Buses in Berkeley?
L A Wood, East Bay Express, June 7, 1996
Jennifer Kahn's story "Berkeley's Electric Buses
May Be Going Nowhere" (Cityside, May 31), steers clear of the most
important issue facing the pilot program's future. Her story short-circuits
when it fai1s to explain why electric buses continue to remain empty
in Berkeley. Perhaps I can offer your readers some insight into this
issue.
Two
years ago, the Berkeley Electric Shuttle Transit (BEST) began operations
in West Berkeley, targeting employees of local businesses. Amazingly,
the city of Berkeley, one of West Berkeley' largest emp1oyers, never
thought to include its own 300 employees working at the Corporation
Yard and at the Second Street Transfer Station.
Last year. I requested a city evaluation of the
possibility of linking these two public works facilities to the electric
bus route and BART. The city of Berkeley stated that it wouldn't be
feasible for these city employees to participate, whether commuting
or at work. The city, like many other businesses, has simply refused
to get on board. It's not hard to see why BEST ridership remains low.