To the editor:

Frankly, I’m tired of people writing letters to the editor complaining about empty buses. I ride buses frequently and have never been the only person for more than a few minutes. People get on and off buses constantly along their routes. In fact, there is a whole community of bus riders in this town. Some, like me, rely on the bus to get to medical appointments and shopping. Some need it to get to work and/or school. Do you realize how important that is to employers, retailers, and educational institutions? A few people ride the bus at times simply to stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The harsh reality is not everyone in this town can afford a car or is physically able to operate one.

Have you ever noticed how many cars on the road have only one person in them? Have you thought about how much it costs us to build and maintain roads so they can accommodate all those single-user cars? Not to mention what it’s doing to our planet. Think if those people would just get on a bus!

By all means, let’s be creative to attract those who have a choice to ride the bus. Eliminating bus fares is a sensible suggestion. After all, we don’t charge a toll for cars to use city streets. But keep in mind that for Lawrencians who don’t have a choice, the bus system is a lifeline.

Jennifer Kimball Brown,

Lawrence