December 7, 2023 | NEWS | By Sofia Joucovsky
A common concern among Colorado College students, particularly underclassmen, is figuring out transportation to the grocery store, the airport, the doctor’s office and all the necessary places people need to go. In Colorado Springs, these places can feel impossible to get to without a car.
Colorado Springs does have a public transportation system of buses called the Mountain Metro Transit, but both people who use the bus and those who drive them have found public transportation in The Springs lacking.
While it wasn’t a key feature of his campaign, new Mayor Yemi Mobolade answered a questionnaire with Move Colorado, a transportation advocacy group in The Springs. He told Move Colorado, “While Colorado Springs is a ‘car-dependent’ city, there is increasing demand for public transportation to help meet the needs and demands of our growing community.”
Mobolade mentioned implementing ConnectCOS, a long-term transportation plan passed by city council in March, as a key priority.
The plan makes around 160 possible transportation recommendations for the next 20 years. On improving Mountain Metro, the plan suggests focusing on routes people use to get to work and school and enhancing bus transit overall to provide faster service.
In Mobolade’s speeches and on his campaign website, however, there is almost no mention of expanding the Mountain Metro System. There has not been any press or First 100 Days updates about progress with public transportation.
Elaine Sheridan, the Mountain Metro system’s communications specialist, says there are 270 contracted employees driving and maintaining the buses and 33 city employees working for the transit system. She says the Metro system has programs to use such as “MyNextBus” and online maps, to make navigating the bus system easier.
According to Sheridan, “[Mountain Metro] typically undergoes two service changes per year. Leading up to and during this process, staff review metrics such as the passenger counts, on-time performance, customer requests [and more] to develop a proposal for the public’s input. Specific plans for next years’ service changes have not been determined.”
She says they also partner with Pikes Peak State College, Colorado Springs School District 11 and Colorado College so students can ride with a special pass or their school ID cards.
Despite being used by students, the bus system cannot guarantee a safe trip. For both passengers and drivers, situations such as unruly members of the public, traffic and poor road conditions can impact the buses.
According to the American Public Transportation Association, public transportation is, “a lifeline for millions of Americans connecting them to people, places and possibilities. It also builds thriving communities, creates jobs, eases traffic congestion and promotes a cleaner environment.”
Currently, Colorado Springs relies on the Mountain Metro System as its sole bussing system with 40 routes scattered throughout the city. Unfortunately, many people say it’s still not enough.
Gerald Johnson, a bus operator for the metro, who has been driving for a year, said he remains pretty busy, but it’s on and off. He has 25-30 people on a given day use the metro. He said that Colorado Springs should add some more routes and cheaper fares for customers.
Currently, fares are $1.76 for adults, and $0.85 for those 18 and under. The nearest Metro station is the Downtown Station at the intersection between Kiowa Street and Nevada Ave.
Ron, the manager of the Downtown Station, spoke about his thoughts on the bus system. He said he stays busy, “all the time.”
“The city keeps growing and we need to expand or accommodate…and [we should expand] to the Northeast.”
Ron said he wasn’t sure how the Metro system could be better. He acknowledged that it has its flaws, but said, “ every city has its flaws [because the bus system] never has enough drivers or vehicles.”
Still, Ron says the Mountain Metro system is a great way to get around town.
Brittany Davenport, a Colorado Springs resident of 13 years spoke about her experience using the bus system. “It’s cheap. I don’t have a license, so it’s easy for me to use,” Davenport said.
Davenport had a few suggestions to make riding the buses easier for her, including more awnings over the benches, so that when it’s hot, cold or raining, it’s more sheltered. She also discussed how she needs to often walk for longer than she’d like to get to a bus stop. She has arthritis and planter fasciitis, so it’s hard for her to walk those distances in between bus stops.
Public transportation doesn’t just affect overall economic outcomes, as a lack of access to it disproportionately affects minority groups.
Health Affairs, a leading health policy journal says, “lack of access to public transportation disproportionately harms those who rely on it, including older adults, individuals with disabilities, and commuters.” The journal says that young adults, women and Black and low-income workers over overrepresented among commuters, which means that they are disproportionately affected by inefficacies in the transit system.
The bus system, Davenport said, isn’t particularly accommodating to people with disabilities. She said a solution for that would simply be, “more buses for people with disabilities”.
She also said she doesn’t feel safe taking the buses all the time.
“Last week when I rode the bus, there was a man who got on and hogged a loogie and spat on the chair right in front of me, and spat again on a chair next to him and was staring right through me,” she said. “A few other times I’ve been hit on, and it’s been weird at times.”
Davenport said it’s a different experience for men than for women.
Layla, a 16-year-old girl who attends Palmer High School in Downtown Colorado Springs agreed with that sentiment. She has taken the bus to get to school, work and home when friends and family can’t drive her and said she has had a myriad of uncomfortable experiences on the bus.
At all times, there is a police officer at the Downtown Bus Terminal. Bert, who just started doing dayshifts there, discussed maintaining a safe environment at the station. He said he, personally, feels safe working at the bus station.
“Whatever issues people bring, it’s not that deep,” he said. Bert also said he believes customers feel safe, as well. He does not utilize the Mountain Metro System because he has a car and says it’s easier to navigate the city by car than the buses.
Layla said she’s been, “literally catcalled, like somebody puts their fingers towards me like I’m a cat.” Layla mentioned that although many of the people who take the bus have mental health or drug abuse problems, “it’s not an excuse.” She is currently working on getting her driver’s license so she does not have to take the bus anymore.