Just hop on the bus, Gus.

I ride the bus to City Hall. First and foremost because it's convenient. It picks me up a block from my house and drops me off at 12th & Oak. Practically door to door service! I arrive at my committee meetings completely relaxed, having spent my commute reading the newspaper or chatting with a fellow commuter instead of dodging traffic and hunting for that elusive "rock star" parking spot. Sadly, most people still consider it a novelty. The first few meetings I attended I was consistently asked if I needed my parking ticket validated. I would always respond good naturedly that I didn't need parking validation but I would take a transfer pass if anybody had one. Most people just can't comprehend that a "suit and tie" would ride the bus. The MAX is not Bus Rapid Transit as some would have you believe, but it is a very good express bus if you need to travel the Main St. corridor. I have found that I've become dependent on it to get downtown. If I need to be anywhere near the MAX route I hesitate before grabbing my car keys. Once you experience the luxury of being "chauffered" to your destination it's hard to go back to the plebian world of driving your own vehicle. I know that transit isn't for everyone. The mid-day 30 minute headways of the MAX are a little too long for some people. I also know that some people need their vehicles during the day. But if every downtown worker used the bus just once a week... I'll make another campaign promise on top of my "I promise not to make any ridiculous promises". I may not ride the MAX every time I go to City Hall, but I'll ride it whenever I can. You want to talk to your councilman? Catch me on the bus. You'll have a captive audience.