Kristal's blog this morning about the train stop by the mall from which You Can't Get There From Here brought to mind how much perception affects transportation issues. People love to ride a trolley, but don't want to ride a bus. It's ok to commute by train, but not by bus. When you're visiting a city in Europe it's ok to walk to blocks to the restaurant, but in America we want to drive (or take a cab). Funny.
The Looper Trolley here in downtown St. Petersburg It runs every 15 minutes daily from 10 am to 5 pm, and on Fridays and Saturdays it runs every 20 minutes from 5 pm to 11 pm. The fare is 25 cents, 10 cents for seniors. From the trolley you can stop at Baywalk for shopping, and reach a hotels, restaurants, museums, the post office, Publix grocery store, the USF campus - you can be a block from the hospitals, and you can connect with a trolley that takes you to the beach, and at the beach you can connect to a trolley that runs all along the beaches, from Pass-A-Grille to Clearwater Beach (additional charges for the beach runs). You can take it to the Arts Gallery Nights or the weekly Farmers Market. It even goes right by my office, though I'd need to walk across the street to get to its stop at BayWalk.
Or - you can walk.
Sharon..... I just read and made a semi long comment on Kristal Kraft's blog. You are so right thouugh, about buses vs other forms of transportations. I just think it's the mind set that buses are for those that don't have cars or can't afford this. But overall....it just depends on where you want to go and how. And if it's convenient.
I live 15 to 20 minutes from downtown Philly. I also have a high-speedline right down the street from me. (like a subway) I sometimes use this because it's easier so I don't have to worry about parking in the city. Sure, I might have to take a taxi when in the city then... a few more dollars, but it's easier. And you know what.... there are buses running all over the place. But it's quicker to take a taxi. Good post though....