Bus Blog Erie: August 2020

Saturday, August 29, 2020

Millcreek Mall 1 & 3 changes

There is some confusion about what is going on with the weekday changes of Routes 1 and 3. I was one of those confused people.

I had two people patiently explain the changes to me, and I couldn't quite follow it. I looked over the new schedule and still was not clear on what was going on. So when Ed Torres said it's basically like the old Route 9, I dug out an old 2005 schedule and checked out the old Route 9 schedule.

It shows that Route 9 was basically alternating Peach and Cherry, and they marked each trip with a P or a C (I don't know what the other letter stood for, so let's not get sidetracked).

So, back in the present, it looks like for Route 3, one trip goes via Peach, next trip Cherry, next trip Peach, next trip Cherry... etc. Also, the trip between Mall and Summit looks like it's pretty much the same.

As for Saturdays...If you need to make the trip on Saturday, consult both the 1 and the 3 to find out what is going on with that. There is a separate schedule for Route 1 service (It is for Saturday only).

I like the old format better for this kind of schedule, and I'm going to ask Ed to consider using it if they plan on keeping this alternating Peach and Cherry thing going for any length of time. I think that is easier to follow that than having Cherry in red ink, which is going to be lost on the paper schedules since they print those in black and white.

Anyway, I hope this is the correct understanding of what is going on with the 1 & 3 changes. If incorrect, please let me know and I will clear it up.

New Route 3 schedule

New Route 1 schedule

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGES

Old Route 9 schedule (from 2005) shows how the trips alternate between Peach and Cherry

Current (3/28/2020) Route 3 schedule. Cherry Street is shown in red

Current (8/28/2020) Route 1.

Pandemic bike shortage

Bike rack at WalMart Summit location 8/28/2020

During the pandemic, we've become used to empty shelves.
I took this photo at the bike rack at WalMart in Summit. I asked an associate if this was pandemic related and she said yes. I asked if they would be getting more anytime soon, and she said she couldn't answer that. Same story at the Elm Street location. -
Some of it is fear of public transportation in a pandemic. But it also has to do with supply chains. An interesting article from Marketplace: Bike shortage is a tale of changed lives and disrupted supply chains

Sunday, August 23, 2020

EMTA county route changes

Changes to LAKE CITY/GIRARD, NORTH EAST, EDINBORO. Click on links for route schedule.
Changes take effect August 29, 2020.

LAKE CITY/GIRARD/FVW

Good news --2 routes to choose from now

Route 229 now goes to Lake City, Girard, and Fairview weekdays. Where it stops: "Similar to Albion route. Except bus does not travel to route 18. So Fairview and Girard at the corners. Passengers should wave to drivers if they are waiting at a corner to get picked up." Ed Torres, EMTA Fixed Route Operations
Route 12 looks the same.

NORTH EAST Route 16

Route 16 now has four trips during the week..
Note: Janet Miller and South Lake have been cut from route but will go there by request (call dispatch 814-452-3515)

EDINBORO Route 14

Route 14 has an early weekday trip added (leave Erie 6:30am) for 4 total weekday trips. All times changed, check times. Saturdays look the same to me, but check it out.

Mike Onda Beach at Edinboro Lake
Photo: Deb Spilko

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

North East route adds two trips

EMTA's North East run will add back two weekday trips, leaving Erie at 7:20am 11:20am 2:30 pm 6:20pm and leaving North East 8:20am 12:20pm 3:30pm 7:20pm

Also looks like Janet Miller Building (police academy) and South Lake cut from the route, but they will accommodate by request (call Dispatch 814-452-3515)

Saturday is same. Schedule takes effect August 29, 2020

Check schedule here