Sarasota Livin'

If you want the Sarasota County Area Transit site go here

Ok I will admit up front I have never ridden on a SCAT bus in normal service. I knew we had them... they had the advertising wrapped all around them. I didn't know were they go, how much they cost or how often they run.

I was invited to a meeting to discuss the "future of the County's transit system." I was intrigued enough that I went to the meeting which as facilitated by Alan Hoffman founder of "The Mission Group" that works with organizations interested in public transportation and urban development.

Once the meeting got started it was clear what the issue is. The bus system currently serves several very unique groups of people. The majority of people at the meeting represented people not able to drive - the old, the blind or those having other physical "issues" that do not allow them to drive. The other group being the "poor" that do not have cars.

I also learned that most of the bus routes run once an hour and stop at 6 or 7pm. and of course only go where they go and don't run on weekends? (not sure web page doesn't say...)

None of this is good news to get me out of my car. After looking at the county web site I found a bus schedule for the #17 bus that seems to stop only a few blocks from my house and goes downtown. I also learned that the bus costs 50 cents. So can I take the bus from my house to downtown for "first Friday" on Palm Ave this weekend? Not unless I am leaving by 6:45 ...

More on transit later..