The sun was scorching the metal arch above my head, the blowing wind from passing cars filled the streets. A few minutes passed and a public transport stopped for nearby passengers to be taken where they needed to go.
Stepping onto public transport for the first time can bring a wave of anxiety and a sense of unsafeness for many people. However, spending a few short hours riding the city’s transit lines reveals a contrast between public perception and the reality on the ground: The buses are exceptionally safe.
To decrease the fear of riding the bus for the first time, you can use the app Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority buses uses, which is GoPass. This app connects to the bus routes to help you to get where you are going and it tells you how long it will take for the bus route. Another good way to get bus routes and everything you need to know about the buses is searching ccrta.org for more information. The bus route I took was the bus stop in front of the Fine Arts Building. I had to show the driver my school ID and then I was on my way. The bus was very clean, felt refreshing compared to the outside heat, and people were minding their own business.
For daily commuters, the bus is not dangerous; it is a reliable, safe transportation. Jeva Adame, a fellow Del Mar student, rides the bus because she can not afford a vehicle. “The bus has been reliable for me,” said Adame. “Since I can’t afford to buy a car, much less pay for the gas.” Financial challenges exist for most people who ride the buses.
From my first hand experience, the bus is filled with people who are friendly and talkative, but of course there are a few who keep to themselves.
“I haven’t seen anything crazy happen on the bus, and I’ve seen a lot of crazy,” local resident, Brandon, who did not want to share his last name, said of the culture of the bus. Bus riders are normal people trying to get to where they need to go who either lack personal transportation or money.
But be sure you are paying attention to the bus stops because it is very easy to miss your stop. I was trying to take the bus from Del Mar College to Cole Park, but I was talking to other people and ended up at the bus station on Staples Street. This can happen to anyone who is not paying attention.
A local resident, Gabriel Cervantes, shared a personal perspective. “This bus is reliable, and in my life, there are not a lot of reliable things,” Cervantes said. Public transportation for citizens in Corpus Christi and Del Mar students is more than just transportation, it is a reliable, financial relief people can rely on.
As a Del Mar student, you have many opportunities in your life that you can take advantage of, but there is one thing that is extremely important for those without transportation. You have access to ride the B bus for free and, more importantly, it is safe.
