Fall 2017 SAVI Online Magazine Emagazine Fall 2017 FINAL | Página 8

“There are jobs out there without
people, and there are people
without jobs. And transit is really
the connector between those
two. I don’t think folks who have
other means really appreciate how
valuable it is to those of limited
means in finding work and making
an income and gaining financial
stability.”
Polis’ report showed that half
of all riders fall into a group that is
employed full time and uses the bus
daily to get to work. One of six riders
in this group said that their trips to
and from work would not be possible
if the bus were not available.
Public transit has benefits, too,
that go beyond strictly economic
factors, Taylor says. It plays a vital
role in allowing people to get to
medical appointments, or buy
groceries, or “just to see each other
and have a social life.”
For Denise Smith, who lives on
the near-west side and is a small-
business owner, IndyGo allows her to
keep up a busy schedule of volunteer
work at organizations across the city.
She sold her car nearly two years
ago, and now she walks or rides her
bike when she doesn’t take the bus.
Or she combines those options.
“I’ll walk a mile or two to catch
the bus, and then take it where I’m
going,” she says. “It’s less stressful
not having a car—I don’t have to
worry about looking for a place to
park, or what that funny sound is in
my car. And I’m healthier and have
lost a lot of weight.”
In light of her own experience,
Smith believes that public transit can
be a big win-win. Increasing people’s
awareness promises benefits for
both riders and local nonprofits,
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especially given the improvements
being phased in over the next
few years.
“People think taking the bus is
for going to school and going to
work,” she says. “They don’t think
about it for going other places, like
for volunteering. I think organizations
Public transit offers an affordable alternative for
getting around town for not only work or school, but
for medical appointments, volunteering, and social
activities. IndyGo’s improvements and expansion
plans are expected to increase the attractiveness and
viability of use, putting Indy more in line with other
cities regarding options that reduce traffic congestion.