[Mpls] Transit

[acanthus at bitstream.net]

I ride the bus twice a day during the workweek, and, depending on where I need to go, may or may not use it on weekends.

Several years ago, I had a job which involved summarizing data about transit use for a Minnesota company that subsidized bus passes for its employees.  Along with “I need to drop off/pick up my children” and “I live out where the buses don’t run,” another common reason given for not using public transit involved needing transportation during the day for work-related reasons.  Does anyone know of area businesses that provide corporate fleets so people can use public transit and still attend offsite meetings?  I suspect there are some, but probably not enough.

Speaking of the bus system, does anyone have current information as to whether or not there will be a transit strike?  When I first heard about the possibility of a 2004 strike, I was surprised:  if I recall correctly, former governor Arne Carlson signed legislation after the 1995 strike that declared transit drivers are “essential employees” who cannot strike.  Was this revoked?  The 1995 strike was in the fall; transit drivers are going to have an extremely difficult time appealing to the public if they strike during the winter.


Roberta M. Beach
Minneapolis Ward 7, Precinct 5