A man who looked to be no older than 30 asked local bus driver Bill McCrea how old he needed to be to ride. McCrea told him there?s no age requirement to ride the Carroll Area Transit Service.
“Oh, I thought you had to be 65 and retired,” the man replied.
That?s one of many misconceptions Doug Howard plans to change now that he?s executive director of the service. He?s launched an “Anyone can ride” marketing campaign and hopes to coordinate with businesses and colleges to expand the bus service.
“It?s not readily known that we even have this transit system,” Howard said.
McCrea said about 25 passengers a day board his 12-seat bus, and most are senior citizens. When he pulled up to Shoppers Food Warehouse in Westminster Wednesday morning, he jumped out and circled the front of the bus, taking Joanne Reynolds?s arm and bags to help her aboard.
Reynolds, 73, said she doesn?t drive anymore and depends on the transit system to get to the doctor?s office or to make her weekly trip to the grocery store.
“It?s a very good system,” Reynolds said. “I hope they never get [mass] public transportation here, or I?m leaving.”
McCrae?s next client waited in the Town Mall of Westminster. A few minutes after he stopped outside, Pam Martin, 64, began making her way out. McCrae helped her fold up her walker, get into her seat and buckle up.
“You pick up some of these people day in and day out, and you get involved in their lives,” McCrea said. “We pick up anybody, any place. We?ll take you anywhere in Carroll County.”
Howard is holding a summit Friday to hear what people want out of the transit system and to coordinate with businesses. But, at least for now, the system will not expand into Baltimore City or other counties, Howard said. Carroll, he said, offers plenty of opportunities to increase ridership.
“They?re having a summit Friday,” Reynolds said as she stepped off the bus. “I?d like to go because I?d like to hear what they have to say. They?re talking about expanding the service.”
