Very well stated by this rider, Erica, but I'd like to see the infrastructure improved, as I believe Tallahassee is too large in population and geographically to keep all the transfers at the Plaza downtown. Also, if they built in some leeway, the next bus would wait for the pedestrian--but a way to signal the other driver would need to be found. Darla & Precious Roxy Darla J. Rogers djrogers0628@xxxxxxxxxxx Skype Username: wildflower0628 Home phone #: 850-329-7437 "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere--Martin Luther King, Jr. ----- Original Message ----- From: ericamccaul@xxxxxxxxxxxx To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 9:36 AM Subject: [tabi] Fwd: FW: letter to editor - should run this week in Tall Dem. Kudos to Sue Ellen!! (In case any of you are wondering, Sue Ellen is a bus rider by choice, NOT due to any disability which prevents her from driving.) I will Forward the article she references separately. Erica FWD MSG: Here's what I sent the Democrat yesterday. Mark says they plan to run it. - Sue Ellen To the Editor: I appreciate that the Democrat’s Mark Hohmeister drew attention to automobile driver vs. pedestrian issues in his Aug. 14 column. These issues are at the center of concerns being voiced by bus riders regarding the city's bus system decentralization plan (Nova2010). Under Nova2010, most bus riders will no longer change buses at the downtown bus plaza, but instead will be dropped off and picked up along major roads like Capital Circle, Mahan, Tennessee, Monroe. Given how often we see car drivers disregard red lights, stop signs, and pedestrian rights of way, many riders are understandably concerned about having to walk across six-lane (eight with turn lanes) intersections to change buses. Add the too-long headways planned (most are 30-40 minutes, not the one 10-minute route city staff touts), and chances increase that stressed bus commuters, panicked that the next bus connection doesn't come for 30 or 40 minutes, will take great risks to cross streets to a bus that's at a stop or pulling away. The city commission should reconsider the Nova2010 plan and commit to spending the time and money necessary to have a bus system for Tallahassee that is safe, convenient and reliable. Sue Ellen Smith Tallahassee