This past weekend I took the bus from SE Portland to the PSU farmer’s market. I, like many, own a car and use it regularly. But with the price and hassle of parking on a Saturday downtown and the incentive of doing a small act for my community, I hopped on the 19 towards town center.   

When I’m driving, I’m in my own world—stressed out about missing a turn, getting irritated with other drivers, and generally overstimulating myself with way too much going on. On the bus, I was met with calm and a different vantage of my city. I noticed details I normally miss in the car: The burnside bridge is beautiful when you have the time to look around. The houseless people on West Burnside have been swept – where will they sleep tonight?  The Chinatown archway is under construction. I noticed the people around me. The driver who gave me a day pass for the price of a single use ticket. The man behind me ranting about capitalism to no one in particular. The student with two times too big a backpack, clearly in a rush.  We were all in this same space, connected by our need for transport.  

What I was expecting to be an annoying, but “good-deed” trip took less time than estimated in google maps – a total surprise. If I had driven, it would have taken longer to find parking. I wasn’t adding to traffic or emissions that day. A small but meaningful act for myself. But most importantly, I was reminded of how we can only do so much good alone. Together, as a business and community, we are more efficient, less corrosive to our home, and more open to people who are different from us.  

So why is Access Tech talking about a bus ride? Because many of our clients are transit directors and managers – overseeing the implementation of public transit across the greater NW region. And we get to be a part of the implementation and management of smoothing out operations. A cog in the well-oiled machine of transportation. Every bus ride is more than just a trip from point A to point B—it reflects the technology, coordination, and dedication behind the scenes. When public transit thrives, so do the communities it serves. If you’re looking for a partner to help strengthen your transit operations, let’s connect.