teaming up with Google Transit. After 2 years of dealing with what is currently a pitiful, bare bones website that is often unavailable or inaccurate, I'm cautiously optimistic. Never again will I have to deal with a bus driver going ballistic when I ask for info on a bus schedule, as I did a week or so ago! Kudos to CARTA for finally taking advantage of modern technology. Kathi Dubuquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086478998644851816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908286542319984445.post-33251128895352241932011-08-30T12:00:00.000-04:002011-08-30T12:00:22.312-04:00Ashley Phosphate Closing and Bus 12<span style="color: #20124d;"><em>According to Live 5 News Ashley Phosphate is closed between Patriot's Blvd and Dorchester Manor Blvd due to lines pulled down by mobile home movers. No estimated time of resolution. This is the response from CARTA via Facebook regarding changes to Bus 12's schedule as a result : </em><strong>"Rt. 12 Northbound will detour starting at Patriot Blvd. and will get back on route at Cross County(Southbound will detour at Cross County and get back on route at Patriot Blvd). Please expect some delays due to detour and heavy traffic volume." </strong><em>Contact </em></span><a href="http://www.ridecarta.com/"><span style="color: #20124d;"><em>CARTA</em></span></a><span style="color: #20124d;"><em> by calling 843-724-7420 or click on the link for their website.</em></span> Kathi Dubuquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086478998644851816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908286542319984445.post-58391008443332393282011-08-26T12:44:00.000-04:002011-08-26T12:44:38.333-04:00Storm UpdatesPer CARTA via Facebook: <br />
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Go to <a href="http://www.ridecarta.com/">Carta's Website</a><br />
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All CARTA routes are currently running as regularly scheduled. Inclement weather & road conditions may cause delays or detours.<br />
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CARTA will continue to run routes as regularly scheduled unless roads and bridges are closed or conditions become unsafe to operate in. Check back periodically for any updates or changes to schedules.<br />
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Kathi Dubuquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086478998644851816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908286542319984445.post-51083481929686738232011-03-04T22:32:00.000-05:002011-03-04T22:32:51.424-05:00Great Quote!<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><em>"Let's have a moment of silence for all those Americans who are stuck </em></span><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><em>in traffic on their way to the gym to ride the stationary bicycle."</em></span><br />
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-- U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.)Kathi Dubuquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086478998644851816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908286542319984445.post-75939231475633500642011-03-03T14:32:00.001-05:002011-03-03T14:32:47.507-05:00Bike! Bike! Southeast...<span style="color: blue;">Bike!Bike! Southeast takes place March 25th-27th, check out</span> <a href="http://charlestonmoves.blogspot.com/2011/03/bike-bike-southeast-march-25-through-27.html">Charleston Moves' Blog</a> <span style="color: blue;">for details on this regional conference. Workshops, seminars and more, all to do with bicycling. </span>Kathi Dubuquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086478998644851816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908286542319984445.post-86313654250596072292011-01-25T19:57:00.001-05:002011-01-25T20:10:07.839-05:00A Tale of Two Bus Stops...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHnleL8O0W9YVBddlmN4bsqgxvThDU4tswLrzdS6ch7Nas8q4ZT1wQ61FPBYxSOg5gQgx4fXNFdfEk1w9oRhdMK1oTuHcgl3a3e6KqY8hjV-36vyjgKy_HSRDfWjIXGpQ8qeKALUusdc/s1600/carta_sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHnleL8O0W9YVBddlmN4bsqgxvThDU4tswLrzdS6ch7Nas8q4ZT1wQ61FPBYxSOg5gQgx4fXNFdfEk1w9oRhdMK1oTuHcgl3a3e6KqY8hjV-36vyjgKy_HSRDfWjIXGpQ8qeKALUusdc/s200/carta_sign.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><em><span style="color: #351c75;"><strong>For almost two years I've been riding CARTA all over the Charleson area. Frequently the stops I wait at are unmarked, or marked incorrectly. After a reminder posted on Facebook by CARTA stating that all stops are supposedly marked, I decided to do some research. I've found the best way to get down to the nitty-gritty details means talking to other passengers and some of my favorite drivers. I rode several buses over a four-hour period and discovered that there are in fact, two different types of bus stops here in Charleston. There are CARTA's "official" stops and their "courtesy" stops. </strong></span></em><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #351c75;">The "official" stops are all the stops that have a CARTA or a No Parking Bus Stop sign. These are usually pretty easy to spot and the buses will stop exactly where the sign has been posted. Which means if you're at one of the benches, expect to actually get on the bus wherever someone stuck the sign in the ground. The same with shelters and their walkways. Unless the bus sign is right in front of the shelter or next to the walkway, don't expect the bus to come to you. It will stop in front of the nearest sign, either somewhat before or just past where you're standing. I'll explain why after discussing the courtesy stops. </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #351c75;">"Courtesy" stops are a somewhat confusing phenomenon. First there are the old SCE&G stops, marked by a yellow painted stripe found on wooden poles all over Charleston. Some actually say "bus" others sport just the stripe. According to passengers who have utilized public transportation in Charleston long enough to remember when SCE&G ran the buses, those were the good old days when buses were always on time and the service was both convenient and efficient.</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #351c75;">Then there are the unmarked courtesy stops. These are old stops that are no longer supposed to exist, but have been around so long people still expect to use them. Also, if there's a marked stop on one side of the street and you stand directly across from it to catch a return ride, the drivers are supposed to honor that as a stop. In places where the stops are incoveniently placed, or there is an exceptionally long distance between official stops, there are often well-known courtesy stops. Which means the unmarked stops I'm familiar with at the Hess station and the Waffle House that fall between the Wannamaker Park stop and the one all the way down at CSU are actually courtesy stops. </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #351c75;">For passengers who are not mind-readers and those who are new to CARTA, this can be quite confusing. It makes catching the bus and knowing where to get off something of a crap-shoot. Some drivers will honor courtesy stops, and others don't. I used to think this was due to certain drivers just being sticklers for going by the book or being on a power trip, while the majority of drivers actually look out for their passengers. In fact, the reason some drivers will only stop directly in front of an official sign is due to a really stupid law. According to one of the drivers I spoke with, if a bus stops to pick up or discharge passengers anywhere other than at an official bus stop sign, and that bus is rear-ended or hit by another vehicle, the bus driver is at fault! So the drivers are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Either they can provide good customer service for their passengers, or risk a ticket. Pretty much a no-win situation in my book. </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #351c75;">The bottom line is that CARTA needs to not only update the online index of stops which is filled with incorrect information, but needs to send someone out on the roads to get the signs corrected. And why not put official signs at the courtesy stops to make life easier for both the passengers and the drivers? Let's put some common sense in play, along with making sure CARTA is designed to provide convenient, efficient, user-friendly service that is passenger focused!</span></em></strong>Kathi Dubuquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086478998644851816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908286542319984445.post-80914965401442731752011-01-10T13:10:00.000-05:002011-01-10T13:10:02.853-05:00Weather Update and Carta....From CARTA via Twitter at 1:00pm: ALL CARTA buses are running as scheduled unless a bridge is closed. Possible delays due to some road conditions.<br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><em><strong>Not very informative, but it's something...</strong></em></span>Kathi Dubuquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086478998644851816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908286542319984445.post-7742190937128590282011-01-10T10:04:00.001-05:002011-01-10T10:25:32.786-05:00Winter Weather and CARTA Today....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqVPWjRonoqINqpCnF9vd5S9NDbbVzBblf2LTF1XXFJoIPSgnhMHwROG-FLThxFqTy9UREmiKRTVDsMwIkUNIG8ikNfrld8doLwNVYtmyyM9IRhHU61-X4TaNMnvMprNFKZdKwcb_tlg/s1600/ice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqVPWjRonoqINqpCnF9vd5S9NDbbVzBblf2LTF1XXFJoIPSgnhMHwROG-FLThxFqTy9UREmiKRTVDsMwIkUNIG8ikNfrld8doLwNVYtmyyM9IRhHU61-X4TaNMnvMprNFKZdKwcb_tlg/s320/ice.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><strong><em><span style="color: #351c75;">I lucked out because I'm on vacation today, but for those of you having to ride CARTA don't expect to find accurate info on their website or facebook. After a six minute hold I was told as of 10:00am that all buses EXCEPT bus 40 (the Mt Pleasant bus) are running as normal. Which makes sense if you're watching TV, or receiving tweets or facebook updates from Channel 5 News (or elsewhere) as most local bridges have been closed. Just as they're advising drivers, being out on the roads is not a good idea. If you can stay home, please do so. Otherwise make sure to dress for the weather, and I'm betting the buses are most likely running at least a few minutes late despite what CARTA says. Be prepared and be safe!</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #351c75;">***picture of iced yard contributed by Vanessa Dubuque in Ridgeville, SC</span></em></strong>Kathi Dubuquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086478998644851816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908286542319984445.post-85990582984220724312011-01-07T09:46:00.000-05:002011-01-07T09:46:17.697-05:00Another Public Hearing, Route Cuts/Changes for Mt P<strong><em><span style="color: blue;">From <a href="http://www.ridecarta.com/">CARTA's website: </a> </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: blue;">CARTA Public Hearing-Route 401 FLEX </span></em></strong><br />
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The public is hereby advised that a public hearing will be held by CARTA (Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority) in The Cooper River Room of the Mount Pleasant Visitor's Center Waterfront Memorial Park, 99 Harry Hallman, Jr., Boulevard, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464. It will begin at 6:00pm on Tuesday, January 11, 2011. The purpose of the hearing is a consideration of the possible elimination of CARTA Route 401 (a FlEX/on-demand service), and/or its replacement with a new proposed fixed route serving Mt. Pleasant. Interested parties are invited to attend the hearing and express their views. Extended presentations should be submitted in writing to CARTA, 36 John Street, Charleston, SC 29403Kathi Dubuquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086478998644851816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908286542319984445.post-2079887228634405712011-01-02T19:10:00.000-05:002011-01-02T19:10:36.860-05:00Best of Charleston...<em><strong><span style="color: #351c75;">The Charleston City Paper is doing it's annual voting for the </span></strong></em> <a href="http://posting.charlestoncitypaper.com/charleston/Survey?survey=2545633">Best of Charleston</a> <strong><em><span style="color: #351c75;"> There are 290 categories including best local blog. Your vote for Carfree Charleston would be greatly appreciated! I've been on hiatus during the holiday season but will be posting again shortly. </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #351c75;"> Kathi</span></em></strong>Kathi Dubuquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086478998644851816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908286542319984445.post-30716254889887842392010-11-27T10:34:00.001-05:002010-11-27T10:38:09.436-05:00Book Drive for Local Teacher...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyV97UthFfKXNcTGPrc-Ge5JZ7_-xvefTI7AMDhkql9m2mwIz1JhsrWcCojIobnMAKAFgQLeHPNgkxs44lHVKrvqRvGKu0B9Xm_73vj4mebxNWCuSricBDMZs7kxld2ISpR5_n_KBScas/s1600/reading3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyV97UthFfKXNcTGPrc-Ge5JZ7_-xvefTI7AMDhkql9m2mwIz1JhsrWcCojIobnMAKAFgQLeHPNgkxs44lHVKrvqRvGKu0B9Xm_73vj4mebxNWCuSricBDMZs7kxld2ISpR5_n_KBScas/s200/reading3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #351c75;"><strong><em>Through the ministry Hope North Charleston at Northwood Baptist Church, I have adopted Ms Baker at AC Corcoran Elementary School. She is a First Grade Reading Intervention teacher whose students are below grade level in their reading skills. Many have never been read to and have never owned a book. As an avid reader I find this appalling! One of the things on Ms Baker's wish list is for each of her students to have at least one book of their own. I want to shoot for two each! (50 books total) Any extras can be used to stock her classroom library. Contact me if you'd like to donate books or gift cards for any bookstore. I've set up the book drive as as an event on Facebook:</em></strong></span> <a href="http://through%20hope%20north%20charleston%20i%20have%20adopted%20ms%20baker%20at%20ac%20corcoran%20elementary%20school.%20she%20teaches%20a%201st%20grade%20reading%20recovery%20class.%20these%20children%20are%20below%20grade%20level%20in%20their%20reading%20skills.%20many%20have%20never%20been%20read%20to%20and%20have%20never%20owned%20a%20book.%20one%20of%20the%20things%20on%20ms%20baker's%20wish%20list%20is%20for%20each%20of%20her%20students%20to%20have%20at%20least%20one%20book%20of%20their%20own.%20i%20want%20to%20shoot%20for%20two%20each!%20(50%20books%20total)%20any%20extras%20can%20be%20used%20to%20stock%20her%20classroom%20library.%20contact%20me%20if%20you'd%20like%20to%20donate%20books%20or%20gift%20cards%20for%20any%20bookstores/">Book Drive for Ms Baker's Class</a>. <strong><em><span style="color: #351c75;">Thanks in advance!</span></em></strong>Kathi Dubuquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086478998644851816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908286542319984445.post-2881636657480957032010-11-24T07:38:00.001-05:002010-11-24T07:39:30.357-05:00Making Progress....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8z4pphbpdnZdP0TASbcErFy3xP9ifORhjGxiQi2jAiRqb9N9vLm_Ok3mFxkJDZZPLcHfv4EuwhMzd2GM6TGl5VCSKvfegbiHeD64VAUL2AE9R4nUyEnnRSpuXxpxLFjiZnT1zqlEbCg/s1600/november2010+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8z4pphbpdnZdP0TASbcErFy3xP9ifORhjGxiQi2jAiRqb9N9vLm_Ok3mFxkJDZZPLcHfv4EuwhMzd2GM6TGl5VCSKvfegbiHeD64VAUL2AE9R4nUyEnnRSpuXxpxLFjiZnT1zqlEbCg/s320/november2010+002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><strong><em><span style="color: #351c75;">The new bus shelters are slowly going up. It seems that most of the larger stops along Rivers Avenue going from Northwoods Mall headed downtown have gotten a new shelter. One young man at the stop yesterday asked, "what's the point of a shelter without a lid?" I'm sure eventually we will get a roof, hopefully before we start getting any real winter weather! I like the fact the entire front isn't wide open like some of the older shelters. This will help protect passengers from the wind and the rain. Hopefully they will give us back our benches. I'm seeing shopping carts at the mall and Walmart stops laying on their sides that people have dragged over to use as </span></em></strong><strong><em><span style="color: #351c75;">seats which makes the stops look trashy.</span></em></strong>Kathi Dubuquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086478998644851816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908286542319984445.post-9715493380497387922010-11-19T22:36:00.001-05:002010-11-20T15:43:58.845-05:00Positive Thoughts on Carfree Living<a href="http://zenhabits.net/car-free/">Great article by Leo Babauta of Zen Habits</a> on living carfree speaks to the many benefits of utilizing our feet and public transportation. Anybody who's on my facebook page has seen the multitude of pictures I take as I walk around Charleston and while I'm waiting for the bus. This morning I stepped off the road for two minutes to snap a couple of shots of changing leaves along Mall Drive. If I had been driving I would have had to continue up the road, found a place to park and then walk back. And most likely I would have been in too much of a hurry to bother with it....thinking maybe next time. Of course by next time the leaves would have fallen. Maybe my mother's right and "normal people" don't live the way I do (carfree). But the numbers are increasing. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTse8cszzePFyihwhs0IASQnBvO-QoILaAftxK6SCpJ4letP5aZ7lonXSm99lVUwfAKBIoyEuN1tK2BP-7oe1QllJZFIw0438qRgCzPb-y69H6eZLXsOkJyINLB6mYilRQ6-bAvGmNV9I/s1600/leaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTse8cszzePFyihwhs0IASQnBvO-QoILaAftxK6SCpJ4letP5aZ7lonXSm99lVUwfAKBIoyEuN1tK2BP-7oe1QllJZFIw0438qRgCzPb-y69H6eZLXsOkJyINLB6mYilRQ6-bAvGmNV9I/s320/leaves.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Kathi Dubuquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086478998644851816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908286542319984445.post-87234668462560567482010-11-14T09:43:00.000-05:002010-11-14T09:43:56.598-05:00Second Sunday on King<strong><em><span style="color: #351c75;">Just a reminder for Charlestonians, and visitors of course. Today is Second Sunday on King Street, a great way to enjoy shopping and downtown Charleston car free! <a href="http://susanlucas.typepad.com/secondsundayonkingstreet/">Info for Second Sunday on King </a> And don't forget to pick up your <a href="http://www.lowcountrylocalfirst.org/">Buy Local Card</a> from participating businesses. </span></em></strong>Kathi Dubuquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086478998644851816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908286542319984445.post-70711687183316759172010-11-12T04:55:00.004-05:002010-11-13T21:09:08.797-05:00West Islip Beach Bus....<strong><em><span style="color: #351c75;">I usually point to my experience with Pierce County Transit in Tacoma, Washington in 1982 as my introduction to public transportation. I realized recently however that my first exposure to bus riding goes back to the age of fourteen, the summer my girlfriends and I were first allowed to ride the "beach bus" in West Islip, NY. I don't remember how it came about, but we were given permission to take the bus to Robert Moses State Park, field two - the cool beach. Our bus stop was in front of Good Samaritan Hospital. It cost a dollar each way, and we were crammed on that bus like sardines. No air-conditioning, windows wide open, and kids sitting four or five to a seat. We sat on each other's laps and packed the aisle. Loud, rambunctious teenage boys showing off for giggling girls in tank tops and bikinis. Safety? It didn't seem to be a concern back in those days. If we got stuck in traffic, the bus driver rode over the curb and drove on the grass to get around the cars waiting in line for the parking lot. </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #351c75;">That same summer my mother decided despite the fact she drove a van with "Mom's Taxi" printed across the spare tire, she didn't need to drive us to the mall. Pulling out the phone book she had me look up the schedule for the regular bus. There were only two options, one ran along Montauk Highway, the other route was on Union Boulevard. And the schedules were conveniently printed in the yellow pages. My girlfriends and I were thrilled, we could spend a whole day at the mall, not just a few hours. And no adult supervision while we decided how to spend our babysitting money! Talk about a carefree summer, suddenly we had the independence to go to the beach and the mall whenever we chose. Add in the range we could travel on our bicycles, and it seemed our horizons were limitless. </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #351c75;">Riding the bus as an adult, commuting to work, appointments and food shopping may not be as much fun as riding the beach bus, or heading to the mall with my girlfriends as a teenager. But it's not the end of the world, and it sure beats walking! </span></em></strong>Kathi Dubuquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086478998644851816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908286542319984445.post-37235104904536999032010-11-11T02:14:00.000-05:002010-11-11T02:14:33.931-05:00Spotlight: Bus 10<strong><em><span style="color: #351c75;">Bus 10 is the most heavily traveled CARTA route in the Charleston area. The only recent change in services that can be seen as positive is the increase in bus 10's runs, coming through every twenty minutes between 7am and 7pm on weekdays. And yet it is still often filled to capacity! </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #351c75;">Mainly traversing Rivers Avenue, route 10 starts downtown at Meeting and Mary Street, comes up Meeting Street Extension to Rivers Avenue, stopping at Trident One-Stop before going to the Super Kmart then up Highway 78. It loops around through the front of Charleston Southern University and behind Trident Medical Center to Health South before heading downtown again. </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #351c75;">Stops of note on the Highway 78 end of the route include Wannamaker Park, CSU, Trident Hospital and Health South. If you haven't been out that way recently it's built up quite a bit. You'll find a CVS, Wendy's, Zaxby's and Sonic along with East Bay Deli, Brusters and several other restaurants, all within walking distance of the bus. </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #351c75;">At Kmart you can transfer to bus 12 if you're going to Dorchester Rd. If you live in the Greenridge Road area there is no stop for bus 10 headed downtown. You have the option of walking to the Kmart (1.5 miles) or to Northwoods Mall (1 mile). Or you can cross Rivers Avenue (8 lanes of traffic) to catch the bus headed to Trident Hospital and ride back around to get downtown. Depending on the driver you may have to pay a double fare to do so. Coming from Trident Hospital you can transfer to bus 12 at Kmart and get off at Dial America to avoid walking from Kmart or the mall to get back to Greenridge Road. </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #351c75;">After Kmart major stops are Northwoods Mall, Ashley Phosphate Rd (Walmart), Trident Technical College, Trident One Stop, and Mall Drive where you can connect to bus 104 going to Tanger Outlets or Park Circle. Then of course there's the Super Stop at Cosgrove Avenue where you can transfer to a number of different buses. Once you get to Meeting and Mary that's considered a Super Stop as well, and there are multiple buses that you can connect to. </span></em></strong><strong><em><span style="color: #351c75;">From Meeting and Mary it's an easy walk to many restaurants, shops and tourist areas, and local events such as the Farmer's Market on Marion Square. If you're not sure about the stop, ask your driver when you get on. Quite a few stops are not marked. </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #351c75;">As a side note, the Super Stop at Cosgrove and Rivers does have rest rooms and vending machines, but you can't be sure it will be open. They seem to close it from time to time on a whim. The restrooms there are usually clean and stocked. The restroom at Meeting and Mary is often out of service and is not at all nice. It's worth taking a short walk to the other side of the parking garage in order to use the pretty bathrooms in the visitors center. They are always clean and well-stocked for the tourists!</span></em></strong>Kathi Dubuquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086478998644851816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908286542319984445.post-53264443539666104932010-11-06T01:42:00.001-04:002010-11-06T01:42:00.629-04:00NAACP to act on bus cuts....<strong><em><span style="color: #351c75;">According to a recent <a href="http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/oct/29/naacp-to-act-on-bus-cuts/">article</a> in the Post and Courier, the NAACP meeting I posted about did take place last week. I'm not sure who attended since it wasn't publicized. The article states that Dot Scott (the branch president) is going to contact CARTA's director Howard Chapman about the recent cuts in services. Where was the NAACP during the public hearings and board meetings to discuss the options? If the NAACP had rallied it's members before the cuts took effect they might have had some influence. Now I believe it's too little, too late, unless they plan to spend the next year working to reverse the cuts for 2012. Somebody asked me why the NAACP has to make everything about race? Since fifty-percent or more of the bus riders are African-American, doesn't it make sense for the NAACP to get involved? If it will improve services for all passengers I won't quibble about who's using their political clout to make some changes!</span></em></strong>Kathi Dubuquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086478998644851816noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908286542319984445.post-77126875576863830792010-11-05T01:08:00.004-04:002010-11-05T01:17:37.525-04:00Random Images....<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_84bHoIk8bn7gDaRZ-hwisvkvhU9J97jre__JjjfOkAvLshcmLjepPFEAHy-X5d1BKXBWaxl_0KLX3zggB194WMV3-inhT4vMTCW76Ahc1ewcZ0SyaPrmbjfRutz1tzZma5EwDs4HHw/s1600/new+pics+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_84bHoIk8bn7gDaRZ-hwisvkvhU9J97jre__JjjfOkAvLshcmLjepPFEAHy-X5d1BKXBWaxl_0KLX3zggB194WMV3-inhT4vMTCW76Ahc1ewcZ0SyaPrmbjfRutz1tzZma5EwDs4HHw/s320/new+pics+006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: #0b5394;">Slow progress: The bid was accepted over the summer and the cement was poured several weeks ago at both the Northwoods Mall stop for buses 10 and 12 on Rivers Avenue, and the stop for bus 10 at Rivers and Ashley Phosphate. Not sure what's taking so long with putting up the shelters. Could we at least have our bench back?!</span></em></strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWc-PcQpivj4iHd1Q2BY-gqT-vsnhnIVQAtY1MkUd_BQ_AfftMqnjyNRuOL0XW9C6Q2yp7wBKre465Im_upEHhBXpI8rmFp6jqUtq-_aQGEkqci0VxWsEu6mmSHGWg73mqSwgSTD9ZtN8/s1600/new+pics+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWc-PcQpivj4iHd1Q2BY-gqT-vsnhnIVQAtY1MkUd_BQ_AfftMqnjyNRuOL0XW9C6Q2yp7wBKre465Im_upEHhBXpI8rmFp6jqUtq-_aQGEkqci0VxWsEu6mmSHGWg73mqSwgSTD9ZtN8/s320/new+pics+002.JPG" width="320" /></div><span style="color: #0b5394;"><strong><em>Splash of Color: ditch filled with flowers off Mall Drive. </em></strong></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWc-PcQpivj4iHd1Q2BY-gqT-vsnhnIVQAtY1MkUd_BQ_AfftMqnjyNRuOL0XW9C6Q2yp7wBKre465Im_upEHhBXpI8rmFp6jqUtq-_aQGEkqci0VxWsEu6mmSHGWg73mqSwgSTD9ZtN8/s1600/new+pics+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zKwn-ftWcK4Ap2jp-HKFaRymUCqQrVjg7vQVO2fbHaNRkrKw4J6pBS4jp3u-ZFyrKQgl_SDdEKB1cwwNVcSPo1VyKSS3iw8dvRDrwPch3YgKk26I_KYa9u3RQ_DmQ0j2p3T_SmzOgAQ/s1600/new+pics+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zKwn-ftWcK4Ap2jp-HKFaRymUCqQrVjg7vQVO2fbHaNRkrKw4J6pBS4jp3u-ZFyrKQgl_SDdEKB1cwwNVcSPo1VyKSS3iw8dvRDrwPch3YgKk26I_KYa9u3RQ_DmQ0j2p3T_SmzOgAQ/s320/new+pics+009.JPG" width="320" /></a><strong><em><span style="color: #0b5394;">Awesome Clouds: Seen on a bike ride off Antler Road in North Charleston. </span></em></strong></div>Kathi Dubuquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086478998644851816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908286542319984445.post-50613125459615043042010-10-24T09:41:00.005-04:002010-11-07T13:21:23.026-05:00Meeting: NAACP on CARTA?<strong><em><span style="color: #0b5394;">I have not been able to confirm this officially, but word on the bus is that the NAACP is holding a community meeting to rally passengers regarding CARTA's recent service cuts. I was told the meeting will be held at the Morris Brown AME Church at 13 Morris St in Charleston, October 28th at 7pm. I could not verify the information via either the church's or the NAACP website. Unfortunately I can't get time off from work to attend the meeting myself. I think it's a case of closing the barn door after the horses have escaped, but will be interested to see what comes of it. Part of the uproar has to do with the announcement that the downtown shuttle buses are going to be offered as a free service, as a selling point for tourists. The woman on the bus who was speaking about this meeting says Mayor Riley told her the City of Charleston was paying for it - hence the uproar. If the City is willing to provide free bus service for tourists, why were they not willing to increase funding for CARTA to provide needed services for locals? </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #0b5394;">There have been some comments made via the media by CARTA about "sparse attendance" at the public hearings and board meetings.** As has been pointed out repeatedly there was pretty short notice as to these hearings, they took place when people have to work, and not all were convenient to the bus. I've been able to attend one board meeting and one FRAC meeting myself. Both entailed taking half a day off and 2 hours of travel time by bus to get there and back. At the board meeting (which takes place on Wednesdays at 2pm) I had to sit through almost three hours of CARTA business discussion before it was open for public input, at which point half the board members had already left. The public hearing I attended conveniently took place right next door to my job, so I only had to take two hours of vacation time for that one. </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #0b5394;">I think the bottom line is that if the passengers want to effect change, we need to spend the next year holding these community meetings, bombarding CARTA with emails and phone calls, and be prepared to attend board meetings etc as the next fiscal year and budget review approaches for 2012. Meanwhile CARTA needs to make these meeting more convenient and accessible to the passengers they serve. </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #0b5394;">**interestingly no numbers have been given as to how many surveys were collected. I was told I couldn't find any on my buses because they had all been given out (something the drivers disputed) but got no answer when I asked how many were printed and/or submitted. </span></em></strong>Kathi Dubuquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086478998644851816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908286542319984445.post-6739791220302253942010-10-17T21:25:00.009-04:002010-10-17T21:25:00.324-04:00Missing Bench or New Shelter?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4iKNXlz3I2YJ82-Osp0x7KjTqQFXrNCSw9v4DkAUTATS0jBmhaLinH3niTyyA4A6Og5UDagymOQQMXOdYpjD8ddElBc2Sd9bzQQCEIQ6H2rHRrHaRnC0R3QBwDKF2mX0a7ClkZ0GKyw/s1600/missingbench.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4iKNXlz3I2YJ82-Osp0x7KjTqQFXrNCSw9v4DkAUTATS0jBmhaLinH3niTyyA4A6Og5UDagymOQQMXOdYpjD8ddElBc2Sd9bzQQCEIQ6H2rHRrHaRnC0R3QBwDKF2mX0a7ClkZ0GKyw/s200/missingbench.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><strong><em><span style="color: #0b5394;">I posted this picture on facebook with the caption, "Who stole my bench?!" one day last week when I arrived at the bus stop in front of northwoods mall to find the bench had vanished. There were a bunch of little multi-colored flags and as line markers stuck in the grass surrounding the area, leading me to believe there was going to be some kind of roadwork about to take place. But couldn't they have just moved the bench to another spot?!</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #0b5394;">A few days later I arrived to find concrete had been poured where the bench had been, along with a walkway from the sidewalk to the street. Hmmm....does this mean the stop at Northwoods Mall is getting one of the coveted bus shelters that I've heard about? I guess we'll have to wait and see!</span></em></strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnr_X0rUnR6zeUxZl8T4o7CfSTqVrrHYuICrSveHH5djq9b2J03Pwk8HAK3-gyz3GrmrurHeIDX1czz8QOUOZQ34pD8iDOCeBd4cAwBQb0RGKV5nP0qBWhlu79pSWcCO-rfqjSod2qjg8/s1600/fall+saturday+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnr_X0rUnR6zeUxZl8T4o7CfSTqVrrHYuICrSveHH5djq9b2J03Pwk8HAK3-gyz3GrmrurHeIDX1czz8QOUOZQ34pD8iDOCeBd4cAwBQb0RGKV5nP0qBWhlu79pSWcCO-rfqjSod2qjg8/s200/fall+saturday+001.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGkTAZ0thVaXafFbFlsEe68TJUKL7ZS3zAxhmGv6w4HaHnm0ZfNKZ3NRuT1l2fgdcd5LQ6QJeEcV5zTgv9ufoeVww1M_smbZsVY0BZzSePhI2bnyh2_bX0TIWwXPR9DBvJkUg5kZFvELA/s1600/fall+saturday+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGkTAZ0thVaXafFbFlsEe68TJUKL7ZS3zAxhmGv6w4HaHnm0ZfNKZ3NRuT1l2fgdcd5LQ6QJeEcV5zTgv9ufoeVww1M_smbZsVY0BZzSePhI2bnyh2_bX0TIWwXPR9DBvJkUg5kZFvELA/s200/fall+saturday+002.jpg" width="200" /></a> <br />
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</div>Kathi Dubuquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086478998644851816noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908286542319984445.post-83837324685661270322010-10-16T09:15:00.014-04:002010-10-16T09:15:00.090-04:00Meet Michelle...<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwW0QWgYYbyWucst-qDmrXbHXLixfAetFR2ZilFidN2A-ONE57uEHHjrBBx-tF-ao9-bD4wIiWdPl213B8tVG04typwfxKUsy9t-MYoRqn1ERV_YNSQaxIfyOfl7K-s15KlJI1aixh74/s1600/biketown+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwW0QWgYYbyWucst-qDmrXbHXLixfAetFR2ZilFidN2A-ONE57uEHHjrBBx-tF-ao9-bD4wIiWdPl213B8tVG04typwfxKUsy9t-MYoRqn1ERV_YNSQaxIfyOfl7K-s15KlJI1aixh74/s200/biketown+013.jpg" width="200" /></a><strong><em><span style="color: #0b5394;">I had the pleasure of meeting Michelle Emerson, CARTA's marketing coordinator at Charleston's Greenfair. It was obvious as we spoke that for Michelle public transportation isn't just a job, it's a passion. Michelle takes advantage of the bus herself whenever possible and has taught her kids to ride as well. Michelle pointed out everyone needs to be prepared for any eventuality, they may find themselves carless or going to college or work someplace like Chicago or NYC, where utilizing public transportation is the norm. Knowing how to take advantage of public transportation if necessary is actually a life skill that encourages independence and confidence to allow one to live and travel anywhere. I know I myself never considered the bigger picture when it came to teaching my kids about public transportation. Food for thought if you have children at home! </span></em></strong></div><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: #0b5394;">I enjoyed talking with Michelle and hearing her ideas about public transportation as well as some of her marketing concepts to make people more aware of CARTA's services. Michelle is a true ambassador for CARTA and public transportation in general!</span></em></strong>Kathi Dubuquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086478998644851816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908286542319984445.post-24923896809053108752010-10-15T01:12:00.000-04:002010-10-15T01:12:17.888-04:00More Changes...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioBFD7M1O-I-5DBeWVd4MPPVpQ-XKXwH0lCIO8x-1DToeF6IW3slfRtI71TYV_B_TbbGWlNq1TQLS8RZBqfZtvZ1Uxt8eKqf10JSfeclVq2r-C-GPcqcZ_DnWkPdCLsXhXKJmbXNw0etI/s1600/schedule.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioBFD7M1O-I-5DBeWVd4MPPVpQ-XKXwH0lCIO8x-1DToeF6IW3slfRtI71TYV_B_TbbGWlNq1TQLS8RZBqfZtvZ1Uxt8eKqf10JSfeclVq2r-C-GPcqcZ_DnWkPdCLsXhXKJmbXNw0etI/s320/schedule.bmp" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<em><span style="color: #351c75;"><strong>The driver on bus 12 was kind enough to let me know she had the new schedules available, which was handy since the schedules are changing as of Sunday, 10/17. Bus 10 will be running every 20 minutes on weekdays from 7am-7pm, not every 15 minutes as was originally stated by CARTA. Weekends bus 10 runs every hour or so. Bus 12 will still run every 45 minutes though some of the pickup times have changed. Not sure that matters much as bus 12 has consistently been running 10-20 minutes late in the mornings since school started. On Sunday 12 will still run every 2 hours, not every 4 hours as another passenger told me recently. Bus 106 which ran through Otranta and Hanahan, up to Stall Road and Trident One Stop is being cancelled, leaving Otranto and Hanahan passengers without any bus service at all. Sunday service is being eliminated for route 104 which serves Park Circle, leaving passengers in that area with no transportation on Sundays. Bus 13 which is the Remount Road bus is also eliminating Sunday Service. These are just some changes of note on my side of North Charleston. Many routes are starting later and/or ending earlier and all CARTA's night buses have been cancelled. For a summary of all the changes go to <a href="http://www.ridecarta.com/home/standard.aspx?pid=588&nid=2243">CARTA's website</a>. I'm very lucky that the changes won't have a major effect on my usual routine. Sadly, the only positive change being made was to increase the buses for Route 10 on Rivers Avenue. </strong></span></em>Kathi Dubuquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086478998644851816noreply@blogger.com0