[JD59]

BARRE, Vt.—To offset high gas prices, some Vermonters are taking public transportation and forgoing certain travel.

more stories like thisAccording to VermontGasPrices.com, the price of unleaded gas reached an average of $3.26 per gallon on Friday.

High gas prices prompt more to take the bus - Boston.com (http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/articles/2008/03/23/high_gas_prices_prompt_more_to_take_the_bus/ - broken link)

[flu189]

Public transportation is great and I would use it if I could, but the reality is that for the vast majority of Vermonters work locations and schedules will never be able to be reasonably met by public transit. For those lucky enough to be able to use CCTA for example, great, but wishing for mass transit here for the masses won't happen, unless of course of course a scheme develops which has already surfaced in places to "force" people to reside in clusters. Who knows, if they can force us change lightbulbs maybe in another few decades we can be assigned where we can and should live.

[GypsySoul22]

I have to say if Vermont wants to be more green, they need to make buses available to EVERYONE. I do not have the option for a bus, though in the next town (in VT) they DO as well as the towns over the river in NH.

I would take it to shop and get around. It would be wonderful for those of us who CANNOT afford 2 cars. (yes, we are out there...)

However, you always have people 'against' buses because they say 'it brings in the worst element.'

Buses SHOULD run along main streets and routes.

[Lilybeans]

Originally Posted by GypsySoul22

Buses SHOULD run along main streets and routes.

Who is going to pay for them? What times? What pick up spots? Public transportation is nice, but it is only really useful when you are moving a lot of people in the same direction at the same time.

[flu189]

Public transit even in places like NYC relies on heavy subsidies to remain running and this is in a place where subway ridership exceeds four million daily with another almost two million using busses. My family for decades used subway/bus even though we always had a car, though in the 70s using NYCTA was an ordeal for those who have had the pleasure can attest to. Add the NJ Path, Metro North, and LIRR into the equation and you have another million. Here in Chittenden County CCTA does an admirable job of having commuter routes feeding into the hub from outside, but you can only run so many busses along so many routes that will meet the needs and desires of folks who would be willing to use public transit. In my area I frequently see private taxi transportation which I imagine for some can be cheaper than the costs of ownership and operation of a vehicle. I suppose if enough interest in a specific community can be generated then perhaps a regular van or bus shuttle could be instituted, but in the long run if reliable and afforadable scheduled mass transit is a priority to an individual then you have be selective on where you live and work.