Recently, I was reminded that the last time I rode an IndyGo bus, the Colts were still playing at the RCA Dome and MySpace accounts were still popular.
In the years since, I have heard a variety of stories from frequent IndyGo riders, some that would fit in a relaxing novel, others in a comedy or horror movie.
This week I rode IndyGo’s Route 38 from 38th and Meridian Street, past Lafeyette Square Mall to 38th and Moller Road.
Overall, I was happy with the experience, as the buses came when the printed schedule promised, bus drivers (on both the departure and return trips) were pleasant and the ride was basically peaceful, despite the presence of a few loud, rugged guys in the back using colorful and salty language.
My main warning to new IndyGo riders is to make sure that you leave enough time to use the service. Driving a car on a normal day, you can get from 38th and Meridian to 38th and Moller Road in 10 to 15 minutes. Using IndyGo, the round trip takes almost two hours. It was moments like this when I thought of riders stuck out in the rain and snow waiting for buses.
More importantly, frequent IndyGo passengers were kind enough to share their thoughts about the system.
Paul Musilli enjoys riding IndyGo, and described his experience as “90 percent” positive. He did, however, note that he was once on an aging bus that stalled due to a faulty transmission.
“I’m satisfied overall, but it would be nice to have more routes that go further out,” Musilli said. “Some of the jobs I’ve been applying for are in places like Plainfield.”
Darrell Williams and Durane Barringer, two young men who sometimes use the bus to get downtown or to the mall, were blunt in their assessment.
“Some of the bus drivers are rude,” Williams said, adding expletives that could not be published.
After reminding his friend that bus drivers sometimes get tired and have bad days like everyone else, Barringer offered a complaint of his own.
“Tell IndyGo I said I’ve seen buses that don’t have air in the summer or heat in the winter,” he said.
Frequent passenger Alexis Reed likes using IndyGo and sees it as very convenient.
“Most of the time it’s good,” she said, holding bags at a stop near 38th and Moller.
Reed’s only concern is the unsavory and threatening-looking characters who can sometimes ride on the bus.
“Sometimes you have drunk, nasty and disruptive people come on and make a scene,” she said. “I wish the drivers could stop and put them off.”
After a long day at work at his restaurant job, Chris Stephens was totally positive in describing IndyGo and struggled to find any flaws.
“I just know it’s reliable and gets you where you gotta’ go,” he said. “I have to leave 30 minutes earlier to get to work, but it’s like anything else where you have to follow a schedule. You follow it and you’re cool.”
Recorder staffers give their two cents
Staff Report
This week, a few Recorder staffers decided to take the IndyGo bus and discover what it was truly like. Prior to this experience, Jessica R. Key had never ridden a city bus and Brandon A. Perry hadn’t riddene IndyGo in several years. Staffer Ebony Chappel recently began riding the bus frequently.
Following are their pros and cons of the current IndyGo system.
Jessica R. Key
Pros
– Driving can sometimes be dangerous and stressful, but I didn’t have to worry about it while on the bus.
– I didn’t have to concern myself about gas prices. It seems more economical to pay for a bus ride than gas.
– Riding the bus caused me to walk more, which appealed to my health goals.
Cons
– The wait time for a bus is ridiculously long.
– Not every bus stop has a seat or shelter so people can sit down while they wait or be protected from the elements. Some stops also have garbage, high weeds or other things that make waiting worse.
– Buses are not on time.
Brandon A. Perry
Pros
– Buses I rode arrived on schedule.
– They are usually clean and neat.
– Most drivers were courteous and professional
– IndyGo has different types of convenient passes that fit the various needs of riders.
Cons
– There are lengthy wait times between arrivals on some routes.
– More routes are needed in some parts of city.
– I have been told there are disruptive, rude or threatening passengers who sometimes ride.
– Some of the older buses may have mechanical problems that cause stalling.
Ebony Chappel
Pros
– It’s very cheap. A 31-day pass is $60, that’s only a week of gas for the average car.
– On IndyGo, you can meet new people. There’s always someone to talk to.
Cons
– It is extremely inconvenient. Buses are often late and the routes aren’t well put together. I live 10 minutes away from Castleton Square driving. On the bus, that trip is two hours long.
– Some bus drivers are rude. I’ve been left several times by a driver who was going too fast to see me standing at a stop.
– Some stops are unsafe. There are stops around the city that are near areas with high traffic, high crime and no sidewalks.
