Bus Riders Find conveniences
By Lori Grier
Post SUff Writer
There used to be s time
when the square waa the
gathering place in uptown
Charlotte. Bus riders, who
traveled near and far,
could be seen anxiously
awaiting the arrival of the
buses from dawn to dusk on
the square.
All that has changed with
the construction of the
Tryon Transit Mall Pro
ject.
Bus riders no longer have
to tackle the cold wind on
the square as they wait for
their bus to puQ to the curb.
College and Church Streets
are the newly
bus routes.
We randomly selected
five bus riders who depend
upon the Charlotte Transit
System to get them to their
jobs. We asked them se
veral rnj—K'i*,. about the
Transit Mall and its effect
on them as bus riders.
Ms. Nerfetti Ellis, 17,
employed atTfcM Grocery,
415 North Caldwell Street,
has been a bus rider for
three yean. Sbq approves
of the Charlotte Transit
System because, “R’»
transportation for those
who don’t have a car or any
. other means of getting
around.”
Ellis supports the Tryon
Transit Mall Project “l
-really think it’s going to
work; out,” she said. Al
though she COUldn’t think of
a disadvantage in having
die Mall, she felt that an
advantage would be a bet
ter looking downtown.
. Hie construction of the
Mall has affected her.
because "I have to make a
10-minute walk from
Church Street to College
Street to catch the bus.”
The two- to three block
walk for a transfer has also
offered her inconvenienc
es. ‘Tve missed the bus
about three^pr four times
already, ana I had to wait
|P or 90 minutes for an
other bus,” she ex
plained.
Ellis makes special
trips every week on Fri
days and Saturdays to shop
downtown, so the dosing of
street level stores has also
affected her shopping.
"Most people shop down
town, and they don’t like
walking from Church at
College Streets to get
downtown. I thirifctlus will
affect the downtown busi
nesses.’’'
. It took her one day to
discover the new bus route
with the help of her mother
who & also a bus rider. It
takes her a longer time to
reach her destination, in
feet, five minutes longer,
and she is displeased with
Ncrfettt sub
the new bus route. “They
(constructors) haven’t got
ten it together yet. It’s
messed up.”
Through «0 of the incon
veniences, Ellis pointed
out, “I think they (City
Council) made an improve
ment for downtown Char
lotte by building a Transit
Mall. Charlotte will look
more like a city now.”
Anthony Wells, 33, em
ployed as a cook at Har
dees, Kings Drive, has
been a bus rider for four or
five years. He approves of
the Charlotte Transit
System, because “It’s the
cheapest, moat economical
way to get around. I don’t
have to worry about perk
ing, especially downtown.”
Wells hasn’t kept up with
the Ttyoo Transit Mall
Project bat to sure that "it
w|ll be a faster way to get
, to your destination.” He
couldn’t think of a dis
advantage in having the
Mall, but be says that its
advantage would be ad
vancement in the city.
The construction of the
. Mall hasn't affected Mm,
because "Now that I know
where the new bus location
to, I’m able to get to work
on time.” The two-to three
block walk for a transfer
hasn't offered him any in
conveniences either. I
usually get off work at 3
p.m.,” be mentioned.
wells makes special trips
every other week on his
payday, Wednesday, to
shop downtown, so the
cloning of'-street level
store* hasn’t affected Ur
shopping. “I also shop at
the Outlet Square Mall.” '
It took' Urn one day to
diecover the new bus route
with the help of a bus
driver. He knows that the
two-to three-minute incon
veniences he now has to
reach his destination is
nothing to get upset about,
and be is pleased with the
new bus route. “I know it
will advance into some
thing better, so I’ll take the
inconveniences for a
while,” said Wells.
Mrs. Alice Reed, 37,
employed at Park view
Restaurant, has been a bus
rider for approximately 18
years. She admits that she
has to approve of the
Charlotte Transit System,
because “It’s my only
means of transportation."
Reed calls the Transit
Mail Project “technolo
gy, and people can’t stand
ih Its way.” She is another
who couldn’t think of any
disadvantages in having
the Mall and adds that its
advantage will hopefully be
quicker transportation tor
bus riders. .
The construction of the
Mall hasn’t affected her,
and she doesn’t mind the
two-to three-block walk far
a transfer “as long as the
buses continue to run and
help me get to my job sa
that I can make money,’’
were her reasons.
Reed shops downtown
every week between her
transfer period, so the
dosing of the street level
stares hasn’t affected her
shopping. “I have to walk
anyway to get to the
stores,” she responded.
It took her three days to
discover the new bus route
with the help of another bus
rider, and it doesn’t take
her any longer to reach her
destination. “The thing is
knowing the bus schedule.
Some don’t know the.schgd
TaajrWell* ‘."S,
The construction of the
Mall and the t#Dr to three
block walk for a transfer
hasn’t affected him
south doesn't shop down
town until the Christmas
holidays, so the closing of
street level stores doesn’t
bother him. When be
shops, It’s between his
transfer period.
He knew about the new
bus route when it first
came about with the help of
-V- -
Sanford 8mlth, Jr.
his father, and it takes him
about the same time to
reach his destination.
Smith is pleased with the
new bus route. "The new
bus route is closer for me to
walk to after I get off my
Job,” he staled*
Mrs. Joan Bullock, 44,
employed as a Child Care
Worker in a private borne,
gave the concluding state
ments. She has been a bus
rider for four years and
approves of the Charlotte
Transit System. “It’s so
dependable and economic
al. 1 own h ear, but I ride
the bus ip work every
day.” S
Bullock is looking for
ward to the completion of
the Tryoo Transit Mall
Project “because of the
bus sbeltors we’ll have on
the square. We need
them.” She makes it unani
mous with thinking of no
disadvantage of having the
Mall, but believes the
shelters will be an advan
tage with more bus riders
and improved bus sched
ules.
The construction of the
Crosland’s Sols Reach NewPeak
Hie John Croaland Com
pany ended 1983 with the
beet single month of sales
in the Ann’s history.
‘‘We sold 104 homes in'
December,” says Joe Bert
ling, corporate sales
manager. “Our people
were fantastic, meeting
with prospects right
through the holidays.”
Hie record breaking
December capped the
year’s salsa at 971 for 198S -
a record breaking year.
That compares to 684 sales
inlfltt.
“Naturally, we are
pleased to be doiig so
well,” says Bcrtling. “I
think our determination to
provide a wide variety at
home styles to choose from
really is a distinct advan
tage and a strong factor in
our sales success. We also
have an incredible team of
sales associates who've
done an oatstanding Job
The John Cropland Com
to noressionai Builder's
1983 report on Housing .
Giants. _I
Ladles' Tops And *
Blouses Or Men's
bacNM^mwttr top*. ptaW of
OKford Houm and mot*.
. Junta and mtMw* Uzm.
jeassonoa odors. 5,M,LXL
59*1
Kleenex Facial
Tissue 1
R*«ulorty 791 175
count 1mm. limit 2. |
Sava Up
T0 22XI ,
IfrRRB
AO* Warren
m Of. Lubricants
30W or 40W mofof oil Of trar»
mlMloo fluid. LlmW 5 quarts.
1®^ Coronet Bath
■ Pock Tissue
42 Ounce
Iftox Punch
••gulorty 1.491 H*crvy duly
laundry detergent. Limit 2.
PftOMOOOd Mi
Thb WMkwid . 3 ', kjfcj „.jcUhtfk
LlmWtj On lom» I __ ^ x,...vl~;_ _B
aaSE
Midi hasn’t affected her,
because “I’ve always had
to walk two or three
blocks to catch the bus for
the No. 3 Seiwyn Avenue,”
she revealed. She doean’t
mind the two- to three
block walk for a transfer.
- Bullock makes special
trips on the .weekends to
shop downtown, so the dos
ing of street level stores
hasn’t affected her shop
ping. “I’ve always shopped
downtown, and I still do.”
It took her on day to
discover the new bus route
with the help of her bus
riders, and it doesn’t take
her long to reach her
destination. Bullock is
pleased with the new bus
route and voiced, “I think
more people should try
riding the buses, and I
think they wiU after- the
compWtoj* the Tryon
___
I.
I:
sr mu*
■SSLAL6EMAfit£.RP.^
w
Call your local John Hancock
agent for:
• Life Insurance Plans
• Health Plans
• Group Insurance Plans
• Estate Planning
• Business Life Insurance Plans
• Mutual Funds*
• Variable Life**
'
::m -
4
fzt'TafA.W •
Warning: The Surgeon General Has Determined
That Cigarette Smoking Is Dangerous to Your Health. J
^. ..‘ilJiLi. ._