Indianapolis residents have a complicated relationship with public transit. Some see it as a valued part of everyday life, some see it as a necessary nuisance, and some never give it a second thought.
“I definitely think it could be better, but I know that they are taking steps to improve it and modernize it and improve accesses to more people,” said local resident Brian Brinda.
Whatever their feelings, most people who use IndyGo have a story. IndyGo shared some of those stories when it partnered with the 23rd annual Sprit and Place Festival to host the “Stories of Indianapolis Transit” event. “Stories of Indianapolis Transit” gave Indianapolis residents a chance to connect with IndyGo by listening to stories of regular riders as well as learning about plans for the new rapid transit lines.
Allison Potteiger, a communication specialist for IndyGo, MaryAnna Ferris, community outreach manager of Indy Reads, and Mark Latta, a writing professor at Marian University, greeted passengers and then took them on a bus ride to the transit center.
Along the way, the hosts read stories from real users of Indianapolis transit. Some stories were practical such as students sharing the advantages of buses. Some were strange such as a humorous sexually-themed conversation between two strangers. Some were powerful such as how one parent shared children’s books with a complete stranger.
Between stories, Potteiger shared the upcoming Marion County Transit Plan slated to begin as early as next year. Some of the changes will be routine such as updates to current bus routes, installation of more bus stops and quicker pick up times. Other changes are larger such as three bus-exclusive lanes in high traffic areas. These rapid transit lanes will be called the red, blue and purple lines. In addition, IndyGo will be more technologically advanced with features such as Wi-Fi and phone chargers.
While not an advertisement for the Marion County Transit Plan, the event was a fun way to introduce people to public transit as many residents at “Stories of Indianapolis Transit” had little to no public transit experience.
“I think that there are a lot of criticisms with the transit system in Indianapolis, and one of the things that I noticed is that a lot of people who were criticizing the transportation system never actually ridden it,” Latta said. “Sure, this may sound overly idealistic, but I believe our current cultural and social divides wouldn’t be as deep or as entrenched if more people got on the bus and learned how to become comfortable in the presence of strangers. Systems become stronger when more people participate in them. Society becomes stronger when there’s a space for everyone to participate. Public transit provides opportunities for that.”
Contact staff writer Ben Lashar at 317-762-7848. Follow him on Twitter @BenjaminLashar
Indygo event
