Let's make certain to utilize the futuristic safety tools we already have

Final Draft:

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: JB
Date: Wed, Sep 18, 2019 at 6:22 PM
Subject: Opinion / Letter of Public Interest / Re-submission /  Let's make certain we're utilizing the futuristic safety tools we already have
To: <letters@pennlive.com>

Hello Editor,

I received a call from your office this afternoon to confirm this letter and I believe this new draft will show more strength and understanding. You have my permission to edit this as you see fit. Thank you for your consideration of publishing this. I will try to call your office in a short while to confirm this letter as well.

Best regards,

JB.

Let’s make certain to utilize the futuristic safety tools we already have

Dear Editor,

I’ve been living in Central PA for two years now, after relocating here from Idaho. Out West, I worked driving large trucks for 20 years, and also focused on aircraft safety at Horizon Air for six. In addition, I’ve been a frequent newspaper opinion contributor, sometimes writing with a strong emphasis on transportation safety issues. 

Now, as a disabled person, I’ve been working at a Work Skills Program since 2018, and am grateful for this type of productive work. From my house, I catch the bus to and from work, and though I’ve been impressed with every parameter of their excellent, efficient and friendly service for thousands of miles, a handful of times I’ve sensed danger that we can avoid better. 

The majority of my fellow bus passengers are also disabled and some don’t have much of a voice there, since their guardians or advocates are seldom aboard. Some may not have enough experience or the ability to notice every hazard, so I try to speak up for them and their equal rights for harmless environments.

 

My top concern for now is this:

 

While riding in a crowded Public bus in spring of 2018, the driver hit a long undivided two lane straightaway and sped up. Soon she was exceeding 80 mph in a posted 55 zone, and continued this rate steadily over our next 5 to 6 miles. I wish that my camera then would have been of enough high quality to zoom in to show this clearly.

A Mobile Logic Unit being assembled

Months later I experienced a synchronicity when work management trained me for a new task of assembling “Mobile Logic Units” for bus fleets. When I asked our bus drivers about the inner workings of these black-box-like devices, they told me that these recorders transpose and save tremendous amounts of data. For instance, in areas where commercial motorists exceed speed limits, the variegated maps are programmed to mark these spots, and indicate them with red flags.

I’m curious though if busy bus managers make time to address these warnings about bending or breaking speed laws. Because by many standards operating a commercial vehicle at 25 mph over the posted limit is consider reckless driving – and with a bus full of nearly voiceless disabled people to boot!  

Coupled with some previous driver-distracting concerns, to which bus management inadequately responded*, my intuition niggles at me rigorously that perhaps they do not. And if PennDOT has authority to conduct audits for such vital bus information, I suggest they investigate bus and other transportation services to detect if there’s a pattern of missed warning flags, After all, why would our tremendous public bus services invest in such expensive cutting-edge safety features if managers might be too busy to notice them, or even worse: willfully ignoring these?

Indeed, endangering already disabled passengers like my colleagues should be held as an uppermost consideration to be avoided at all costs. 

 Note to Editor: Last week I sent this suggestion to PennDOT in a similar message.  

Thank you,

JB

Let's be certain to utilize the futuristic safety tools we already have

1st working draft

Dear Editor,



I have been living in Central Pennsylvania for two years now, after relocating here from Idaho.  Out West, I worked driving large trucks for 20 years, and also focused on aircraft safety at a busy Airline for six. In addition, I’ve been a frequent newspaper opinion contributor, sometimes writing with a strong emphasis on highway safety issues. 



Now, as a disabled person, I’ve been working at a Work Skills Program since 2018, and am grateful for this type of productive work. From my house, I catch the bus to and from work most days and have made some noteworthy observations along the way.  



The majority of my fellow bus passengers are also disabled and some don’t have much of a voice there, since their guardians or advocates are seldom aboard. I have noted some safety concerns, which fellow work colleagues rarely address (or perhaps simply don’t notice,) so I try to speak up for them and their equal rights for harmless environments. 


A top concern is this:  

One spring afternoon in 2018, while riding aboard a nearly-loaded public 12-passenger bus, the driver hit a long valley straightaway and sped up. Soon, on this undivided two-lane she started exceeding 80 mph in a posted 55 zone, and continued this rate steadily over our next 5 to 6 miles. I wish that my camera then would have been of enough high quality to zoom in to show this clearly. 

 Mobile Logic Unit assembly

Months later I experienced an interesting synchronicity when work management trained me for a new task of assembling “Mobile Logic Units” for bus fleets. When I asked our bus drivers about some of the inner workings of these black-box-like devices, they told me that these recorders transpose and save tremendous amounts of data. For instance, in areas where motorists exceed speed limits, the variegated maps are programmed to mark these spots, and indicate them with red flags.


I’m curious though if bus managers actually address any of these warnings about bending or breaking speed laws. Because by many standards operating a commercial vehicle at 25 mph over the posted limit is consider reckless driving – and with a bus full of nearly voiceless disabled people to boot! 


Coupled with previous bus experiences, my intuition niggles at me rigorously that perhaps they do not. And if PennDOT has authority to conduct audits for such vital bus information, I suggest this is something they consider investigating deeper, if they do not already do so. After all, why would our tremendous public bus services invest in expensive cutting-edge safety features if the management sometimes overlooks these, or perhaps willfully ignores them?



Indeed, endangering already disabled passengers like my work colleagues should be held as an uppermost consideration to be avoided at all costs. 

Thank you,
JB

Minimum Wage Raise in Increments is Best

 Mid-July 2019 draft

I recently met a fellow who adamantly claims that when minimum wages rise, prices for everything else will almost immediately double. I think he should do a little fact-checking. First, companies generally don’t want to drive themselves out of business. Prices for some businesses where lots of workers would be paid the new $12 an hour are more apt to raise their charges of some items by 5 to 10%, if at all.* Second; food, rent and utility costs didn’t double in any of the other 29 states who raised their minimums. 

It’s disappointing that instead of determining ways to encourage workers to use more empowerment, innovation, imagination and teamwork, some employers in anticipation of the $12 raise are focusing their energy on exaggerating how much this will hurt them, while looking to cut benefits, trim work hours, and seek exceptions or loopholes. (I do agree that an immediate $15 an hour would injure some companies.)

Indeed, it’s less of a societal failure when more of our industry leaders embrace the concept that higher wages usuallytranslate into better worker pride, stability and increased loyalty. Employers will be less likely to see costly worker turnovers when their staff receives something approaching a living wage. Maintaining experienced employees with institutional memories saves on training costs, lessens work errors, reduces paperwork and makes for safer and improved work atmospheres. 

Recently at my minimum wage workplace our paychecks were delayed due to an accounting error. For some this may seem like a minor nuisance, but for many of us, our anxiety level rose with the continuing uncertainty of when we might be paid. Concerned work colleagues started canceling weekend plans and worried about late charges for utilities, which affects credit ratings, etc. (Fortunately our checks showed up in the nick of time.)

Many people who have neverexperienced being absolutely broke don’t realize how significant a difference it is between having $300 versus owning next to nothing. Everything comes to a standstill.  Suddenly, fractured again and stigmatized, we don’t have enough to buy toothpaste and Raman noodles, and we ponder for hours on our day off whether to do laundry or save the last coins for work-bus fare. The minimum wage raise will help immensely with our efforts to get unstuck.

I think Gov. Wolf’s proposal to raise the wage to $12 and then yearly 50 cent increments is right on track, considering that we’re experiencing a good economy and that the raise would increase our tax base. Our hard-earned wages have not kept up with the inflation of the last ten years, and this long overdue increase would give us dedicated workers better chances to flourish and shine for our companies, for ourselves and families, as well as making us more capable of investing back into the present and future thriving Pennsylvania economies. 

JB

Minimum Wage increase in increments is best

 final draft?
no, this is.

I recently met a fellow who adamantly claims that when minimum wages rise, prices for everything else will almost immediately double. I think he should do a little fact-checking. First, companies generally don’t want to drive themselves out of business. Prices for some businesses who have lots of workers who would soon be paid the new $12 an hour are more apt to raise their charges by 5 to 10%, if at all.* Second; food, rent and utility costs didn’t double in any of the other 29 states who raised their minimums. 

It’s disappointing that, instead of determining ways to encourage workers to use more empowerment, innovation, imagination and teamwork, some employers in anticipation of the $12 raise are focusing their energy on exaggerating how much this will hurt them, while looking to cut benefits, trim work hours, and seek exceptions or loopholes. (I do agree that an immediate $15 an hour would injure some companies.)

Indeed, it’s less of a societal failure when more of our industry leaders realize that higher wages often translate into better worker pride, stability, and increased loyalty. Employers will be less likely to see costly worker turnovers when their staff receives something approaching a living wage. Maintaining experienced employees with institutional memories saves on training costs, helps with safety awareness, lessens work errors, reduces paperwork and makes for improved work atmospheres. 

Recently at my minimum wage workplace our paychecks were delayed due to an accounting error. For some this may seem like a minor nuisance, but for many of us, our anxiety level rose with the continuing uncertainty of when we might be paid. Concerned work colleagues started canceling weekend plans and worried about late charges for utilities, which affects credit ratings, etc. (Fortunately our checks showed up in the nick of time.)

Many people who have never experienced being absolutely broke don’t realize how large a difference it is to have $300 versus owning nothing. Everything comes to a standstill.  Suddenly, fractured again and stigmatized, we don’t have enough to buy toothpaste and Raman noodles, or we ponder for hours on our day off whether to do laundry or save the coins for work- bus fare. The minimum wage raise will help immensely with our efforts to get unstuck.

I think Gov. Wolf’s proposal to raise the wage to $12 and then yearly 50 cent increments is right on track, considering that we’re experiencing a good economy. Our wages have not kept up with the inflation of the last ten years, and this long overdue earned increase would give us dedicated workers better chances to flourish and shine at our companies and for ourselves and families; as well as becoming more capable to invest back into present and future thriving Pennsylvania economies.

JB

*References:

https://www.apnews.com/9bed3bde87cd46dbbe2ba7a81b782abd

http://www.ncsl.org/research/labor-and-employment/state-minimum-wage-chart.aspx

Minimum Wage Raise in increments is best

Minimum Wage Raise in increments is best

draftIV

I recently met a fellow who adamantly claims that when minimum wages rise, prices for everything else will almost immediately double. I think he should do a little fact-checking. First, companies generally don’t want to drive themselves out of business. Prices for some businesses where lots of workers will paid the new $12 an hour are more apt to raise their charges by 5 to 10%, if at all.* Second; food, rent and utility costs didn’t double in any of the other 29 states who raised their minimums.  

*

It’s sad that, instead of determining ways to encourage workers to use more empowerment, innovation, imagination and teamwork, some employers in anticipation of the $12 raise are focusing their energy on exaggerating how much this will hurt them, while looking to cut benefits, trim worker hours, and seek exceptions or loopholes. (I do agree that an immediate $15 an hour would injure some companies.)

*

Indeed, it’s less of a societal failure when more of our industry leaders realize that higher wages often translate into better worker pride, stability and increased loyalty. Employers will be likely to see less costly worker turnovers when their staff receives something approaching a living wage. Maintaining experienced employees with institutional memories saves on training costs, lessens work errors, reduces paperwork and makes for improved work atmospheres.

*

Recently at my minimum wage workplace our paychecks were delayed due to an accounting error. For some this may seem like a minor nuisance, but for many of us, our anxiety level rose with the continuing uncertainty of when we might be paid. Concerned work colleagues started canceling weekend plans and worried about late charges for utilities, which affects credit ratings. (Fortunately our checks showed up in the nick of time.)

*

Many people who have never experienced being absolutely broke don’t realize how large a difference it is to have $300 versus owning next to nothing. Everything comes to a standstill.  Suddenly, fractured again, we don’t have enough to buy toothpaste and Raman noodles, or we ponder for hours on our day off whether to do laundry or save the coins for bus fare to work. The minimum wage raise will help immensely with our efforts to get unstuck.

*

I think Gov. Wolf’s proposal to raise the wage to $12 and then yearly 50 cent increments is right on track, considering that we’re experiencing a good economy; that the wage has not kept up with the inflation of the last ten years, and that this long overdue earned increase would give dedicated workers better chances to flourish and shine for our companies and for ourselves and families.

*References:

https://www.apnews.com/9bed3bde87cd46dbbe2ba7a81b782abd

http://www.ncsl.org/research/labor-and-employment/state-minimum-wage-chart.aspx

Minimum Wage increase in increments is best

draft III

I recently met a fellow who adamantly claims that when minimum wages rise, prices for everything else will almost immediately double. I think he should do a little fact-checking. First, companies generally don’t want to drive themselves out of business. Prices for many businesses with lots of workers who will be paid the new $12 an hour are more apt to raise their charges by 5 to 10%, if at all. Second; food, rent and utility costs didn’t double in any of the other 29 states who raised their minimums. 

*

It’s sad that, instead of determining ways to encourage workers to use more empowerment, innovation, imagination and teamwork, some employers in anticipation of the $12 raise are focusing their energy on exaggerating how much this will hurt them, while looking to trim work hours, and seeking exceptions or loopholes. (I do agree that an immediate $15 an hour would injure some companies.)

*

Indeed, it’s less of a societal failure when more of our industry leaders realize that higher wages often translate into better worker stability and even increased loyalty. Employers will be likely to see less costly worker turnover when their staff receive something approaching a living wage. Maintaining experienced employees with institutional memories saves on training costs, lessens work errors, reduces paperwork and makes for improved work atmospheres. 

*

Recently at my minimum wage workplace our paychecks were delayed due to an accounting error. For some this may seem like a minor nuisance, but for many of us, our anxiety level rose with the continuing uncertainty of when we might be paid. Concerned work colleagues started canceling weekend plans and worried about late charges for utilities, which affects credit ratings. (Fortunately our checks showed up in the nick of time.)

*

Many people who have never experienced being absolutely broke don’t realize how large a difference it is to have $300 versus owning zero money. Everything comes to a standstill.  Suddenly, we don’t have enough to buy toothpaste and Raman noodles, and have trouble deciding whether we should do laundry or save the coins for the work-bus. The minimum wage raise will help immensely with our efforts to get unstuck.

*

I think Gov. Wolf’s proposal to raise the wage to $12 and then yearly 50 cent increments is right on track, considering that we’re experiencing a good economy; that the wage has not kept up with the inflation of the last ten years, and that this long overdue earned increase would give dedicated workers better chances to flourish and shine for their companies and for themselves and families.

JB

References:

https://www.apnews.com/9bed3bde87cd46dbbe2ba7a81b782abd

http://www.ncsl.org/research/labor-and-employment/state-minimum-wage-chart.aspx

Minimum Wage Rock & Roll

Minimum Wage Raise in Increments is best

I recently met a fellow who adamantly claims that when minimum wages rise, prices for everything else will immediately double. I think he should do a little fact-checking. First, companies generally don’t want to drive themselves out of business. Prices for some businesses with lots of workers paid the new $12 an hour are more apt to raise their charges by 5 to 10%, if at all. Second; food, rent and utility costs didn’t double in any of the other 29 states who raised their minimum.  

*

It’s sad that, instead of determining ways to encourage workers to use more empowerment, innovativeness, imagination and teamwork, some employers in anticipation of the $12 raise are instead focusing their energy on exaggerating how much this will hurt them, while looking to trim work hours, and seeking exceptions or loopholes. (I do agree that an immediate $15 an hour would injure some companies.)

*

Indeed, it’s less of a societal failure when our leaders of industry realize that higher wages can translate into better worker stability and even loyalty. Employers will be apt to see less costly worker turnover when their workers receive something approaching a living wage. Maintaining experienced workers with institutional memories saves on training costs, lessens work errors, reduces paperwork and makes for improved work atmospheres.

*

Recently at my minimum wage workplace our paychecks were delayed due to an accounting error. For some this may seem like a minor nuisance, but for many of us our anxiety level rose with the continuing uncertainty of when we might be paid. Concerned work colleagues started canceling weekend plans and worried about late charges for utilities, which affects credit ratings. (Fortunately our checks showed up in the nick of time.)

*

Many people who have never experienced being absolutely broke don’t realize how large a difference it is to have $300 versus owning zero money. Everything comes to a standstill.  Suddenly, don’t have enough to buy toothpaste, Raman noodles or work bus fare. The minimum wage raise will help us immensely with our efforts to get unstuck.

*

I think Gov. Wolf’s proposal to raise the wage to $12 and then yearly 50 cent
increments is right on track, considering that we’re experiencing a good economy; that the wage has not kept up with the inflation of the last ten years, and that this long overdue earned increase would give dedicated workers better chances to flourish and shine for their companies and for themselves.

Reference:

 https://www.apnews.com/9bed3bde87cd46dbbe2ba7a81b782abd

-->

Minimum wage raise in increments is best

Minimum Wage Raise in Increments is best
draft 1

I recently met a fellow who adamantly claims that when minimum wages rise, prices for everything else will immediately double. I think he should do a little fact-checking. First, companies generally don’t want to drive themselves out of business. Prices for some businesses with lots of workers paid the new $12 an hour are more apt to raise their charges by 5 to 10%, if at all. Second; food, rent and utility costs didn’t double in any of the other 29 states who raised their minimum.  

It’s sad that, instead of determining ways to encourage workers to use more empowerment, innovativeness, imagination and teamwork, some employers in anticipation of the raise are focusing their energy on how to trim worker hours, while looking for exceptions and loopholes.

Indeed, it’s less of a societal failure when our leaders of industry realize that higher wages can translate into worker stability and even loyalty. Employers will be apt to see less costly worker turnover when their workers receive something approaching a living wage. Maintaining experienced workers with institutional memories saves on training costs, lessens work errors, reduces paperwork and makes for a better work atmosphere. 

*

Recently at my minimum wage workplace, our paychecks were delayed due to an accounting error. For some this may seem like a minor nuisance, but for many of us, our anxiety level rose with the continuing uncertainty of when we might be paid. Concerned work colleagues started canceling weekend plans and worried about late charges for utilities, which affects credit ratings. (Fortunately our checks showed up in the nick of time.)

*

Many people who have never experienced being absolutely broke don’t realize how large a difference it is to have $300 versus owning zero money. Everything comes to a standstill.  Don’t have enough to buy toothpaste, Raman noodles or work bus fare. The minimum wage raise will help us to get unstuck.

*

I think Gov. Wolf’s  proposal to raise the wage to $12 and then yearly 50 cent
increments is right on track, considering that we’re experiencing a good economy, that the wage has not kept up with the inflation of the last ten years, and that this would give dedicated workers better chances to flourish and shine.

Reference:https://www.apnews.com/9bed3bde87cd46dbbe2ba7a81b782abd

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Some serious concerns about driver distracting behaviors on our work bus

Update, September 16, 2019:

This past May, beside submitting these unwelcome driver-distracting concerns, I submitted this (below) to the bus company and two social services agencies. Though I haven't noticed any results yet, it's possible that this is something that various managers handle discreetly. Every agency I submitted this to, at least replied to the message, acknowledging this is something that should be looked into, except for no reply forthcoming from the bus company. Skills Management claims that they can't really doing anything about events on the bus - it's "out of their jurisdiction."


Yet, when I witnessed an actual assault on the bus by one of the Skills workers upon another and tape-recorded this, they acted more concerned.  Skills management later told me that the bus management (instead of thanking me) is most concerned about me filming on their buses! 


It feels like someone is getting "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" confused with "If you see something, say something." What if someone assaulted a member of their family? Would they not hope for the best evidence? 


Delegating authority should not be equated with passing the buck and I keep feeling as if I'm getting lip-service over these various bus concerns, with limited actual change or improvements of the important issues.
 JB

Original post: May, 02, 2019:

Skills of Central Pennsylvania, Benner Pike, State College

Centre County Transportation, Milesburg, Pennsylvania

To whom it may concern,

I have pressing concerns about unwholesome habits being demonstrated by some Skills workers on our Centre County Transportation work commuter bus. These have become so out of hand that they frequently distract our dedicated bus drivers.

As a Skills Program worker over the past year, I’m grateful for the training I’m paid for, as well as the supplementary bus rides between my residence and work. This has made a big difference and improvement in my life.

And I like to think I can carry these precious skills onward and upward to other aspects of my life. I believe positive attitudes and outlooks can overlap, influence and rub off onto fellow colleagues; therefore it strikes me as disheartening when I experience negative ones as manifested in the following scenario which repeats itself so much that it’s become predictable:
 

First, the bus driver travels over a bump and somebody sitting in the back shouts over our whole group that he’s going to kill, strangle, beat, or otherwise disfigure the driver if they don’t slow down more. Then, others chime in angrily, saying it can’t be helped and that they will then kill or maim the complainer someway. Everything heats up more, as riders commence shooting personal insults to each other from several angles. Often this unhealthy banter gets recharged over the next bump and continues boisterously for the full bus ride or at least until involved passengers depart. Not only that, but there are other standard protocols of politeness that some Skills workers disregard daily, such as leaving the aisle seat open and properly securing their safety belts, even after the driver asks for this.

On the bright day I learned of my bus riding approval I received a memo which included the guideline: “Passengers must conduct themselves in an orderly and polite manner when riding in county vehicles.”  Presumably, the other riders and / or guardians received the same memo.

I feel that if I say nothing about this unacceptable societal failure, then it follows I’m giving my sanction that it’s okay. The last straw occurred recently at lunch one day when a Skills staff manager made a similar comment in jest about killing someone. This was in response to a minor question from a co-worker when Ms. ____ __ answered “I’d tell you, but then I’d have to kill you!”  An old worn out joke for sure, but not one that everyone at Skills comprehends. Half-shocked to hear this myself, I sensed the surprise and confusion coming from the young woman who asked the question, and then soon left (to cry?) And certainly a grievous trigger point for others who have lost loved ones to violence. Indeed, our widespread TSA agents arrest and interrogate glib travelers for lesser offhand ‘jokes.’ about violent acts.

If integrating Skills workers into the community is still part of Skills mission, as I’m told it is, then I would like to point out another pertinent observation: In my vast experience of finding respectable employment over the past forty-five years the majority of the better jobs I’ve discovered came through personal contact or via word of mouth. Many workers I’ve met have experienced this same serendipity. Even now, it’s likely that someone on the bus or even the driver is or knows of homeowners or businesses looking for decent help with various chores, e.g.: gardening, grass cutting, dog-walking, gutter cleaning, cooking, leaf raking, trash- recycle sorting, garage sweeping, knitting, vacuuming, sewing, fruit-picking, stable cleaning, fetching tools, folding tarps, painting, snow-shoveling, furniture rearranging,  brush removal, etc. The odd job list is long...

But if potential employers sometimes we encounter on the buses experience a constant sea of Skills disharmony; seeing perpetually rude and disorderly behaviors, this impression immediately dissuades those prospective employers and that bad imprint gets shared with others.

I have faith in my work colleagues that several of them will see the light right away when this is explained by someone with the proper timing and authority. Other good news is that at least one bus driver has already vowed to keep the bus atmosphere ship-shape, and starting by requiring window seat placement for those first on, when additional riders are expected. 

Posting a sign on the bus could help remind riders that bus privileges come along with the responsibility of respecting other commuters. 

At Skills we have occasional days off when no work is scheduled, and here we help with volunteer projects instead. Why not consider a few hours of one of those days for training or a refresher course about courteousness, even if it’s just done in small groups? Tacking on a small challenge for Skills workers to use to their imaginations to say something complimentary about each other would be a nice start.

I’m impressed by the safety standards our Commonwealth of Pennsylvania uses in other important niches now, such as automatically cancelling registrations when drivers insurances lapse, and implementing brief back road closures for migrating turtle egg-layers. Bus services themselves may have already set aside funds for safety programs which dissuade driver distraction, and if so, may offer to go in half when approached with an idea for a brief annual refresher meeting or class to remind riders of their respectful responsibilities. Such a gesture could go a long way in helping mend these inappropriate and outlandish driver-distracting behavioral patterns.

Thank you,

JB 

c.c. Centre County Transportation

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, safety division.

Albinos & Addicts, no April fools

As I waited for the bus, a neighbor strolled by and we sparked up a spring conversation:

It’s nice to hear the birds, isn’t it?

 I want to see that yellow cardinal whose been spotted in Pennsylvania.

Wonder who spied him on April Fools?

Yeah, what happens with suspending disbelief then?

We saw a white robin in this neighborhood three years back.

I spied a pair of albino squirrels cracking pine nuts in Great Falls.

They’re really not that uncommon, in a way.

Yeah, there’s supposed to be one for every ten thousand.

How long does it take to see 10,000 maniac squirrels though?

About the same can be said for the manic opioid epidemic.

True, it gets darn near one out of every thousand, real bad each season.

But everyone seems to know someone affected.

Yeah, that doesn’t sound right, must be more serious. 






 Or?

 

Albino’s & addicts, no April Fools

As I waited for the bus, a neighbor strolled by and she sparked up a spring conversation:

It’s nice to hear the birds, isn’t it?

 I want to see that yellow cardinal whose been spotted in Pennsylvania.

Wonder who spied him, April Fools?

Yeah, what happens with suspending first disbelief then?

We saw a white robin in this neighborhood three years back.

I spied a pair of albino squirrels cracking pine nuts in Great Falls.

They’re really not that uncommon, in a way.

Yeah, there’s supposed to be one for every ten thousand.

How long does it take to see 10,000 maniac squirrels though?

About the same can be said for the manic opioid epidemic.

True, darn near turns outs one per thousand, real bad each season.

But everyone seems to know someone affected.

Yeah, that doesn’t sound right; must be more serious.

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Immediate benefits of bus riding

350 word version

New to Centre County I was surprised by the limited scope that bus services offer around Penns Valley. After riding for a year aboard the efficient, but thinly spread system, fellow passengers shared some observations.

They said our commissioners have long sought to expand these ride services. But studying feasibility tests, the managers don’t believe this will work because commuters enjoy the freedom of driving their cars and have tight schedules. Driving one’s car may give a sense of independence, but I wonder how many commuters have conducted self-comparative travel studies?

For instance, how much do you think you spend on vehicle maintenance, tires, tolls, bodywork, upkeep, fuel, depreciation, insurance, violations, parking tickets and meter fees? What about folks who drive drunk and hurt someone? That decision can prove more costly than the value of a new car.

Besides these much unconsidered factors, folks who don’t ride buses miss out on other enhancements: Riding the bus helps ease road rage. Neighbors get to know each other better and discuss community issues. We listen to educational recordings and music. We conduct business and hold undistracted phone calls, while cloud watching transported-daydreamers contemplate curious mindbenders, concoct riddles and share fitting bus witticisms.

Spring brings photo ops with wildlife watching. Just last week two passengers shared stories about their smiling spring bear encounters. These options give riders broad opportunities to smooth out and balance our characters, with wholesome fun more apparent now then compared to when we drove home alone.

Bus services now even provide convenient aps, which indicate if they’re running on time. They discount seniors, children and the disabled. On rare breakdowns, fresh drivers soon appear with relief buses or vans. In a social experiment for their new rapid transit system Provo, Utah’s Transit Authority increased their ridership five-fold in the first month. Riders generally become comfortable with using buses after simply trying them out a few times. When more folks here decide to become part of the traffic-jam and pollution solutions, the higher bus demand will then open expanded routes with frequenter stops.

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Immediate benefits of bus riding

Immediate benefits of bus riding

(And some hidden costs of not)

draft 2 

Being new to Centre County I was surprised by the limited scope that bus services offer between Penns Valley and the bustling State College community. But after riding to work for a year aboard the efficient, but thinly spread transport system that Centre County offers Centre Hall, I gathered a few observations about why this might be.

*

My fellow passengers pointed out that our county commissioners have long sought to expand Penns Valleys ride services. But our transport managers believe this won’t work when they’ve held discussions and conducted feasibility tests, because commuters quite enjoy the freedom of driving their own cars and have tight schedules to keep. Driving one’s own car may give a strong sense of independence, but I wonder how many of these commuters have conducted their own comparative studies?

*

For instance, how much do you think you’ve invested in your own vehicles maintenance, bodywork and upkeep over these last decades? What about fuel costs and insurance?  Moving violations, parking tickets and meter fees? Car depreciation costs? And what about folks who gamble driving home after some drinks? And what then if they crash into somebody and hurt them? That shaky decision can prove to be more costly than the value of a new car.

*

Besides these sometimes unconsidered price factors, people who choose mostly not to ride buses miss out on other enhancements: Riding the bus helps ease road rage. We create time to get to know each other better, and discuss community issues. We can take quick power naps. We listen to educational recordings and music playlists through earbuds. Without distraction, we conduct business and make personal phone calls. We experience freedoms of cloud watching and daydreaming. On the bus we make book annotations and concoct riddles with gag prizes. We playfully share go-to jokes, solve crosswords and contemplate mindbenders. 

*

Other frequent treats we share in this merry commute include creative poetry sessions, seasonal songs in unison, catchy limericks rehearsed, and bus Haiku’s spoken. Spring brings colorful natural photo ops and wildlife watching. Just yesterday two smiling passengers shared interesting stories about their recent spring bear encounters. Overall, this multitude of options gives riders broad ways to smooth out and balance our characters. And we find this wholesome fun more apparent now, when we compare it to most of the times when we drove alone.  

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Many bus services provide convenient aps, which indicate if particular buses are running on schedule. Seniors, children and disabled folks frequently qualify for discounted or free rides. On rare occasions when a bus breaks down, fresh drivers soon appear with relief buses. If additional commuters decide they want to be part of the solution for traffic-jams and pollution bytaking the bus, the higher demand will open the possibility for expanded bus routes with frequenter stops.

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Provo, Utah’s Transit Authority encouraged more bus riders by making its service free for a while. This increased their ridership fivefold in the first month of their new rapid transit route between Provo and Orem. Most riders quickly become more comfortable with using buses after simply going through the ritual of trying them out for a few times.  We too, can make similar improvements here, around our cutting-edge college town, when more of us decide to become a viable part of the solution in this modern bus era.

https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2018/09/25/uta-finds-way-fill-buses/

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Unconsidered benefits of riding the bus

(And hidden costs of not)

Being new to Centre County I was surprised by the limited scope that bus services offer between Penns Valley and the bustling State College community. But after riding to work for a year aboard the efficient, but thinly spread transport system Centre County offers Centre Hall, I gathered a few observations about why this must be.

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My fellow passengers pointed out that our county commissioners have long sought to expand Penns Valley ride services. But our transport managers believe this won’t work when they’ve conducted feasibility tests and discussions, because commuters quite enjoy the freedom of driving their own cars and have tight schedules to keep. Driving one’s own car may lead to a strong feeling of independence, but I wonder how many of these commuters have conducted their own feasibility studies?

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For instance, how much do you think you’ve invested in your own vehicle maintenance, bodywork and upkeep over these last decades? Fuel costs and insurance?  Moving violations, parking tickets and fees? Car depreciation costs? And what about folks who gamble driving home after some relaxing after-work drinks? And what then if they crash into some body? That shaky decision can prove to be more costly than the value of a new car.

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Besides these often unconsidered price factors, people who choose mostly not to ride buses, miss out on other enhancements: It has erased our road rage. We create time to get to know each other better, and discuss community issues. We can take quick power naps. We listen to educational recordings and music playlists through earbuds. Without distraction, we conduct business and make personal phone calls. We daily riders experience freedoms of cloud watching & daydreaming. We make book annotations, puzzling riddles with gag prizes; share go-to jokes, solve crosswords and other mindbenders. 

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Other frequent treats we share in our merry commute include, creative poetry writing, seasonal songs in unison, catchy limericks rehearsed and bus Haiku’s spoken. Spring brings colorful photo opportunities with wildlife watching. Just today two passengers smiled while sharing stories about their recent bear encounters. Overall, this multitude of options gives riders chances to develop our characters more fully; and more so doable when compared with traveling alone in a car. Moreover, many bus services provide convenient aps, which indicate if particular buses are running on schedule. On rare occasions when a bus breaks down, fresh drivers soon appear with relief buses. If additional commuters decide they want to be part of the traffic-jam and pollution solutions by taking the bus, the higher demand will create the possibility for expanded bus routes with frequenter stops.

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Provo, Utah’s Transit Authority encouraged more riders by making its bus free for a while, which increased its ridership fivefold in its first month of the new rapid transit route between Provo and Orem. Most riders quickly become more comfortable with using buses after simply going through the ritual of trying it out a few times.  We, too, can make similar improvements here, around our cutting-edge college town, when more of us do decide to become part of the solution in this ongoing challenge. 

https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2018/09/25/uta-finds-way-fill-buses/

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