By Michelle Feaver

“Be Today’s Solution,” a START Bus promotion during the opening week of the winter season, December 4-11, was an effort to increase ridership throughout Teton County and increase the community’s awareness of public transit. The number of people riding the START Bus to Teton Village increased 33 percent compared to the same week in 2003, while ridership in town increased 40 percent. Overall ridership including the town shuttle, Alpine and Teton Village increased an impressive 33 percent for the week. The promotional campaign was wildly successful and affected ridership well beyond the first week. START ended the month of December with an impressive 45 percent increase in total ridership.
     “These kinds of ridership increases in the transit industry are staggering,” said Michael Wackerly, START’s Executive Director. “We’re absolutely ecstatic that our promotional activities could generate so much improvement in ridership.”
     These increased numbers are due in part to a multitude of fun activities and give-a-ways supplied by local businesses. During the week, bus ambassadors rode select routes, handing out prizes including gift certificates, Fall Arts Festival wine, and goody bags. Ambassadors included the mayor, county commissioners, and other local dignitaries. Gift bags contained coffee mugs, the newly redesigned START bus schedule, and other items. Morning bus patrons were greeted with donuts and coffee, while an afternoon barbeque at the Teton Village Road Transit Center supplied hungry travelers and skiers with tasty snacks and refreshments. The week-long event ended Saturday, December 11, with a party at the Mangy Moose, where prizes were raffled off to lucky bus patrons. Among these prizes were airline tickets, overnight stays at valley lodging properties, free meals, and even a Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ski pass.
     “Be Today’s Solution” was the result of a successful partnership between a multitude of community organizations and agencies throughout Jackson Hole. “Be Today’s Solution” successfully raised the community’s awareness of the importance of taking cars off the road, said Michelle Feaver, START Administration and Marketing Assistant. Success relies on effective working relationships between multiple private and public agencies. Without the help of the Jackson Hole

     The Douglas Senior Center Transportation Department has the privilege of transporting some unique and interesting individuals. The bus drivers have expressed that their passengers often make their jobs easier because of the cooperative spirit, patience, and willingness to comply when thing go awry. Whether this is due to bad weather, a mechanical problem, or an extremely busy schedule, the passengers are often heard saying, “Whatever works best for you.”
     As one of the bus divers I appreciate the fine groups of people we transport each day. In September of 2004, the Douglas Senior Center decided to honor one passenger each month. At the first of each month during the lunch hour at the center, the “Passenger of the Month” is announced. The chosen honoree is given a small gift along with a beautiful flower. The group is told about the special attributes the “Passenger of the Month” possesses that entitle him or her to the acknowledgement.
     Being a public transit employee at the Douglas Senior Center is a rewarding and personally fulfilling position. This is largely due to the amazing people we encounter daily. The entire staff at the Douglas Senior Center says “Hats off to our Passengers.”