Ride with a Guide during Earth Month

If you really want to poke a stick in Big Oil's eye, ride the bus ... or walk or bike. If you really
believe that we must do something to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, ride the bus AND advocate for better bus service.

If you want to try the bus but you've never ridden before and aren't sure how to do it, the La Crosse Area Transit Advocates are offering four Ride with a Guide events for Earth Month. In cooperation with the La Crosse MTU, LATA's Ride with a Guide event will include a pre-ride  information session at the Transit Center with an overview of the system and information about the routes, schedules, real-time bus tracker phone app, and the transfer system. Then, participants and guide will board, pay, and ride one circuit on the bus. When the group returns to the Transit Center, there will be an informal question and answer session. 

The cost to participate is the cost of bus fare: $1.50 for adults, $0.75 for seniors/those with a disability with a Medicare card, $1.25 for youth, age 4 to 17. University students' student IDs are bus passes. Participants will receive a One Ride Free card at the conclusion of the event. PLEASE REGISTER IN ADVANCE!

Dates:

• Saturday, April 2 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Monday, April 11 from 2 to 4 p.m.
• Thursday, April 21 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Saturday, April 30 from 4 to 6 p.m.
  

Sign up (space is limited) at this link OR call 608-315-2693 and leave your name and number for a call back. 

If you believe that there is a climate crisis, changing transportation habits and advocating for better transportation systems is a great way to make a big difference right away. Be or become a visible bus rider. Ride with your child, invite your neighbor to ride with you. Ask your employer to join the MTU Works program (subsidized bus fares), talk to your city council member about getting more service on the routes you use or new service to places the bus doesn't go right now. Join local and regional transit advocacy groups. Talk to others about their transportation choices.

The best transportation is the one that fits the need. Walk when you can comfortably walk. Bike when it's a bit too far for walking. Take the bus when it's a bit too far to bike and the bus goes where you need to go. Remember, you can take your bike on the bus.

We need better bus service to get more people on the bus and out of their greenhouse gas-spewing cars. We need more people riding and advocating for the bus to get better bus service. Here's one opportunity to make and advocate for change. If you need more reasons to take the bus, check out this article from Tree Hugger.