Baylinc is booming

Monday, April 07, 2008

By VIRGINIA BRIDGES

Staff Reporter

FAIRHOPE -- At 6:50 a.m., Selma Stalhood sat patiently at the wheel of an empty bus idling next to Hardee's. The windshield wipers swiped the moisture dripping from a fog that hung over the city.

"You never know who is going to show," said Stalhood, driver of one of the two Baylinc buses. "I leave at 7 a.m. whether they are here or not."

On Nov. 6, area public transportation agencies started the Monday-through-Friday Baylinc service aimed at connecting Baldwin County's Eastern Shore to Mobile's downtown business district.

In March, passenger trips jumped to 782, a 25 percent increase over February and nearly double the trips in December. If the trend continues, a third bus could be added to the route by October, said Taylor Rider, director of the Baldwin Rural Area Transportation System.

"I was hoping for this success, but in public transit you never know until you try it," Rider said.

As Stalhood waited in her bus on Wednesday morning, a senior vice president for a Mobile bank, a federal prosecutor, and a physical scientist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer began to file in.

"You made it, you made it," Stalhood said as regular rider Michelle Cox, a legal assistant, walked up.

Stalhood closed the door, and eased toward U.S. 98.

A white car pulled up, signaling with a honk. Attorney Richard Maples stepped out of the passenger seat.

"He is lucky," Stalhood said. "It is already 7:01."

On the ride, the banking executive reviewed paperwork. The scientist listened to National Public Radio on headphones. Cox held a tall glass of tea and read a romance novel titled "The Lair of the Lion."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Baer and Maples talked shop and politics, raising their voices as the bus bounced, moaned, and rattled down the highway.

In total, 14 people -- from Magnolia Springs to Bay Minette -- rode Stalhood's bus. Earlier, 11 had ridden the bus that left Hardee's at 6 a.m.

Baylinc riders range from the "homeless to judges," Stalhood said.

Most are people who live on the Eastern Shore and work downtown, but a few catch a Mobile WAVE bus to other areas. Occasionally, people from Mobile take the bus to Baldwin, she said. At Christmas time, panhandlers even rode over to ask for money from drivers near the Eastern Shore Centre, Stalhood said.

"They'd get back on with a wad of money, food and beer in their backpacks," she said.

The advantages of riding the bus include saving money on gas and letting someone else deal with the traffic. Larry Parson, the scientist, said corps employees are reimbursed the money they spend on fares under a program that promotes mass transit.

The disadvantages include walking blocks to the office in bad weather, and not having the car to get lunch or scoot to the post office.

As Stalhood worked the bus through downtown Mobile to Bienville Square, she stopped, when possible, to let passengers off closer to their workplaces.

"In the morning, we got them spoiled," Stalhood said.

On Wednesday morning, all but two of the 14 passengers were heading downtown. Maverick Landry needed to reach ITT Tech on Cottage Hill Road, where he studies computer engineering.

"This is my first day" on the bus, said Landry, 17, who left school in the 10th grade but earned his GED.

Bay Minette roofer John Nicholas caught the bus, hoping to get to a job near Tillman's Corner.

Nicholas said his wife found out about the bus service Tuesday after his truck broke down. "She said, 'I've got a ride for you to work,'" Nicholas said.

When the bus reached Bienville Square about 7:45 a.m., Stalhood sent Nicholas and Landry to Debra Sheperd, a Wave transit supervisor, who sat in a white van near the stop.

Sheperd told the two men to take a 7:50 a.m. bus that stops at a close corner to the WAVE system hub -- The GM&O Building beside Water Street.

Landry said he made it to ITT tech at 8:30 a.m.

"It was easy," he said later.

BAYLINC

Passenger trips have been increasing steadily since the Baylinc service started in November. Passenger trips are defined as a rider taking the bus from one stop to another. Fares range from $1.50 to $3 one-way, depending on departure and destination. Coupons are available that allow riders to pay $10 for tickets worth $12 in fares.

Month -- Number of passenger trips

December -- 394
January -- 475
February -- 628
March -- 782

Source: Baldwin Area Rural Transportation



Baylinc is booming Monday, April 07, 2008 By VIRGINIA BRIDGES Staff Reporter FAIRHOPE -- At 6:50 a.m., Selma Stalhood sat patiently at the wheel of an empty bus idling next to Hardee's. The windshield wipers swiped the moisture dripping from a fog that hung over the city. "You never know who is going to show," said Stalhood, driver of one of the two Baylinc buses. "I leave at 7 a.m. whether they are here or not." On Nov. 6, area public transportation agencies started the Monday-through-Friday Baylinc service aimed at connecting Baldwin County's Eastern Shore to Mobile's downtown business district. In March, passenger trips jumped to 782, a 25 percent increase over February and nearly double the trips in December. If the trend continues, a third bus could be added to the route by October, said Taylor Rider, director of the Baldwin Rural Area Transportation System. "I was hoping for this success, but in public transit you never know until you try it," Rider said. As Stalhood waited in her bus on Wednesday morning, a senior vice president for a Mobile bank, a federal prosecutor, and a physical scientist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer began to file in. "You made it, you made it," Stalhood said as regular rider Michelle Cox, a legal assistant, walked up. Stalhood closed the door, and eased toward U.S. 98. A white car pulled up, signaling with a honk. Attorney Richard Maples stepped out of the passenger seat. "He is lucky," Stalhood said. "It is already 7:01." On the ride, the banking executive reviewed paperwork. The scientist listened to National Public Radio on headphones. Cox held a tall glass of tea and read a romance novel titled "The Lair of the Lion." Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Baer and Maples talked shop and politics, raising their voices as the bus bounced, moaned, and rattled down the highway. In total, 14 people -- from Magnolia Springs to Bay Minette -- rode Stalhood's bus. Earlier, 11 had ridden the bus that left Hardee's at 6 a.m. Baylinc riders range from the "homeless to judges," Stalhood said. Most are people who live on the Eastern Shore and work downtown, but a few catch a Mobile WAVE bus to other areas. Occasionally, people from Mobile take the bus to Baldwin, she said. At Christmas time, panhandlers even rode over to ask for money from drivers near the Eastern Shore Centre, Stalhood said. "They'd get back on with a wad of money, food and beer in their backpacks," she said. The advantages of riding the bus include saving money on gas and letting someone else deal with the traffic. Larry Parson, the scientist, said corps employees are reimbursed the money they spend on fares under a program that promotes mass transit. The disadvantages include walking blocks to the office in bad weather, and not having the car to get lunch or scoot to the post office. As Stalhood worked the bus through downtown Mobile to Bienville Square, she stopped, when possible, to let passengers off closer to their workplaces. "In the morning, we got them spoiled," Stalhood said. On Wednesday morning, all but two of the 14 passengers were heading downtown. Maverick Landry needed to reach ITT Tech on Cottage Hill Road, where he studies computer engineering. "This is my first day" on the bus, said Landry, 17, who left school in the 10th grade but earned his GED. Bay Minette roofer John Nicholas caught the bus, hoping to get to a job near Tillman's Corner. Nicholas said his wife found out about the bus service Tuesday after his truck broke down. "She said, 'I've got a ride for you to work,'" Nicholas said. When the bus reached Bienville Square about 7:45 a.m., Stalhood sent Nicholas and Landry to Debra Sheperd, a Wave transit supervisor, who sat in a white van near the stop. Sheperd told the two men to take a 7:50 a.m. bus that stops at a close corner to the WAVE system hub -- The GM&O Building beside Water Street. Landry said he made it to ITT tech at 8:30 a.m. "It was easy," he said later. BAYLINC Passenger trips have been increasing steadily since the Baylinc service started in November. Passenger trips are defined as a rider taking the bus from one stop to another. Fares range from $1.50 to $3 one-way, depending on departure and destination. Coupons are available that allow riders to pay $10 for tickets worth $12 in fares. Month -- Number of passenger trips December -- 394 January -- 475 February -- 628 March -- 782 Source: Baldwin Area Rural Transportation © 2008 Press-Register © 2008 al.com All Rights Reserved.