TAKE ACTION

Now that RVA Transit Week is over, it’s, sadly, time to move on. Luckily we can move right on to the Pulse Pedal Pursuit! Our friends at Sports Backers are hosting a walking, biking, and public transit scavenger hunt along the Pulse corridor on July 21st. Put together a team (or go solo) and try to score points by visiting as many location as you can on foot, RVA Bike Share, or the Pulse. Top teams will win prizes, but everyone gets a free GRTC 1-day pass and a 30-day membership to RVA Bike Share.

You can register here, and, if you’re feeling generous, chip in a couple of bucks to the event’s charity partner...RVA Rapid Transit! Looking forward to seeing y’all out there—should be a blast.

AROUND THE REGION

Alright, the week of free rides has ended. Now, if you want to ride the bus you’ll need to pay the fare. Here are some things to know:

• A single ride cost $1.50, and, if you need to transfer to another bus, $1.75 for a One Ride Plus pass.
• Since the new bus network is designed for easy transfers between frequent routes, it’s often best just to buy a $3.50 1-day pass and then ride as much as you want. You can do this at places like Kroger, CVS, and Walgreens. Here’s a full list of where to get passes.
• If you’re not trying to add another errand to your life, you can use the new mobile payment app to buy your pass.
• Once you board the bus just tap your pass to the top of the fare box or scan the QR code in the mobile app, and you’re good to go.
• Finally, since the Pulse requires off-board fare payment (which speeds up boarding) validating your pass works a bit differently. You can watch this video from GRTC which explains it all.

On opening week, ridership on the Pulse blew projections out of the water, crushing the goal of 3,500 riders per day. Over the first three days, our new BRT saw ridership numbers easily double that goal (8,669; 7,968; and 7,877). We’ll see how that changes this coming week with the end of free fares and a mid-week holiday, but these early numbers are very impressive.

ELSEWHERE

Now that Richmond has a BRT and a redesigned bus network, what’s next? The answer: More frequent bus service to more places, connecting folks to jobs. This story about a Dallas man with a daily commute of three hours (each way!) is something folks in Richmond are dealing with today—even after our major transit upgrade.

Ann Arbor has seen their ridership increase by about 5% by spending more money (via a regional transit tax) on regular ol’ bus service—expanding routes, improving frequency, and extending hours. It’s definitely not rocket science, but it does take more money.

If you'd like to support RVA Rapid Transit's work to bring a truly regional transit system to Richmond, consider making a tax-deductible donation.

—Ross Catrow