Tuesday, March 12, 2024

EMTA County buses used to have fare zones

This photo is from the 2004 EMTA County route schedule. Note that some county routes had fare zones during this time. 

The only county route I can recall using when they had fare zones  then was North East, which had only two zones. The second zone started in Harborcreek borough, and the driver would pull over there and collect the second fare. Usually riders knew that was part of the ride, but I did once see a rider become belligerent with the driver because she thought the driver was pulling some sort of scam. The zone fare set-up was printed on the schedule, but she may not have actually seen a schedule.  I wondered at the time why the company didn't have kind of have a sign or info sheet available on the county buses to head off these confrontations, because it must have sometimes been unpleasant or scary for the driver if a rider went off on them like this.

The fare zones were eliminated I think about ten years ago.



Thursday, February 15, 2024

Apartment hunting for transit users

Apartment hunters, here are a few words and tips about the Facebook marketplace features for walkers, bikers, and Transit users.

These are helpful but sometimes not exactly accurate IMHO

For example, I've chosen an address right by 8th and Cherry, (which I've highlighted in yellow.) I'm very familiar with the area so I'm also familiar with the transit situation. See screen capture below.

Transit Score™ (highlighted in green) offers a score that sometimes doesn't seem to be that accurate. I would actually rate this address pretty high in terms of transit availability, yet the score they give it is only 41 out of 100. For instance from 8th and Cherry address there are four bus routes: Routes 4 and 30 on West 10th and Route 31 and 32 on West 6th. These are each very close by at least for my purposes. It seems to be a very transit-friendly location (.2 mile/4 min on foot) and I would think deserves a higher rating than they gave it

Below the scores is a "Nearby Transit" feature (in red highlight).

This is very helpful and usually quite accurate in telling you what which routes are near an address. 

For this particular address, however, I was surprised because it tells readers that for that -- although both 31 and 32 stop at West 6th and Cherry, the feature tells them to go to the Gridley Park shelter corner (.4 mi/9 min)

The scores and the transit info come from a national organization so I guess they could miss things that a local concern wouldn't. For me it wasn't a biggie just be aware.. it's still pretty helpful. (click/tap to enlarge)
 
Map
Also if you want housing on a particular route, open up the map (next photo) and click on the addresses being offered on that route. Click on a listing for further info and photos



Saturday, December 30, 2023

Erie's Transitway Mall 1973-1993

Erie's Transitway Mall was built in 1973, and demolished in 1993. If you'd like to know more, check out these sources:

Lou Tullio's Transitway Mall  by Debbi Lyon, Old Time Erie Feb. 14, 2014

The Complicated Saga of Downtown Erie's Transitway Mall  Ed Whitbred, B..S. Presentation at Jefferson Educational Society July 19, 2023

Transitway Mall  Erie's History and Memorabilia 

Flashback Friday – April 1993, Demolition of Transitway Mall (YourErie June 2013) 

Transitways   National Association of City Transportation Officials

Monday, November 27, 2023

NORTH EAST (Rte 16) CHANGES

RT 16 BuS SCHEDULE CHANGES
🚌🍇🚌🍇🚌🍇🚌🍇

Route 16 North East bus schedule changed on November 18, 2023.

TIMES AFFECTED 
Most trip times are affected, so if you use the service you'll definitely want to check it out (see link below)

TRIP INTO ERIE STREAMLINED 
The good news for people on the trip heading toward Erie, is that the won't go to Winland Foods. In other words: trip to Erie starts from Janet Miller Building, goes *straight* on 89 then straight over Rte 20 and into Erie. 

TRIP INTO NORTH EAST
On the trip TO North East the bus *will* still go to Winland Foods 

WHAT'S UP WITH SERVICE TO NORTH EAST 
The bus company actually is committed to service to the North East area, but I think they have been a little wobbly since the campus left. The Winland rigamarole really confused some riders, and I think EMTA could have done a better job explaining how it worked. Kudos to them for making an attempt to try to make a workplace-oriented schedule though.

WALMART: NO MORE LONG STOPS
Re WalMart: Looks like no more 20 minute waits at WalMart Harborcreek.

LINKS
MyStop app for real time tracker and alerts






Saturday, October 21, 2023

From 2013: Suggestion: 9th & Peach stop should explain change...

FROM OCTOBER 2013. 

I wrote this 10 years ago.
The situation still causes confusion to some people who are first encountering it, and the turn onto 10th and Peach still isn't explained anywhere. At least not that I'm aware of.


Bus Blog Erie: Suggestion: 9th & Peach stop should explain change...: The 9th & Peach stop (Avalon hotel) needs to be a place that provides good, easy to understand explanations of the change. And a big, e...

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

October 2023 events & meetings

Oct 2-8 - Week Without Driving challenge National event: "We created the Week Without Driving challenge so that policy makers, elected leaders and transportation professionals can begin to understand the barriers nondrivers experience in accessing our communities." Host: Disability Rights Washington 

Oct 19 - EMTA Quality Assurance meeting 12:30pm via Zoom info and RSBP Chris Gerhart cgerhart@ride-the-e.com

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

August 2023 ~ Meetings & Events


August 9 - MPO Technical Advisory Committee 10am  In person at Summit Twp Municipal Bldg, 1230 Townhall Rd West, Erie, PA.  Zoom at  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87208957013 or +1 (305) 224-1968 Meeting ID: 87208957013.

August 15 - East Side Active Transportation Study meeting 4pm in-person. Erie Western PA Port Authority 1 Holland Street Erie PA

August 28 - EMTA Monthly Board Meeting   4pm

August 31 - Benevolent Beers: BikeErie. Host: Erie Ale Works and BikeErie. Benefits BikeErie project for bike racks for businesses



At Lake Erie Cyclefest








Monday, July 10, 2023

Accessibility at Liberty Park


I took some photos at the Liberty Park area to show architectural accessibility. 
This is where 8 Great Tuesdays concerts happen, but you can visit anytime.
Photos show:
🔷  The area is modern and heavily paved. Paved areas connect to each other smoothly.
🔷. Two sets of porta-johns (one in parking lot, the other ar Northeast corner of park), both have a wheelchair accessible version.
🔷  There are inside bathrooms in Park & Ride building where concert shuttle leaves people off. 
These days may only be open with certain events.
🔷. Water faucet for filling bottles and cups, by playground
🔷. Pink unit in playground is for nursing mothers.  
🔷  Great venue but little protection from sun so bring your own as needed.
🔷  I didn't take photos of playground because kids were playing there.
🔷. I don't know the situation for wheelchairs and shuttle buses.

I counted 400 paces from Park and Ride building to park entrance. Persons with walkers and canes will probably be better off arriving in the parking lot

Entrance from sidewalk is smooth
portable toilets in paved parking lot

nursing station in playground, paved access

Water faucet. Accessible height but button may be an issue if hand/arm strength is an issue. Restrooms shown in background help give bearings. Surface in front of faucet is paved 

Drinking water on left side, accessible restroom on right. 

Much of the audience sits on the grassy hill.

Paved area in front of stage. 

Promenade

Entrance to path from parking lot.

Tuesday, May 9, 2023

EMTA Rider Alerts for April 2023

Below are Email alerts for April, click/tap on image to enlarge. 

Also wondering why the May 6 changes weren't announced on the sent alerts, or maybe I missed it?



DOH!
I signed up to get the text alerts. I couldn't figure out whyI didn't start getting them till 10am and didn't pay attention to preferred times to receive alerts. So, be aware of that when you sign up. 







Wednesday, May 3, 2023

May is national bike month

May 9 - Bike Safety at Lincoln Branch Library In-Person 10am Lincoln Branch Library Erie PA   Overview of bike safety w/ Q&A. Free, registration required, helmets are available to program participants upon request. Teens, adults, seniors.

Bike Erie is a local group that does advocacy, awareness, and activities related aspects of cycling (commuting, recreation, cargo, etc.)