Happier Trails
 |
| ANA JUNE/The Free Press |
| Alberto Castillo rides the Santa Fe Trails bus, driven by Richard Timari, a short distance on Route 2. |
Bus ridership is up in wake of higher gas prices
By Amy Majerowicz / The Free Press
Fact: more people are riding the bus. For some, the increase is a reflection of soaring gas prices. For others, riding Santa Fe Trails has been a way of life for years.
“It is my lifeline to getting around this town,” Frank Mason, an 18-year Santa Fe resident said while riding the No. 2 route that runs up and down Cerrillos. “I ride every day. I broke my ankle back in March. If it wasn’t for the bus, I couldn’t have gotten around.”
Mason, who has used the city’s bus system since its inception back in 1992, finds riding the bus convenient because it allows him to get close enough to where he needs to be.
“I remember when the city didn’t have a bus — I had to bike or catch a ride. This is a valuable asset to me,” Mason said.
The bus has become a valuable asset to many residents. Over the past 12 months, Santa Fe Trails has experienced an 8 percent increase in ridership, which mirrors the national trend. According to a recent report issued by the American Public Transit Association, public transportation across the nation has experienced a 10.3 percent increase in ridership for the first quarter of the year.
Cleo Armijo has been a bus driver 14 years. Recently, he’s noticed that more people are filling the seats.
“Lately, I’d say the last two or three months, I have noticed an increase in riders,” Armijo said. “I think it’s because of the price of gas.”
Santa Fe Public Information Officer Laura Banish uses the bus for her commute from her home on the south side into downtown. She has more riders on her bus.
“I’ve noticed a drastic increase once gas hit four dollars.” Banish said. “I think it must have scared some people and it’s made an impact in changing people’s habits.”
Mayor David Coss, known for using public transit, has long promoted alternative methods of transportation.
“I started riding in 1992 and I ride most days,” Coss said. “I’ve noticed an increase on the Cerrillos route. More and more, people say to me, ‘I’m starting to ride the bus, too.’”
 |
| ANA JUNE/The Free Press |
| Daily ridersSteven Graff. |
Coss has also been modeling another trend in public transportation.
“Lately, I’ve been doing the bus-bike combo, which is a good one,” he said. Chris Cudworth, a recent St. John’s graduate, also gets around town using this combination.
“I ride the bus and take my bicycle,” Cudworth said. “I find it’s much easier than driving around town in a car.”
All city buses now come equipped with a front bicycle rack; for many riders, this makes a commute easier and quicker.
“Two or three bikes per rack will fit,” bus driver Richard Timari said. “A driver will show you if you’ve never done it before.” Timari also noted that every city bus is designed to accommodate riders with special needs.
“All buses are wheelchair accessible.” Timari pointed to the area located just behind the driver’s seat. “The driver straps the chair in, securing the chair.”
Timari also stressed that city buses are designed with the safety of all riders in mind.
“These buses are safe,” he said, indicating a glass dome above his head, he illustrated the security on board. “Each bus has five cameras on the inside. We watch everything and make sure nothing happens.”
What’s more, riding the bus is affordable. At two dollars for an all-day pass or $20 for a monthly pass, busing is one of the most cost-effective ways to get around town. One rider indicated that he takes the bus multiple times every day because a day pass is cheaper than one gallon of gas.
“We want to get more people walking, biking or riding the bus,” Coss said. “It’s better for the planet, it’s better for the infrastructure and it’s better for the wallet.”
Despite the savings, public transportation is not perfect. Even loyal riders point to areas of frustration. While buses on the heavily trafficked Cerrillos and Agua Fria routes run every 15 minutes, buses on other routes may run only once per hour. Service on the weekend is limited and non-existent late at night. This creates obstacles, as it has for one rider who has a hard time getting to church on Sunday morning. Service starts at 9 a.m., but the bus doesn’t run until 11 a.m.
The main arterial is Cerrillos. Some routes, like Museum Hill, have light ridership and run less frequently,” Coss said. “We’ve looked at running later at night but it’s very expensive to run a bus for the two or three people who might get on. It’s something we’ve wrestled with since we started.”
Many people forsake public transportation simply because it does not fit into their lifestyle. Allison Irwin lived in New York City for five years before moving to Santa Fe a little over a year ago. While in New York, she relied solely on public transportation. Now in Santa Fe, she drives a car.
“In New York, I used public transit because it was standard,” Irwin said. “It was easier, cheaper and more convenient than owning, storing or parking a car. It was reliable and most of the time the fastest way to get anywhere within the city.”
Irwin is unique in that she lives and works in the same space, making her commute a mere walk and thus reducing her carbon footprint. Still, when it comes to getting around the city, she opts for driving a fuel-efficient vehicle.
“People love their cars. They like to have control over when they go places,” Irwin said. “I also love the flexibility of a car and the freedom it affords.”
Coss said, however, buses are easier than many people think. While people have to plan their trips and remain flexible, there are often benefits to leaving the car at home.
“Parking issues are ameliorated by riding the bus,” Coss said. “The bus really is the best way to enjoy downtown and the Railyard. If you come in on a bus, you don’t spend half an hour looking for a parking spot.”
Frank Mason believes that if people took the time, they’d quickly find how many places they could access via the city bus. “People need to educate themselves. If they took one day — just one day — and rode every line, they would see how easy it is to get around town,” Mason said. “I don’t complain about the bus ever being late because know I have a reliable way to get around Santa Fe.”
With a laugh, Mason added, “People who complain about lateness don’t know Santa Fe.”
While buses decrease the number of single car drivers, Santa Fe Trails also operates some of the most fuel-efficient vehicles on the road. Since 1992, all buses have run on compressed natural gas or, as it’s more commonly known, CNG. CNG is widely considered more environmentally friendly and cleaner burning than traditional motor fuels. For Coss, Santa Fe’s
CNG buses are a point of civic pride. “We have the first CNG fleet in the U.S. operating at 7,000 feet,” Coss said. “And we have since the beginning.”
 |
| ANA JUNE/The Free Press |
| Newly married Shani and Shin Fierke, are delighted by the convenience the bus affords them. |
With the arrival of the Rail Runner, there may be added incentive to ride city buses. While trains will shuttle passengers between Santa Fe and Albuquerque, buses will play an instrumental role in getting people to stations.
“We are looking at where we need to expand service and primarily it will be connecting with the Rail Runner,” Coss said.
George Lopez, a 40-year resident of Santa Fe, has long used the bus to get around town. He was happy to hear that the bus will connect him to the Rail Runner, giving him two methods of transportation on which to rely.
“I can’t wait for the train,” Lopez said. “My sister lives in Albuquerque and now I’ll be able to visit her more often. That will be nice.”
After 12 years driving a bus, Timari’s enthusiasm for the future of Santa Fe’s public transportation remains solid. He’s believed in buses for a long time; now he believes the Rail Runner will change the landscape of alternative transportations for many New Mexicans.
“When the train comes into play, it will be even better yet,” Timari said. “That’s going to be the fun part.”
back to top