Reader comments
Davis family shuns car, takes the bus
27 comments | Read story
utwingnut | 3:37 a.m. Nov. 19, 2007
At this point paying $140 a month for a front runner pass is not cost effective.
It won't be cost effective until gas prices reach $5 a gallon. UTA needs to
bring the price down for the front runner and for the bus before they can expect
people to make this kind of lifestyle change.
Debbie | 7:58 a.m. Nov. 19, 2007
As a resident of Bountiful who has tried to use the bus system here, I must
agree - it's a joke to try and use it for shopping, errands, even trips to
government agencies. The places in Davis County where resident might need to go
are not served by UTA. It would be easier to travel to Salt Lake than within
the city by bus. If we add those miles to go there so we can take the bus, what
have we saved when we might have been able to stay closer to home for those
services? Just as S.L.County residents do not all live in Sandy and work in SLC
making it possible for them to utilize Trax; not everyone living in Bountiful is
heading downtown either. It is comical to me that UTA says we need to grow more
to get improved service. I wonder where they think Bountiful will grow - we are
filled in. They said they once had better bus service here and it was not used.
Could it be that people still couldn't get where they needed to go?
Perhaps routes were the problem. Different routes, small buses - creative
problem solving?
Geri T. | 7:57 a.m. Nov. 19, 2007
I live and work in Bountiful and hoped to ride the bus to work, but there
isn't one at the times I need it. And that's down Orchard Drive! I
think if the busses were there, people would ride them.
Comments continue below
Guaglione | 7:58 a.m. Nov. 19, 2007
Shun cars, and shun the appearance of cars! Shun everything, and then shun
shunning!
Realistic | 8:35 a.m. Nov. 19, 2007
$140 a month for a Front-Runner pass isn't realistic?
When I drive round-trip from Layton to SLC, I use 2 gallons of gas in my Prius. That's $6.20 a day.
If I drive my SUV, the gasoline cost doubles to about $13.00.
So for the cost of 2 weeks in an SUV, or a month in the Prius, I can SAVE FUEL, INSURANCE, WEAR AND TEAR, TIME, USE MY LAPTOP, MAKE CELLPHONE CALLS.....and that's not realistic?
I just wish I commuted, instead of ran errands.
But for dining out and movies, we'll take the rail or bus SLC.
When I drive round-trip from Layton to SLC, I use 2 gallons of gas in my Prius. That's $6.20 a day.
If I drive my SUV, the gasoline cost doubles to about $13.00.
So for the cost of 2 weeks in an SUV, or a month in the Prius, I can SAVE FUEL, INSURANCE, WEAR AND TEAR, TIME, USE MY LAPTOP, MAKE CELLPHONE CALLS.....and that's not realistic?
I just wish I commuted, instead of ran errands.
But for dining out and movies, we'll take the rail or bus SLC.
MAC | 9:57 a.m. Nov. 19, 2007
After UTA got through "correcting" the SLC bus system, no one should
ride anywhere. You can't get from the suburbs to anywhere except downtown
or the U without first driving to the Park & Ride. After driving that far,
just keep going.
neighbor | 10:49 a.m. Nov. 19, 2007
Hooray, Hooray, Hooray for the Merrell family! They are excellent examples for
all of us. It is not always convenient for them but they find a way to make it
work. We are a lazy self-centered society. With a bit more planning ahead of
time and a little more walking we would have cleaner air and healthier bodies.
They are setting great examples for thier children, who will grow up more likely
to use public transportation. Good for you Merrell family! Keep up the good
work.
Good | 10:50 a.m. Nov. 19, 2007
That's wonderful. If she chooses that is the way she wishes to travel then
great. However, I'm not for taxing to death cars so that we're forced
to use the government's preferred form of travel. Again freedom should
ALWAYS prevail!
UtahValleyRider | 11:01 a.m. Nov. 19, 2007
UTA has vacillated many times between offering local destinations and focusing
on high-volume routes. We are currently in the latter end of the cycle. The
problem is that for local routes to work, UTA, cities, and employers would need
to do a huge media campaign about them (rather than general ads) to change
people's mindset, and I don't remember them doing that (say, around
2000 when they had more local routes). So people don't ride, and UTA says
it has failed.
And this idea of a magic gas-price threshold may be a pipe dream. We all thought it would be $2 and it wasn't; $3 and it wasn't. Why should we think that everyone will suddenly change at $4 (which is what my wife is currently saying) or $5? I think it takes something more for people to rethink their transportation. For me (3 years ago) it was the terrible parking at work and my employer offering cheap annual passes.
And this idea of a magic gas-price threshold may be a pipe dream. We all thought it would be $2 and it wasn't; $3 and it wasn't. Why should we think that everyone will suddenly change at $4 (which is what my wife is currently saying) or $5? I think it takes something more for people to rethink their transportation. For me (3 years ago) it was the terrible parking at work and my employer offering cheap annual passes.
Frustrated Rider | 11:38 a.m. Nov. 19, 2007
I just wish the UTA would work for me. I took the UTA to the U after they
revamped the schedules and routes. I had to walk 8 blocks to the bus stop. It
came early but lucky I was there early. I took the 7800 South bus to the Trax. I
took the trax downtown. I waited only a few minutes for the train. It was
standing/squeezing room only. I did not mind that.. Time elapsed was about 90
minutes. It takes me less than 30 to drive.
Coming home was worse. The bus that goes directly to the trax station on 7800 South was early. I tried to flag it down but the driver drove away. I then waited 15-20 minutes for a bus that meandered through the Avenues. Then I caught the Trax. When I arrived at 7800 I found out that I had missed the bus. I was surprised to learn that I had to wait 55 minutes for a bus. Total time from the time I left the the U to the time I entered my home: 2 hours and 40 minutes. Travel time was more than 4 hours for a one-hour round trip.
Coming home was worse. The bus that goes directly to the trax station on 7800 South was early. I tried to flag it down but the driver drove away. I then waited 15-20 minutes for a bus that meandered through the Avenues. Then I caught the Trax. When I arrived at 7800 I found out that I had missed the bus. I was surprised to learn that I had to wait 55 minutes for a bus. Total time from the time I left the the U to the time I entered my home: 2 hours and 40 minutes. Travel time was more than 4 hours for a one-hour round trip.
Balance | 12:30 p.m. Nov. 19, 2007
Ride a bike 8 blocks to the bus stop - 5min.
Ride the bus from Kaysville to Roy - 45min.
Ride the bike from Roy to Ogden airport - 15min.
Do it again in reverse to get home.
Total round trip time - 2 hours.
It takes 20min in my car each way.
Total time - 40min.
I get to read on the bus, working is limited on the bus, I have a chance of not having a space for my bike on the bus, and I'm gaining an hour and 20min away from my family each day for this? My TIME is worth something too.
Ride the bus from Kaysville to Roy - 45min.
Ride the bike from Roy to Ogden airport - 15min.
Do it again in reverse to get home.
Total round trip time - 2 hours.
It takes 20min in my car each way.
Total time - 40min.
I get to read on the bus, working is limited on the bus, I have a chance of not having a space for my bike on the bus, and I'm gaining an hour and 20min away from my family each day for this? My TIME is worth something too.
Tim | 1:07 p.m. Nov. 19, 2007
My hat's off to the lady. She is doing something about our
"brown" air. Many thanks to her!
denn034 | 2:06 p.m. Nov. 19, 2007
The bus reduces congestion and gasoline use so, that's a good thing.
It's unfortunate though that this is viewed as newsworthy.
henry | 2:40 p.m. Nov. 19, 2007
"Shun the non-believers ... shun!"
Pen | 2:51 p.m. Nov. 19, 2007
People can poke fun all they want at other people who try to make a difference.
People can also come up with all the good reasons they want for why they
can�t walk, bike or take the bus. Cost, convenience, time
etc. It doesn�t matter because the laws of nature will
always trump what humans desire. In other words, the Salt Lake
Valley�s air will continue to get more polluted, the planet
will continue to heat up if we continue on our present path. The laws of nature
dictate that. Each of us will choose what path we want to take. We either
choose to live in an increasingly hot, polluted valley or we choose to take
actions to lessen that certainty. We will also choose whether to look into our
grandchildren�s eyes and say, �I did
everything I could to make the planet a better place for
you,� - or we will choose not to that. The Earth will go
on with or without us � it�s your
choice.
it's me :) | 3:42 p.m. Nov. 19, 2007
i rely on the bus to get everywhere and when they revamped it in august lets see
- it hubby has to transfer twice instead of once to get to one appointment-
getting to and from west jordan(temple area) after about 6:30 is impossible same
with Saturday - can't even get to the walmart on 5400 S.I have to go to the
one on 1300 S. And it is a true pain in the neck to have to go from bus 217 to
218 in order to get to Walmart and anywhere else that i may need to get to on
the old 17 route. I think it's great that they are doing this on their own
and that the bus service fits them but for those of us who live on the west or
east side of the valley we don't get out much.
Anonymous | 4:09 p.m. Nov. 19, 2007
So, instead of getting their children to school safely by driving them there,
the dad leaves them at the bus stop and then catches his own bus. So what
happens if the school bus doesn't come? What if there's a nasty snow
storm that blows in? Mom's at school and Dad can't get home because he
takes the bus. =abandoned children
Jerry | 5:46 p.m. Nov. 19, 2007
The Lord gave us fossil fuels. I plan on using them when I drive my SUV to work.
I'll be sure to honk for the Davis family.
Good | 6:13 p.m. Nov. 19, 2007
Henry wrote: "Shun the non-believers ... shun!" I'm really glad
you wrote this because it highlights exactly what environmentalism is...a
religion. Think about it. Earth is God. In order to be in good graces with
the Earth you must sacrifice. Sacrifice is a big part of religion. Therefore
you must offer your sins up to the Earth (ie give up your evil car, electricity,
heating oil). I have nothing against religion I am a very religious person.
But masquerading around perpetuating that your religion is science (when
it's not) then you are lying. Apparently in this environmental religion
lying is not a sin.
The earth has warmed and cooled over that last 100 years as it always has as it always has. Each time some crazy scientist comes to our "rescue." Can you imagine had we actually followed the recommendation to solve global cooling in the 1970's? We were suppose to put soot on the ice caps to help melt them. Now had we done that where would the sea level be today? What would be our new gloom and doom? I just hope we can hold off these waccos long enough so we can avoid global taxation.
The earth has warmed and cooled over that last 100 years as it always has as it always has. Each time some crazy scientist comes to our "rescue." Can you imagine had we actually followed the recommendation to solve global cooling in the 1970's? We were suppose to put soot on the ice caps to help melt them. Now had we done that where would the sea level be today? What would be our new gloom and doom? I just hope we can hold off these waccos long enough so we can avoid global taxation.
Frustrated Rider | 6:36 p.m. Nov. 19, 2007
Shun me for not wanting to spend an extra three hours a day commuting? I think
it will be a blessing to be shunned by you.
UTinAZ | 6:48 p.m. Nov. 19, 2007
Good: You must live on the slippery slopes of Draper judging by your comment.
Environmentalism is not a "religion" by any sense of the word.
It's an ideology - familiarize yourself with the word. Also, science and
research capabilities have improved phenomenally since the 70's, so try not
to compare the current outlook with that one (technology sure has done wonders,
hasn't it?). As an additional side note - the warming cycle of our earth
may very well be a perfectly natural occurence; only time will tell. But
shouldn't we be making our best attempts to take care of it anyways? Just
as our bodies are a temple, the world we live in is one as well - we can choose
to preserve and care for it or choke and pollute it. Choose wisely.
hc | 7:47 p.m. Nov. 19, 2007
I looked into the bus when I wanted to ride daily.
Found out I had to leave home at 6:30 AM to be at work by 8AM. When I drove, I could leave for work at 20 til 8 and still be there on time. THe extra hour every morning let me eat breakfast and talk with the wife and family. Bus service might work for some, but I continue to drive.
Found out I had to leave home at 6:30 AM to be at work by 8AM. When I drove, I could leave for work at 20 til 8 and still be there on time. THe extra hour every morning let me eat breakfast and talk with the wife and family. Bus service might work for some, but I continue to drive.
Re: UTinAZ | 8:26 p.m. Nov. 19, 2007
Well said. Not believing in environmental turmoil won't make it go away.
Anonymous | 8:42 p.m. Nov. 19, 2007
Face it. Public transport will work for some and not for others. Depends on
distance, routes and times we have to be places. I lived near a bus route in
Callifornia and couldn't use it because it stopped running well before I
got off work. We do what we can.
Goose | 9:01 p.m. Nov. 19, 2007
To Good, Again freedom should ALWAYS prevail. So can I smoke outside again? If
you say NO then please stick you mouth over that tailpipe and tell what is
worst.
viking | 9:47 p.m. Nov. 19, 2007
To Jerry - keep driving in your SUV! It sounds like you are a believer (re:
"the Lord gave us fossil fuels")...just remember, the Lord also gave
us clean air, sparking lakes, lush rainforests, and a startling array of diverse
species (whose rate of extinction from human caused activities is now
approaching what happened 65 million years ago when many believe a giant
meteorite struck the earth, causing dramatic climate change.)
Oh, and - as another commenter suggested - don't forget to look your children in the eye and tell them you did everything you could to leave the planet as clean as you could! Drive on! Breathe in that polluted air! Have fun! The Earth will have the last laugh!
Oh, and - as another commenter suggested - don't forget to look your children in the eye and tell them you did everything you could to leave the planet as clean as you could! Drive on! Breathe in that polluted air! Have fun! The Earth will have the last laugh!
KC | 11:47 p.m. Nov. 19, 2007
I wonder what caused the earth to heat back up after the last ice age? My wife
and I are selling our house in the suburbs and buying downtown. We are doing
that because I currently spend 2 hours a day commuting and would rather spend it
with my family. But all this nonsense over the earth heating up is laughable.
If someone can explain to me why our earth has gone through multiple heating and
cooling trends long before cars ever existed then I might start to concern
myself with global warming.
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Elizabeth Merrell and daughter Eliza, 3, travel by UTA bus from their home in Bountiful to Weber State. The entire Merrell family now relies on buses for transportation.
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