Transportation more inconvenient for some than for others

It isn’t hard to see that we live in a mechanized vehicle county. Cars and trucks are everywhere we turn our eyes. New-and used-vehicle lots seemed filled to the limits of those lots. We are a very mobile county.

Well, at least most of us. A surprising number of folks depend on alternative transportation: cabs, friends, bikes, motorcycles, walking, and SPOT. I suspect, though, we don’t pay much attention to folks using that alternative transportation. They’re almost invisible. Yet they really aren’t.

Personally, I took walkers and non-drivers too much for granted for many years. But then came the fall of 2010. The city of Dover made a radical proposal to their neighboring cities to develop a public bus system.

I clearly recall low-income folks from the Circles program going door-to-door in Ponderay to encourage adults to support a resort-city tax that would be dedicated to supporting a bus system. Our Circles folks were especially grateful when that tax passed.

Then in June 2011 (almost six years ago.), we could finally “see SPOT run.” Selkirks-Pend Oreille Transit rolled out its two-bus routes that month, and it has expanded beyond most everyone’s expectations. Very cool. Very welcome for many people.

A wide variety of riders showed up from the very beginning: Families without adequate personal transportation, workers whose schedules allowed them to “bus to work,” children, teens and older adults going to the beach or shopping or to the library.

SPOT even developed a limited curb-to-curb service for persons needing to go to medical and personal appointments, but because of physical issues could not go to the designated SPOT stops. But SPOT staff and volunteer board members know there is more work to be done.

Because a significant number of SPOT riders are retired persons, I decided to dedicate a Geezer Forum to help us learn more about what SPOT does. Clif Warren will be with us next Tuesday, Feb. 28, to help us expand our awareness of SPOT and other public transportation needs.

I asked Cliff about ridership for “seniors.” He asked Marion Johnson, the SPOT manager to share last year’s numbers. We were both pleasantly surprised. SPOT delivered 17,007 rides to seniors — 3,374 on para-transit (curb-to-curb) and 13,633 on fixed route. Riders cannot be asked their age, but drivers do keep a “guesstimate” count. “Seniors” is defined as 65 and over.

One question I hope we can explore together is how the Sandpoint street revision project this Spring will impact how SPOT runs its routes. You may have other questions about public transportation. Please bring them with you. February 28, Community Room at Columbia Bank, 2:30-4 p.m.

Paul Graves, M.Div., is lead geezer-in-training of Elder Advocates, a consulting ministry on aging issues. Contact Paul at 208-610-4971 or elderadvocates@nctv.com.