Public transportation gets a bad rep, but I think it’s time for students in particular to acknowledge the benefits of the buses # especially now that Bulls ride completely free with a flash of our college I.D., thanks to a partnership with the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA).
Of course, the level of safety on public buses is always in question because, let’s face it, those bus drivers have their eyes on the road, and essentially anybody with two dollars or a pass can get on. You’re sort of left to yourself, responsible for knowing the routes, times and where you have to get off.
Among the other complaints is the lack of personal space. If it’s a weekday, the aisles can be packed with locals in uniform on their way to work. If there’s an open seat next to you, the excuse “I’m saving this seat for my friend” no longer exists. You can’t be ‘that guy’ just because you want a little extra room, but I’ve seen it happen before. It usually ends with the person having to stand up and use one of those bars to maintain their balance, which is not a good time.
But it is no where near as bad as people make it out to be. And we ride for free.
To visit my family back home, I take the Route 19 PSTA bus from William’s Park on Second Avenue to a Publix in Tarpon Springs on U.S. 19, the closest destination to my house. Pinellas County buses don’t go any farther north than that. The trip is around 32 miles in distance, and should take no longer than 45 minutes in a car, even with congested traffic.
I take two 19 buses, one to my transfer point at Grand Central Station, and another for the remainder of the drive. This takes more than two and a half hours. But to be fair, there are 151 stops along the way, and a couple short transfer points at popular strip malls. Two and a half hours isn’t unbearable; in fact, the time flies.
One of my friends was genuinely confused to find that I spend that long on the bus instead of “just taking a taxi.” When I explained that it would cost upward toward $100 each way, she understood.
My life could be made easier with a car, but I don’t think about that. I think about how much money I’m saving and how I’m taking advantage of a system that has been proven to relieve the environment of harmful factors and reduce the carbon footprint.
Taking the bus allows you to gain some perspective and learn your way around your town. My friend and I just landed jobs with an organization on the far north side of Fourth Street. The bus ride is just under 45 minutes, and afterward, we have to organize a time to catch the next bus back. The job also requires that we travel to other locations, doing recruitment-type activities. In order to fulfill these duties, we have to arrange that take the correct route to the right place at the right time. The process is a learning experience and it sets you up to improve time management skills.
Students should consider public transportation when they want to eat out, shop or just want to explore the city, whether it’s on a bus or a trolley. Routes and destinations can be easily found on the PSTA website and it wouldn’t cost a dime.
