“I ride transit from Trinidad to Cal Poly Humboldt as a computer science student because it is the practical choice for my life. Taking the bus helps me reduce my environmental impact, but just as important, it helps me afford school and daily life. I am low income, and with gas prices so high, riding the HTA southbound and Route 20 down the coast is simply the smartest option. Transit is not just convenient for me, it is necessary. Growing up here, I saw how important it was for my father too. He relied on Route 20 to get to work at the local food pantry and to reach the Arcata Transit Center, and that same service continues to matter for my family today.
Without public transit, getting to campus, work, and the places we need to go would be much harder and much more expensive. It gives me independence, saves me money, and makes it possible for me to stay connected to school and my community. Public transit could be even better with more support through more frequent service, better connections, and stronger investment in rural routes that people truly depend on. For students, working families, and low-income riders like me, transit is not a luxury. It is what makes opportunity possible.”
“I am new to riding transit in Humboldt, but recently the cost of gas, desire to support public transportation, and increasing annoyance with entitled drivers has led me to take the bus to and from Eureka more. I have found the ride to be relaxing and enjoyable. It’s a bonus that I feel like I am on an adventure in a big city popping off of a bus and walking a block or two to get to where I need to go (since, until now, I only ever rode transit in large cities)! I’m happy to be reframing my habits and including transit as an option — not for everyday but for now and then. I would love to see the routes expanded to include more direct lines across town in Arcata (like, from Bayside/Sunnybrae to the pool/high school, as well as routes to the marsh and parks), and I’d be thrilled to get a route from Sunny Brae to Old Town, especially for Friday Night Arts Market nights. I’m grateful for the services we do have, and I’m interested in expanding my experiences to bus further north and possibly even down to Ukiah! It’s awesome that the service extends that far.”
“I live in a rural area midway between Redding and Eureka. When I need my vehicle serviced I have to get it towed to Eureka, where it takes more than a day to service it. When the vehicle is fixed, I limp a quarter mile to where Trinity Transit picks me and and takes me to Willow Creek. I transfer there and go to Arcata, where I transfer again and go to Eureka. I then hike six or eight blocks to the shop and get my vehicle, shop for food, then drive home. Total cost of transit is less than $10; sometimes $5. Very convenient for me.”
“In 1994 I was living in Arcata and started commuting to CR by bus when I began working there part-time. I would catch the bus at the HSU library circle and ride through Manila on the way in and then back up 101 on the way home. It was a glorious commute.
In 2004, when I transitioned into a full time position at the school, I moved to Fortuna to cut down on my commuting time. And I continued to ride the bus to and from campus five days a week until retirement in 2016.
In all those years, I was never late for work, finished many books while traveling and, occasionally, even caught up on my sleep.
I recommend the bus to anyone looking for a way to cut back on car travel while enjoying magnificent scenery and a relaxing, comfortable ride.
Thank you, HTA, for over thirty years of great service!”
“…I have not driven since 2010. I actually love walking, taking the bus, and carpooling when possible. It’s difficult to try to explain to many drivers the benefits when they are in the mindset of must need a car. Yes, sometimes you do need a car. And sometimes you actually don’t. Not asking folks to make a 180° change, but more consider trying to incorporate public transit into their routines. Sometimes you will suddenly be without a car or unable to drive due to illness or injury, and taking the bus could be a viable option…
I am also disabled, and it can also be difficult to explain how safe crossings and sidewalks at smart locations are the lifeline for non-drivers, especially those with physical handicaps.
Our elderly and disabled deserve access to efficient transportation. If our plans include folks of ALL abilities and modes of transit, public transportation can serve our community in a positive manner.”
“If I miss my bus, I normally have to wait an additional hour until the next bus comes to get to my destination. I cannot take the bus to work because the whole ride takes an hour if timed correctly, from Fortuna to Eureka and back. I want to take the bus without having to plan to be at my destination hours ahead of time.“
“I have an hour walk to get to and from work when the bus is not available such as Sundays. I also don’t drive or have money for a car so I rely on the bus to see my friends and family as well as get to school and go home. It’s also helpful to get to after school activities such as the local music scene which can run late or start as the bus is ending so a lot of students have to walk at night or pay 50 dollars for an Uber that is in limited supply. I feel very strongly about having a wide range of hours and consistent stops/schedule. Lessening the few hours it is already available would be of great inconvenience to our community and we would be much more disconnected as a whole.”
“I would like benches at all the stops. I’m disabled, and I get tired easily. I know some people argue that it’s a problem when homeless people sit there, but that doesn’t bother me at all. It bothers me more to not have a seat. I don’t look disabled, but when I need a seat, and there is a bench, someone offers it to me if they’re sitting there already. Also, I want homeless people to be able to sit, too.”
“I wish the ETS buses ran later. If you work a 9-5 job, they’re pretty useless for commuting home, and my work goes until 6. If they ran until 8, I might be able to avoid walking a mile after getting off the HTA bus too late to transfer. I also think it would be helpful if all buses ran more frequently, at least from 9 to 5 or during peak commute times. So many times, I’ve wanted to catch a bus, only to realize I could walk to my destination in half the time I would have to spend waiting for the next bus to arrive. I’m lucky that I’m physically able to walk two miles or more. If the schedules of certain routes were adjusted a little bit, there would be more and better opportunities to transfer from one service to another.”
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Too often, the people who make important decisions about transit investments and transit services don’t hear from actual transit riders about what they want and need. Fill out the form below to join the effort to elevate the voices of North Coast transit riders and advocate for improved transit service.