Mass Transit magazine features agency profiles, industry trends, management tips and new product information.
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4 | Mass Transit | MassTransitmag.com | FEBRUARY 2015 EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK FOLLOW US ON Publisher John Hollenhorst (800) 547-7377 Ext. 1650 john.hollenhorst@ MassTransitmag.com EDITORIAL Editor Leah Harnack (262) 391-8770 leah.harnack@ MassTransitmag.com Assistant Editor Joe Petrie (800) 547-7377 Ext. 1399 joe.petrie@ MassTransitmag.com SALES National Accounts Manager Sara-Emily Lange (800) 547-7377 Ext. 1344 slange@ MassTransitmag.com Advertising Accounts Leanne Zuehlke Manager (800) 547-7377 Ext. 1638 Leanne.Zuehlke@ MassTransitmag.com List Rentals Elizabeth Jackson (847) 492-1350 Ext. 18 ejackson@meritdirect.com PRODUCTION Production Services Rep. Barb Evenson Art Director Erin Brown CIRCULATION Circulation Manager Debbie Dumke CYGNUS BUSINESS MEDIA CEO Paul Bonaiuto President Chris Ferrell CFO Ed Tearman VP Human Resources Ed Wood VP Production Operations Curt Pordes Executive Vice President Gloria Cosby Vice President, Marketing Gerry Whitty Group Publisher Larry Greenberger Director of Digital Business Development Lester Craft Published by Cygnus Business Media‚ 1233 Janesville Ave.‚ P.O. Box 803‚ Fort Atkinson‚ WI 53538-0803‚ (920) 563-6388. For change of address or subscription information: Toll Free: 877-382-9187, Local: 847-559-7598, Email: circ.masstransit@omeda.com. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means‚ electronic or mechanical‚ including photocopy‚ recording or any information storage or retrieval system‚ without written per- mission from the publisher. Published and copy- righted 2015 by Cygnus Business Media. Mass Transit (USPS 017-230; ISSN 0364-3484 print; ISSN 2150-413x online) (Volume XLI ‚ No. 1) issued 8 times a year (February‚ March, April/May, June, July/August, September/October‚ November and December/January) by Cygnus Business Media‚ 1233 Janesville Ave.‚ Fort Atkinson‚ WI 53538. Periodicals postage paid at Fort Atkinson‚ WI and additional mailing offices. Subscription rates: $35/ year in US; $60/year in Canada; $85/year (airmail) for all other countries. Address all subscription cor- respondence to MASS TRANSIT‚ Cygnus Business Media, P.O. Box 3257, Northbrook, IL 60065-3257. Canada Post PM40612608. Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: Mass Transit, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2. Canadian GST #842773848. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to MASS TRANSIT‚ Cygnus Business Media, P.O. Box 3257, Northbrook, IL 60065-3257. y now you've probably read about or even seen the video coverage of Eclipse, the black lab in Seattle that occasionally rides the bus by herself to the dog park. If you haven't, it's pretty adorable and you should take a moment. www.MassTransitmag.com/11804393. I know plenty of people that won't take the bus, even to any one of our many lakefront summer festivals because "it's just easier to drive." Sometimes, sure, that may be the case, but if you're going to Summerfest from anywhere in Southeastern Wisconsin, there are countless shuttles operated by Milwaukee County Transit System and other providers going directly from park-and-rides to the front gate of the festival. It couldn't be easier. And services like that are a great introduction for someone that's never ridden before. "Travel season" for the MT team starts up about now and that means riding unfamiliar systems in unfamiliar cities so I ofen understand the apprehension about transit I hear from people. People visiting a city ofen don't have a car and are ideal can- didates to ride transit but there's nothing more intimidating than feeling completely lost in a city. I read about your systems every day, I've watched many of your "how-to" videos and read your guides on your blogs. I've traveled on a variety of systems, becoming familiar with diferent types of maps, fare policies, vehicles, procedures. So when I have a hard time in an unfamiliar city or am struggling, I wonder what visitors that have no familiarity with transit must think. My two biggest obstacles are that I'm directionally challenged and I have the patience of a 3-year-old. Tings like reading zone charts to calculate a fare won't happen. I look for a smart card I can just overfll or a day pass to buy. Waiting at a stop not knowing when it's coming or if it's coming, serious annoyance. And, the risk of getting on a train or bus going in the wrong direction, is high with me. It has been done. More than once. I don't know how many of the buses have it, but in Las Vegas, one of the buses I rode to the convention center had digital signage that listed of the streets you were passing and then ones coming up. Greatest thing ever for those of us not from the city and not having any idea when our stop is just by looking out the window. Mobile apps. How beautiful is it that I can be ready before I even get to the city without planning out where they sell smart cards, if they have them, how much will it will be, and whether or not I need to carry actual cash to pay for it. So far, one account of fare evasion. Sorry SEPTA, I'm used to Amtrak where you can use plastic on board. Luckily he was very nice as he issued me the note to mail in my fare with the warning there is a fne for repeat ofenders. Riding the bus may sometimes not be as easy as Eclipse makes it look, but with all of the tools agencies are using today, it's getting darn close. No, Not Quite That Easy Technology is closer to making the obstacles to riding transit a thing of the past. Leah Harnack, Editor B ECLIPSE OCCASIONALLY rides the bus solo to get to the dog park, where her owner meets up with her. KOMO-TV