Increased fares and frowns on the faces
Bus fares went up today, putting frowns on the faces of the ridership. There is something that might save money for some and I don’t think its widely known. It is possible to buy an Event Pass for $3.50, which is good for six hours and can be used on express buses without incurring the express surcharge. There is also a Day Pass, costing $6.00, which is good for 24 hours from the time it is issued.
Whenever I have a chance to talk to a passenger who seems to be a candidate for one of these the always say they’ve never heard of them. Don’t know if the price of these has gone up with today’s general fare increase [I have today off] but they would still be a bargain for anyone who rides frequently enough.
Oct 2nd, 2008 at 9:58 am
I ride the bus from Uptown Minneapolis to Bloomington to go to work every day. A coworker of mine drives from Coon Rapids to Bloomington, she asked me what the bus fares were going up to. I explained it to her, I explained to her that (what is it, $2.25 now? I use a GoTo card and don’t even check) will be good for 2.5 hours regardless of what direction you’re going.
Her eyes bugged out and she said “do you realize what a great deal that is over the cost of gas?????”
I don’t think that most people do realize it, but owning and maintaining and gassing up a car would make Metro Transits fares, even the raised ones, just a drop in the bucket.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a pain in the butt when a fare you’re used to budgeting for goes up, but this is just a little perspective that was thrown at me the other day
Oct 2nd, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Do we just ask the driver for an Event Pass before we put in our money? I take a 94 to STPL once a week, and I’m always forgetting to bring extra quarters for the return fare.
Oct 2nd, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Anthony, you first tell the driver that you want an Event Pass. The driver will push a couple of keys on the farebox, you put in your cash and the driver hits another button and you get the transfer. Just a reminder, you must pay with cash. With the fare increase, and assuming one of those trips is during rush hour, two trips on an express bus cost $5.25. That more than pays for the Event Pass.