In Osceola, FL the bus shelters were put in by a marketing company that sells advertising space on them.  Well, now they owe the city money and had to strike a deal to keep the shelters in.

What a shame that the riders are the ones hanging in limbo over this.  What if a deal had not been reached.  I really think that cities need to provide several areas with benches, shelters, etc.  I think shelters should be built into budgets just the printing of routes, maintenance on buses, trains, etc.  I think shelters are a right of fare paying riders, do you?

Full story here: Osceola bus shelters could be removed — OrlandoSentinel.com

High Speed Rail USA.

I think that this is such a great idea. American’s are the only ones who look at mass transit as “beneath” us. We’ve gotten so sick with it that now celebs are joining clubs to use private jets because they don’t want to be seen with “the rest of us”. How wasteful is that?

This is one the initiatives of Pres. Obama that NEEDS to make it to fruition. I would use it a LOT. Where I am in Kentucky, Amtrak doesn’t even service.  My only non-driving options are Greyhound and air. It’s a waste to fly for 50 mins. to Detroit or Chicago but rail, I’d do.  But only HIGH SPEED.  Once I caught the train from Chicago and Detroit and there were kids on bikes beside the train moving faster than we were in several areas.

Instead of bailing out the auto industry, lets create a new mass transit industry!

What say you about high speed rail? Would you support it?  Would you mind tax dollars being spent on it?

It has the funniest pictures captured on public transit.

Start here: Hey Ya!.

What fun! POPT requires reader participation.  They have pictures contests where you can will some cash.  Get to snappin’ or just enjoy, like me.  I really don’t think I could take a pic of someone on the bus or train.  I’d feel awful, but I do enjoy laughing at these pics, how crazy is that?

I got onto a bus Friday night and the driver was on the phone and there was only one other person on the bus.  Neither of us said anything, but I have to admit that I was reluctant to report it since he was a “brother”.  But I am over that now and am making a written complaint about it.

This story is about a NY bus driver who was already being disciplined for photographing riders and posting to Facebook.  Now he hits and kills someone.  He was not texting at the time but he is obviously not a safe driver.  I hope he is taken of the job.

Would you report a driver who is on the phone while driving the bus?

The articles addresses how expensive it is to put hybrid busses on the road.

TARC Rolls Out New Buses

I think out door bus terminals with small glass enclosures are most safe.  These big stations are obvious magnets for the homeless and crime perps. Read what they are trying here to curb violence…

The Serial Rider: No comment

The average walking pace for an adult is 3 MPH, may be better to strap on the old sneakers in this case.

This makes me wonder if my local bus system has a new cleaning policy in light of the “epidemic”?  Dialing now…BRB!

This is a great service, except LexTran doesn’t have an extensive night and weekend schedule.  Sorry about your luck sister if you need help on the weekend…

But really, this could do great things.