Thousands of Nashville students take advantage of free MTA rides

tennessean: "Thousands of Metro students are taking advantage of Mayor Karl Dean’s program that allows them to ride city buses for free.

More than 4,600 students - grades 9 through 12 - are riding Metro Transit Authority buses for free just by showing their student IDs. It’s all part of Dean’s StrIDe program."

Confirmed: Sprawl and Bad Transit Increase Unemployment

Metro Jacksonville: "A new study [PDF] from researchers at the U.S. Census Bureau, the Comptroller of the Currency, and Harvard University, however, addresses those shortcomings and confirms the original theory of spatial mismatch: Geographic barriers to employment — sprawl, suburban zoning, poor transit – do indeed depress employment levels."

In Texas, many people are afraid to advocate public transit

Advocate : "Victoria Transit offers fixed bus routes with stops throughout the city, provides a service to help people get to work and has routes for people with disabilities.

Each year, the number of passenger trips increases, and residents have expressed interest in more routes being offered in town and in less highly traveled parts of the city.

With the indication that there is a growing demand for public transportation, should the city of Victoria invest more in public transportation?"

In Alabama, too many of our neighbors can't get where they need to go

arise : ""Our state's current transportation system simply can't be sustained," Forrister said. "Alabama's failure to invest in public transportation means too many of our neighbors can't get where they need to go when they need to get there. That doesn't just hurt them; it hurts our entire state's economy.""

Good #publictransit would save people a lot of time and money in Hernando, Florida

hernando today : "This would also enable elderly citizens to cancel their dependence on driving their own cars, even purchasing automobiles, canceling car insurance, saving hundreds or thousands of dollars, and providing a safer more secure mode of transportation to the drivers and to the community at large. This system would give passengers more independence, freedom and savings. It would enable parents to be less dependent upon providing rides to their children and free up their own time."

Palm Beach County more people want #publictransit instead of more roads

Sun Sentinel: "An increased focus on public transportation is a shift for the county, which has poured much of its investments in the past into building and expanding roads. Part of the shift is because residents are asking for it.

In a county survey asking how residents would rank transportation priorities, some 61 percent included expanding Palm Tran as a top priority. Compare that to 53 percent who included expanding and building new roads as a top priority."

People want frequent buses. Best way? Make them free

Pinellas bus riders to U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor: We want more frequent service! - SaintPetersBlog: "Congress woman Kathy Castor took a ride on a Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority bus this morning to find out what her constituents need in a bus system. During what she calls a transit town hall, Castor spoke with about a half-dozen regular bus riders about their commutes. The most common theme: buses don’t run frequently enough."

Public Transportation Industry EXPO highlights leadership and industry innovations

Your Houston News: ""Public transportation offers more than just mobility, it also shapes communities," continued Melaniphy. “Our industry is about the future, and public transit is a crucial part of the solution to the nation's economic, energy, and environmental challenge.""

Colorado Springs: Rally for public transportation at city hall Oct. 20

gazette : "The Community Transit Coalition is holding a rally and march in support of public transit and to mark an increase in funding in Mayor Steve Bach's 2015 proposed budget. 

The event will take place from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20 at city hall (107 N. Nevada Ave).

The organization will hand out bus passes to attendees of the event such as a full month unlimited pass, multiple 20-punch passes and single day passes.  

The mayor’s proposed budget for 2015 includes a more than $470,000 increase for transit operating and capital improvement project funds. The goal is to increase frequency on one bus route and provide grant match for a transit and pedestrian accessibility on four routes. 

For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/communitytransitcoalition or email communitytransitcoalition@gmail.com."

GOTCHA electric transportation service in Charleston offers free service at colleges

Post and Courier: "Flood said he started GOTCHA Ride in 2009 as a way to offer free, safe and eco-friendly transportation on college campuses using a fleet of electric vehicles that he developed with co-founder Drew Sfugaras. GOTCHA is an acronym for "green-operated-transit carrying humanity around.""