It will only cost you a quarter to ride the bus on Friday, May 16, the last day of this year’s Strive Not to Drive effort to encourage people to stash their cars, trucks and SUVs and find alternate modes of transportation
With gas prices edging ever closer to $4 a gallon, the 25-cent fare is set to encourage people to use the Asheville Transit System and mark Strive Not to Drive week. Regular bus fare is $1. The promotion is timed with the kick-off of Asheville’s Downtown After 5 party, which features the Firecracker Jazz Band and Mamadou Diabate Ensemble starting at 5 p.m. on Lexington Avenue.
There’s an added bonus: Bus riders on Friday will receive a little gift to welcome them — a special wallet to hold a bus pass.
Here’s more information from the city about Strive Not to Drive and the Asheville bus system:
ABOUT THE ASHEVILLE TRANSIT SYSTEM: Asheville Transit provides bus service throughout the city of Asheville and other local areas with 24 bus routes running from 6 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 6 a.m.–12:45 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Transit maps and schedules are available at www.ashevillenc.gov/transit.
Routes radiate from the Transit Center, located downtown at 49 Coxe Ave. next to the U.S. Post Office. The center provides such amenities as clean restrooms and indoor and outdoor seating. There is also an on-duty information assistant who provides information about routes, or from whom you may purchase monthly and annual passes and ticket books.
ABOUT STRIVE NOT TO DRIVE: This is an annual event to encourage people to avoid driving their car for a day to experience the benefits and opportunities of walking, bicycling, riding the bus, carpooling or telecommuting. There’s more information at: www.blueridgecommute.org/faq.html.
— Jason Sandford, multimedia editor
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