Mass Transit:
Mass Transit:IndyGo, Indianapolis Public Transit:
IndyGo, Public Transit of Indianapolis, has decided to close many routes in order to balance its books. Understandably, when faced with budget cuts IndyGo is do something so it doesn't go broke. But the current fix IndyGo is proposing ways to heavily on the Southside of Indianapolis. After the proposed fix, the southeast side will have no bus service. The rest of the Southside will have to catch the Madison Avenue or the Mars Hill bus.
Under these circumstances, they might as well close down IndyGo completely. Our property values are tied to how convenient it is to live in our neighborhood. No bus service makes our neighborhood less live-able for many people. With Route 22, senior citizens, teenagers, the disabled, and people with no vehicles have a way to get to several hospitals, shopping centers, school, and to government services.
Contact IndyGo by email at gusthebus@indygo.net
Contact your City-County Councillor. Here is a link to their regular & email addresses.
Now is the time to make yourself heard. Read what IndyGo has to say.
The letter I wrote to IndyGo:
The elimination of so many Southside routes really leaves the Southside
of Indianapolis in a jam.
The Southside of Indianapolis will really feel the pinch of losing so
many bus routes. Basically most of the Southside will not be served. If residents don't
live within 5 to 8 blocks of Madison Avenue, they will not have access to public transit.
Public Transit for Beech Grove and access to Saint Francis Hospital will be eliminated. Access to and from the University of Indianapolis will be cut. A huge part of Indianapolis that already suffers from high unemployment and low income levels will be hurt more. Access to jobs, healthcare, and basic city services will become more expensive and harder to reach for the Southside's low income community.
I understand that passenger ride per trip cost is high for these routes. Fewer riders make it cost more. But many potential riders have been discouraged by the service provided by IndyGo. I have waited for a bus many times only to realize the bus was running 10 minutes or more ahead of schedule, meaning I missed the bus and had to wait an hour for the next one. That is too much for many potential riders to take, because an hour late means a job lost.
Teenagers, single mothers, senior citizens and the disabled will be hurt the most. The limited scheduling of the Southside buses has always been a major issue. Limited schedules where buses stop to early and don't run often enough says to many potential riders that IndyGo is not a real public transit option. Now for the rest of us who do ride, IndyGo is really not going to be a public transit option.
What other options could IndyGo try? I realize IndyGo is financially strapped. What about expanding IndyFlex?
Smaller vans that are scheduled ahead of time for a slightly higher fee, say $3 a ride?
Greg Filter
If you would like to see something added or listed here, or share links, contact Greg at gfilter @ iupui.edu.