By foot, bike or bus
The benefits of using transportation alternatives for commuting in Ventura County
By Bill Lascher 05/17/2007
I am a lucky man. I admit it.
I’m privileged to live about three and a half blocks away from my office.
There is really nothing like walking to and from work. After nearly two years commuting to Santa Barbara every single day I see first hand how much lower my stress level is, and, of course, how much less money I’m spending on gasoline.
I realize that not everyone has this opportunity. Many people do not work within walking — or even biking — distance from their homes. Walking may not be practical for others.
Mass transit, however, is practical, and may soon become an even more attractive option. After this column’s deadline, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors was scheduled May 15 to decide whether to adopt a plan to help county employees cover the cost of purchasing passes on public transit systems.
Venturans have more mass transit options available to them than they may realize.
One great option is the Ventura Intercity Service Transit Authority, or VISTA, bus service. VISTA connects riders to locations throughout the county and also has routes to Carpinteria, Santa Barbara and Goleta.
At times at my previous job when my car was unavailable or I knew I didn’t need it I rode VISTA and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Not only was it relaxing not to worry about driving, but the opportunity to gaze out at the islands or finish a last minute assignment was a welcome one, and for $2 each way, I was saving money, too.
So, it is encouraging to see that some local officials are trying to make it easier for others to ride VISTA and other systems.
The plan would let county employees set aside a portion of their paychecks to pay for commuting on busses and trains. Money set aside as part of the Transportation Benefit Reimbursement Program would not be taxed, and will be used kept in an electronic account accessible with “electronic purse” smart cards.
Instead of fumbling with cash at each bus stop, riders just swipe the card and the price of the ride is deducted. The Ventura County Transportation Commission, which oversees the various transit systems throughout the county, currently issues a “GoVentura” card that lets riders easily transfer from one system to another, such as from the VISTA to one of the county’s many local bus services. Riders who use the cards, which are prepaid, also get a 10 percent break on the fare.
More importantly, according to the summary of the proposed transit reimbursement program, participating county employees could save more than $400 in annual commuting costs.
Hopefully, by the time this edition of the Reporter goes to press, the board will have approved this program. If it does, it may set an example other employers could follow in Ventura County.
Frankly, the savings shouldn’t be necessary to convince commuters of the benefits mass transit brings to their pocketbooks and the environment. But if it helps entice new riders it could bring a renewed emphasis to strengthening the county’s transit system.
DIGG | del.icio.us | REDDIT