Public Transporation Benefits Individuals and Families
In community after community, public transportation is making a real difference in the daily lives of individuals and households. Recent ridership figures indicate that public transportation is critical for many Americans.

 

Since gas prices in Bend reached the $4 per gallon mark, public transportation in Bend has increased significantly. 

Public Transportation Benefits The Bend Community and Local Government
Residents and community leaders are recognizing that fully functional, high-capacity, region-wide public transportation services are essential to keep America moving forward.

Public Transportation Connects and Extends Transportation Networks
The most successful public transportation systems are those that provide easy-access links within and among all forms of modern travel—highway, air, water, bus and train. Across the U.S., multimodal transit systems are reaching greater numbers of people, providing travelers with optimum choices.  The expanded BAT system that will result from a "YES" vote on measure will achieve this connection for Bend.

Public Transportation Is Critical For Bend Residents
The people of Bend need public transportation.  Public transportation supplies an essential service for Bend’s elderly population, provides independence for persons with disabilities in our community, expands employment opportunities for non-drivers, and offers another transportation choice to Bend’s youth and area students.  

Elderly and Persons With Disabilities

Public transportation enables the elderly to go to the doctor, senior center, church, bank, and to shopping centers.  This transportation is critical to the well-being of our elderly community.  Additionally, persons with disabilities rely on public transportation to lead a full and independent life by going to work, church and out into the community.

The following argument was submitted for publication in the General Election 2008 Voters Pamphlet

 

 

In Support of Measure 9-60

 

As people of faith, we encourage your vote in favor of Ballot Measure 9-60 the Bend Area Transportation District.

 

While an expanded local public transportation system will benefit both the environment and our economy, we believe the most important benefit is the positive impact it has on the many people that have come to depend on public transit to improve their lives.  It helps us help ourselves.

 

So we ask you to:

 

Vote YES for persons who cannot afford an automobile or the gas for their car and use Bend Area Transit (BAT) to get to and from work.

 

Vote YES for people who ride out of choice.

 

Vote YES for people with disabilities for whom public transit provides the freedom to get around our community.

 

Vote YES for seniors who use public transit to get to the doctor, grocery store or places of worship.

 

Vote YES for students who use this alternative means of transportation.

 

Vote YES for shelter residents who use BAT to get to and from job interviews in an effort to improve their lives.

 

An expanded public transit system with more hours of operation and additional routes is about making Bend a better place for all.  Vote YES for the common good.   Let’s keep BAT rolling, for roughly the price of a tank of gas!

 

For more information please go to:  www.citizensforbendareatransit.org

 

Submitted by Central Oregon Interfaith Action for Justice