Comments on: Henderson Bridge Alert http://bikeprovidence.org/2007/10/22/henderson-bridge-alert Providence Bicycle Coalition (PBC) Sun, 12 Oct 2008 02:47:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Mark http://bikeprovidence.org/2007/10/22/henderson-bridge-alert#comment-8 Mark Mon, 05 Nov 2007 00:33:43 +0000 http://bikeprovidence.org/2007/10/22/henderson-bridge-alert/#comment-8 Barry, If it's any comfort, I think you will actually find many friends of RIPTA in our midst. I think Don's main point was that, while there are buses servicing these areas, they are often more inconvenient than biking. You might be interested in reading about <a href="http://biketobrown.brown.edu/?p=16" rel="nofollow">my recent experience when I left the bike at home and tried RIPTA instead</a> over on the <a href="http://biketobrown.brown.edu" rel="nofollow">Bike-To-Brown</a> blog. Bottom line, I was surprised to find that the bus was no faster than riding my bike and I have a 16 mile commute. Unfortunately, the bus is stricken by the same traffic snarls as cars. I've started to talk with RIDOT and RIPTA people I know about whether the state has ever considered HOV lanes. So far, what I've discovered is the topic has never been discussed. It's really a shame, because I think the bus would be a lot more attractive, to a great many more people, if it could just cruise past the traffic jams on the highways. We need to give people some sort of incentive to get them out of their cars and this seems like a good way to go about it. Barry,

If it’s any comfort, I think you will actually find many friends of RIPTA in our midst. I think Don’s main point was that, while there are buses servicing these areas, they are often more inconvenient than biking. You might be interested in reading about my recent experience when I left the bike at home and tried RIPTA instead over on the Bike-To-Brown blog. Bottom line, I was surprised to find that the bus was no faster than riding my bike and I have a 16 mile commute. Unfortunately, the bus is stricken by the same traffic snarls as cars. I’ve started to talk with RIDOT and RIPTA people I know about whether the state has ever considered HOV lanes. So far, what I’ve discovered is the topic has never been discussed. It’s really a shame, because I think the bus would be a lot more attractive, to a great many more people, if it could just cruise past the traffic jams on the highways. We need to give people some sort of incentive to get them out of their cars and this seems like a good way to go about it.

]]> By: Barry Schiller http://bikeprovidence.org/2007/10/22/henderson-bridge-alert#comment-7 Barry Schiller Sun, 04 Nov 2007 17:41:00 +0000 http://bikeprovidence.org/2007/10/22/henderson-bridge-alert/#comment-7 While I agree with teh above comment that RIPTA is not a "drop-in replacement," my experience as a former member of their Board is that the bus service is often much better than non-users think it is. For example, for those like me who are trying to get from Providence to the East Bay bike path and are reluctant to bike over the East Side and the Henderson Bridge even before the construction noted above, there ARE helpful buses. For example, the #34 East Providence line leaves Keenedy Plaza 28 times each weekday (and 14 times on Saturday, 11 on Sunday) for a 7 munute ride on I-195 to Warren Avenue and Potters, very near the usual First Street route to the bike path. In addition, the #33 Riverside line goes between Kennedy Plaza and Taunton Avenue and Potters, also via I-195, thus a little further from the Bike Path. This line lalso serves the bike path at Riveerside Square. Also, the #35 Rumford line and #78 Beverage Hill provide fairly frequent service thru the tunnel and over the Henderson Bridge to Waterman Ave in EP. Finally, the frequent #60 Providence-Newport line serves the bike path in Barrington, Warren, and Bristol. I like to take it to Bristol and ride all the way back one-way to Providence. There is no charge for using the bike racks on the buses beyond the regular fare of $1.50. Schedules and more info are available at www.ripta.com Barry. While I agree with teh above comment that RIPTA is not a “drop-in replacement,” my experience as a former member of their Board is that the bus service is often much better than non-users think it is. For example, for those like me who are trying to get from Providence to the East Bay bike path and are reluctant to bike over the East Side and the Henderson Bridge even before the construction noted above, there ARE helpful buses. For example, the #34 East Providence line leaves Keenedy Plaza 28 times each weekday (and 14 times on Saturday, 11 on Sunday) for a 7 munute ride on I-195 to Warren Avenue and Potters, very near the usual First Street route to the bike path. In addition, the #33 Riverside line goes between Kennedy Plaza and Taunton Avenue and Potters, also via I-195, thus a little further from the Bike Path. This line lalso serves the bike path at Riveerside Square. Also, the #35 Rumford line and #78 Beverage Hill provide fairly frequent service thru the tunnel and over the Henderson Bridge to Waterman Ave in EP. Finally, the frequent #60 Providence-Newport line serves the bike path in Barrington, Warren, and Bristol. I like to take it to Bristol and ride all the way back one-way to Providence.
There is no charge for using the bike racks on the buses beyond the regular fare of $1.50. Schedules and more info are available at http://www.ripta.com
Barry.

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