Monday, 17 January, 2011 6:00
by Sarah Madalyn McKinney
It’s safe to say many Shreveport-Bossier residents have some preconceived notions about our public transportation system. I, like many residents in our area, had never ridden on a SporTran bus, and to be honest I was a little apprehensive about safety, cleanliness and convenience. So, I decided to take some time to investigate first hand to see if in fact our assumptions are correct … or not.
First, I did a little research to find the best route and time for my day trip around town. Later while waiting at the terminal I laughed at myself because clearly I was the only one with an itinerary worried about the logistics of getting on and off the bus. I definitely felt like I had the word ‘Rookie’ written across my neatly folded route schedule.
Located conveniently in the center of downtown, the terminal is open and easily accessible with plenty of lighting. This immediately put me at ease considering two of my initial concerns included location and safety. And around 5 p.m., they even have police to direct traffic so the buses can stay on schedule during congested times downtown.
An inexpensive fare of $1.25 got me on and off the bus at whatever destination along our route. At 5:15 p.m., I was expecting quite a crowd, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it wasn’t crowded at all. In fact, the passengers were comfortably spread out amongst the seats.
Once seated and on our way, I realized something. Riding a SporTran bus is just like any other public transportation system in any other city! The experience is no different from riding the Subway in New York or taking the DART in Dallas. You pick your destination, pay a small fare and enjoy the ride!
Lagniappe:
For more information concerning fares and schedules visit: www.sportran.org