Buses and bikes help easing fuel crisis

From an editorial in the Green Bay Press Gazette:

Friday is Bike to Work Day, and it comes in the midst of Bike to Work Week. More than feel-good moments, these events should focus our attention on something that cannot be taken for granted — alternative transportation.

For a variety of reasons, more area residents are parking their cars and finding other ways to get about town by riding a bike or bus or walking. Reducing our carbon footprint is one factor, and so is coping with the rising price of gasoline.

Recently, a coalition of private and public interests created the first-ever Brown County Bicycle Map. Not simply a map that shows recreational bicycle trails, it highlights the best routes for everyday commuters. At $3 per copy, it’s a good investment for anyone who is riding a bicycle on a regular basis.

The map also includes some tips about riding in traffic. As bicycles and automobiles share the highway, it’s imperative that each obey traffic laws and respect each other’s right to the roadway.

Green Bay Metro has added bike racks on the buses because more and more riders are using a transportation mix. A commuter can ride to a bus stop, then take a bus to his or her destination. By doing so, the commuter can save money on gasoline and parking fees.

Bicycles aren’t the only alternative form of transportation seeing increased usage.

According to Green Bay Metro transit General Manager Christopher Phelps, adult bus ridership in April was almost 25 percent greater than during the same month a year ago. In fact, all categories of ridership were up and the metro transit system carried 25,741 more passengers this April than the month a year ago.