From Madison, Wisconsin: "Madison Metro Transit Bus Driver Chooses Jail." (Wisconsin State Journal)

A former Metro Transit bus driver who took an unruly passenger for a ride on the outside of his bus has chosen to spend time in jail rather than go on probation for a disorderly conduct conviction. (Read more here.)

From Albuquerque! "Get on the bus!" by Eric Billingsley

This story was published in the Albuquerque Journal on August 3, 2008. However, I am unable to find a link to that story within the Albuquerque Journal website's search engine. I did find two pages of Eric Billingsley's stories, but not the story I have copied below.


So-called "staycations" are all the buzz, given the current state of the economy. Instead of hopping on a plane or driving cross-country, the idea is to do something vacation-like at home. But if you have kids, even carting them around town can quickly add up at the gas pump.

I recently challenged myself, son Gabriel, 8, and daughter Lavender, 6, to forgo using our SUV for a day and ride public transportation instead.

Starting in the far Northeast Heights, we traveled to Central Avenue and down to the Albuquerque Biological Park. We later caught the Rio Line train to the Rio Grande Zoo, and returned home via city buses.

Using public transportation is a no-brainer for some. But for a person like me, who has become way too accustomed to driving, the experience was an eye-opener. The kids loved it. And I appreciated not only saving money on gas, but also how tired they were at the end of the day.

Rise and shine

At 7:45 a.m. the kids and I wake up, eat breakfast and get ready for our day on the bus. We have to be at the southwest corner of Academy and Wyoming at 8:45 a.m. to catch the 8:59 a.m. southbound to Central Avenue. Not for a minute did the kids balk at the idea of riding the bus or dillydally around to get there on time.

When the bus arrives, the driver greets us with a big grin and is especially welcoming to the kids. After paying $1.70 for the one-way journey, Lavender sits down contentedly. Gabriel, being the high-energy kid he is, proceeds to push, pull and test everything in his new environment.

Twenty minutes later, we arrive at Central, get off the bus and walk to the Rapid Ride station on the northwest side of the street to catch a westbound bus. Prior to the trip, I obtained all of the route information on the City of Albuquerque's Web site, cabq. gov. It took 30 minutes or so of research and a couple of calls to the city's 311 call center to pinpoint the best route and times for our trip.

At the bus stop, we meet a mom and her three children en route to Chuck E. Cheese's near Coors Boulevard. They ride the bus frequently and have only good things to say. Gabriel and Lavender climb, explore and run around. I have a quick talk with them about staying well away from the street, but they still manage to exert plenty of energy.

We also meet Maggie Ross, who is commuting home from an all-night shift. With crimson red hair and a punk rock look, she smiles, chats for a while and returns to reading a book. On the Rapid Ride, the kids also see a Boy Scout troop from Wisconsin en route to the train station Downtown.

A day at the Bio Park and zoo

We arrive at the Albuquerque Biological Park at 10 a.m., precisely one hour after leaving the Academy and Wyoming bus stop. The kids are more exited than ever, even though they've been to the aquarium and botanic garden many times.

To save money, and to keep with the public transportation theme, I purchase a Biological Park/ Rio Grande Zoo combo package for all of us - $5 for each kid and $12 for adults. The pass includes use of the Rio Line that runs along the bosque and connects the Biological Park and zoo.

Our first stop is the butterfly exhibit at the botanic garden - a must for young kids. We then stroll to the Rio Grande Heritage Farm, where Gabriel and Lavender are captivated by a three-horned Churro sheep named Rambo.

Afterward, the kids are anxious to see the aquarium. They bypass most of the exhibits and head straight to the large tank filled with sharks, sea turtles and even a diver cleaning the rocks.

It's about noon, so we eat lunch at the aquarium's cafe. Prices are reasonable, kids can color on the paper table coverings and they can watch the fish swim in the large tank.

We then catch the Rio Line to the zoo. The train, which runs every 30 minutes, is a great 20-minute reprieve from walking and chasing the kids. Scenery along the bosque is relaxing, and the kids get a kick out of the train conductor and traveling in a rail car.

At the zoo, we head for the children's play area. Gabriel and Lavender seize the opportunity to get wet in the jumping waters fountain. They play in the jungle gym, and then we check out the seals and sea lions, big cats, polar bears and a few other exhibits.

A book titled "America's Best Zoos: A Travel Guide for Fans and Families" recently named the Rio Grande Zoo one of the top 60 in the U.S. Authors noted the zoo's diverse animal collection, knowledgeable staff and excellent exhibits.

At this point it's about 2 p.m. I'm pretty worn out. and we have a 20-minute train ride ahead of us to get back to the Biological Park, and an hour bus ride to get home. So we catch the 2:15 Rio Line and begin our journey north.

The road home

Just before 3 p.m. we arrive at the Rapid Ride stop on Central Avenue. The kids still have lots of energy, and I have to remind them to hold hands while crossing the street and to stay away from Central.

The bus arrives a few minutes later, we pay our $1.70 and settle in. One thing is strikingly apparent: Afternoon riders seem a lot less chipper than the morning crowd. Things get a little stranger when we change buses at Wyoming and an intoxicated man, with a 12-pack of beer in hand, stumbles into the bus stop.

Reason for concern? A little. But other riders take note of the man's state of mind and compassionately and swiftly send him on his way. We keep our distance, but Gabriel and Lavender ask plenty of questions. My response is to describe to them the effects of alcohol and remind them to steer clear of people when they're intoxicated.

No need to judge, just be aware and safe, is my parenting approach. Even though the kids are 6 and 8, it seems like a valuable lesson.

We board the bus for the last leg of the journey. Lavender lies down on one of the back seats, and Gabriel is still going full-force. The part of the trip where the kids get tired doesn't kick in for another hour or so.

Halfway between Central and Academy, a group of youngsters from Gold Cup Gymnastics School boards the bus. Sure enough, my kids recognize a few of them and the camp counselors because they attended that camp last year. At 4 p.m., precisely one hour after leaving the Biological Park, we arrive at our final stop at Academy and Wyoming.

On our way home, only 10 or 15 minutes from the bus stop, I ask the kids if they enjoyed riding the bus. Still filled with energy, they say, "yes."

But the most striking thing is that the experience seems like just another day in the life to them. They aren't thinking about whether the bus is more convenient than the family SUV. They aren't obsessing about the intoxicated man we encountered. Riding public transportation was fun, and it made sense, especially for a staycation.

From Düsseldorf, Germany: "Fake bus stop keeps Alzheimer's patients from wandering off," by Harry de Quetteville

The idea was first tried at Benrath Senior Centre in Düsseldorf, which pitched an exact replica of a standard stop outside, with one small difference: buses do not use it.

The centre had been forced to rely on police to retrieve patients who wanted to return to their often non-existent homes and families.

Then Benrath teamed up with a local care association called the "Old Lions". They went to the Rheinbahn transport network which supplied the bus stop. (Read more here.)

From Weymouth, Massachusetts: "Weymouth residents cope with bus shutdown," by Liz Hoffman

Every weekday for the past 20 years, Frank Firicano has taken the bus from his home off Washington Street to the Braintree T station, where he catches the Red Line to his job in Boston.

Until last week. (Read more here.)

From Santiago, Chile: " Stripper arrested for subway pole dances," by Pav Jordan

A stripper who danced on the poles of Santiago subway trains to challenge the prudishness of Chilean society was arrested on Thursday during one of her lightning performances. (Read more here.)

From the United States: "No more waiting 'in the dark' for your bus," by Katharine Lackey

As the demand for customer-friendly, real-time information increases, more cities, counties and states are going high tech at the bus stop.

Cities are investing thousands of dollars in solar and Global Positioning System technology to provide up-to-the-minute information to passengers on when the next bus will arrive as more people choose public transit.(Read more here.)

From Albuquerque! "Mass Transit Bargain," by Joel Gay

This story originally appeared on NewMexicoIndependent.com at this address: http://www.newmexicoindependent.com/view/albuquerque-fends. This link no longer exists. A copy of the original story appears below.


The skyrocketing cost of gasoline and diesel that is driving more Americans to use mass transportation is also forcing some cities to raise bus fares or cut back service. But thanks to a combination of good fortune and good planning, city officials say Albuquerque is not among them — for now.

Greg Payne, the director of ABQ Ride since early 2006, says the transit department is paying more than twice as much for diesel fuel as it did two years ago, and driving more miles. But because it has replaced much of its diesel-guzzling bus fleet with diesel-electric hybrids, the city will spend only a little more on fuel this year than it did in 2007.

"We kinda saw this coming and budgeted accordingly," said Payne. And even with the prospect of higher fuel expenses stretching into the future, he said, "There's no interest on the part of the mayor and City Council in raising fares."

Other cities can't say the same. Denver boosted its bus and light-rail fares 25 cents in January — a year ahead of schedule because of rising fuel prices — and it's still not enough, city officials told PBS. Minneapolis-St. Paul has announced plans for a 25-cent fare hike in October, and already planners there are talking about another rate hike in 2009, according to the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune. In parts of suburban Seattle, fares will jump 25 cents in August, and other transit departments in that metro area are pondering price hikes, the Web site Crosscut Seattle reported recently.

Chicago will have to spend about $20 million more on fuel than was budgeted, but will likely cut service to make ends meet rather than raise fares, Chicago Transit Authority officials told the Chicago Tribune earlier this month.


Albuquerque finds itself in an enviable position in large part because of the city's shift toward sustainability and green consciousness, Payne told the New Mexico Independent. Beginning in 2004, ABQ Ride started replacing a substantial portion of its bus fleet with diesel-electric hybrids. The new buses get nearly twice the mileage that the old diesel-powered buses got, Payne said, and while that's only five or six miles per gallon, it's kept the city's fuel bills from going through the roof.

"Cities across the country are scrambling like mad to buy buses," he said, either to keep up with increased ridership, to reduce their buses' emissions, or both. Albuquerque simply was ahead of the curve, Payne said.

As a result, the department's fuel costs in the fiscal year that ends Monday will finish only slightly higher than the previous year, despite the skyrocketing cost per gallon. An exact figure won't be known until the books close in mid-July, Payne said, but in the previous fiscal year the city spent $4.1 million on fuel.

And that's with a deep discount — the city buys in bulk and doesn't pay state and federal motor fuels taxes. The city just bought a load of fuel for $3.88 a gallon, Payne said, even as the cheapest diesel in town was selling for nearly $4.50 a gallon. Two years ago, he said the city paid about $1.75 a gallon.

One might think the rise in ridership would cover the rising fuel costs, but it doesn't, Payne said. Savvy riders take advantage of fare reductions such as monthly passes and senior discounts. College students ride free — and they make up 60 percent of the riders on some buses, he said. Still, it appears that fare revenues will be well over $6 million for the current fiscal year, about $1 million more than last year.

Even if ridership continues to rise, there are some dark clouds on the horizon for mass transit in Albuquerque. One big question is whether federal support will continue or decline. "Federal aid is a huge deal," Payne said. Federal dollars paid for 83 percent of each of the new hybrid buses — which cost around $600,000 apiece — and there are many more left to purchase, particularly if demand continues to grow.

"For now it (federal funding) looks OK, but the financial picture in Washington, D.C., is cause for concern," Payne said.

In its favor, Albuquerque has replaced enough of its buses that the average age is about 6 years — down from 12 to 14 years old in 2006. "If things sour in federal funding, we've got a little breathing room," he said.

And depending on who moves into the Oval Office in January, mass transit could get a boost. Congress has already moved to shore up transportation funding, with the House last week approving $1.7 billion to help transit agencies pay higher fuel costs and maintain service.
That would provide nearly $3 million a year for Albuquerque, according to a recent analysis by the New Mexico Public Interest Research Group (NMPIRG) on household gasoline spending and transportation options.

"If Congress wants to do something long-term about high gas prices, it will give people more alternatives to driving," said Laura Hixon, the citizen outreach director for NMPIRG. "Unless we make it easier to drive less, American families will be stuck in neutral as they spend more and more at the pump."

Perhaps the biggest potential threat to ABQ Ride is loss of local financial support, Payne said. Late next year, the City Council will consider whether to extend the city's quarter-cent gross receipts tax for transportation projects. Most of the tax revenue goes to road projects, but the 20 to 25 percent that supports mass transportation is crucial, he said. "If we don't (continue the tax), we'll be in the same situation that other transit departments across the country are in."

On the flip side, additional economic aid for mass transit could come from a tax under consideration by Rio Metro, the regional transportation district for Bernalillo, Valencia and Sandoval counties. The Albuquerque Journal last week reported the Rio Metro board soon will consider whether to ask voters in the three-county area to support an eighth-cent gross receipts tax hike to help pay for a number of transportation projects, including the New Mexico Rail Runner Express commuter train and bus services such as ABQ Ride.

Given some of the negative comments on the regional tax idea posted later on Journal writer John Fleck's blog, the tax might not fly. But as crude oil surpasses the $140 mark and predictions of $200 a barrel now seeming less preposterous, some are suggesting American drivers prepare for $7-per-gallon gasoline. At that rate, ABQ Ride may have to start taking reservations for its $1, cross-town trips.