Bus Riders Plead with Miami-Dade County Officials
Complaints Mount Over "Better Bus Network" Initiative
Bus riders in Miami-Dade County are speaking out against a plan aimed at making transportation easier for them, but has instead made it worse. Transit workers are backing their complaints, saying the new system is not working and was put in place by people who don’t take the bus.
Riders Share Their Frustrations
Faith Davis, a bus rider, shared her experience with 7 Investigates. "I have to take three buses, get up like two hours extra every day just to make sure I get to work on time. I have to carry my mace with me, you know, just to make sure that, you know, I don’t get hurt." Davis used to have to wake up at 7 a.m. before Miami-Dade County eliminated hundreds of bus stops in November as part of the "Better Bus Network" initiative.
Maurice Byrd, another bus rider, added, "I gotta get up an hour earlier now to go to work because the buses is much crowded and it ain’t too much room on the buses."
Transit Workers Agree
The Transport Workers Union, which represents bus drivers, agrees with riders. Union President Jeffrey Mitchell said, "It is kind of heartbreaking. The people that made the suggestions, you know, wasn’t invested in the community. Listen, who put this together?"
County Admits Problems, Promises Changes
Miami-Dade Transit acknowledged the complaints and said it’s aware of the frustration. Linda Morris, a representative from Miami-Dade Transit, said, "We hear you, I know it’s been very frustrating. There’s obviously areas where we didn’t do a good job, and we acknowledge that."
The county is working to address the issues and has announced that 25 of the 70 routes will be getting schedule changes starting next month, which means some stops that were removed will be returning.
Conclusion
The "Better Bus Network" initiative was intended to improve transportation for bus riders in Miami-Dade County, but it has instead caused frustration and inconvenience. Riders are pleading with county officials to make changes to the system, and transit workers are backing their complaints. The county has acknowledged the problems and is working to address them, including reinstating some bus stops.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the "Better Bus Network" initiative?
A: The "Better Bus Network" initiative is a plan aimed at improving transportation for bus riders in Miami-Dade County.
Q: Why did the county eliminate hundreds of bus stops?
A: The county eliminated hundreds of bus stops as part of the "Better Bus Network" initiative, claiming it would improve efficiency and reduce congestion.
Q: Why are riders complaining about the new system?
A: Riders are complaining that the new system has made their commute worse, with longer wait times and reduced bus capacity.
Q: What is the Transport Workers Union saying about the new system?
A: The Transport Workers Union, which represents bus drivers, agrees with riders that the new system is not working and was put in place by people who don’t take the bus.
Q: What changes is the county making to the system?
A: The county is reinstating some bus stops and making schedule changes to 25 of the 70 routes starting next month.
