This is not to say that I am embarking on some sort "Nickel and Dimed" project because in reality Mindy and I only have one car, so on many occasions if I want to go get a drink, eat dinner I have to walk or ride my bike. In many cases that means I'm usually eating at the same places.
And frankly, I'm kind of bored with the food in my 'hood. So why not combine my very practical need for food with riding the bus? Too often, the complaints about the bus center around "disgust" of riding in a dirty bus and coded racist/classist language directed at the people who have to use the bus. And I want to do my part to change that.
So, over the past couple of weeks I've been trying to navigate the bus system to do what I want. And I thought I'd share some of the things I've learned.
First, the ABQ Ride App is not that good. I'm not an App creator but there's no real way that I've found to figure out where the next bus is (especially on a Google Pixel screen). Maybe this could be fixed if they optimized it for smaller screens?
Second, the schedules aren't optimized either so you have to enlarge to get the times (which don't seem correct in practice) and then have to scroll down and back up to match the station with the time.
Third, there are at least three buses that go up and down Central (66, 766, and 777), so figure out where the stops are for all three and if you are going to the Launchpad for a show or going to O'Neills for some good Fish & Chips or justing wanting to go to Nob Hill for a local beer at Tractor you can get there pretty darn quick and for much cheaper ($2.00 for a day pass) than taking an Uber or Lyft (though admittedly those services come in handy when you try to get back home after the buses stop running).
Riding the bus means I don't worry about parking, don't have to worry about if I've had one too many, nor have to engage with every random stranger who wants food or money or worry about whether people "see" me on my bike.
So, give it a try, and let me know what your experience was like.
I've never liked the app. But Google Maps has a solid transit option that tells you how to get from Point A to B at what time and what number bus to use.
ReplyDeleteI will say though, that if you're not on one of the main bus lines (Central, Lomas, San Mateo,Louisiana, Montgomery), then your ability to maneuver the city via bus is severely hampered by infrequent buses and downright unusable "commuter" lines.
I used to teach folks with Developmental Disabilities in ABQ how to use transit so they could be more independent. I'm a HUGE proponent of public transit. Good for you both!