Community Corner
Should I Get an Annual Bus Pass on Martha's Vineyard?
For $100 a year, I can ride the Vineyard Transit Authority buses all over the Island. But will I get my money's worth? Your suggestions are welcome in the comments section.
Moving anywhere is a complicated process, and also an expensive one.
Registering the car, getting a new driving license, scraping up the money to put down two months' rent and a security deposit on an apartment — none of this is cheap.
So I'm on the fence about buying an annual bus pass for $100 from the Martha's Vineyard Regional Transit Authority.
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I know it's a good deal if I am going to ride a lot: Regular fares are $1 a town or $7 a day, which can add up quickly.
There are some alternatives: Between the $7 day pass and the $100 annual pass, I could sample a $15 three-day pass, a $25 seven-day pass or a $40 31-day pass, according to the VTA website.
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If I were 65 or older, I would probably go for the annual pass: Seniors pay half-price, if they ask for it, and $50 isn't so hard to find.
But $100? Should I do it? That's what I am wondering and hoping Island neighbors can help me answer.
It seems to me that for part of the year it's too cold to wait for a bus if you have a car here. And for another chunk of the year, the buses are crammed with tourists, summer people and all their stuff.
Still, wouldn't it be worth it not to have to drive around the Island's congested summer roads? And even in the winter, I'm seeing the buses all over the place with their cheerful pink LED message boards. They even ride on Sunday, which is a day of rest for public transit in my former community, Napa County.
As I said: I'm on the fence, and looking to my neighbors to help me decide which way to hop.
Do you ride the VTA? Do you recommend a pass? Please share your suggestions in the comments below.
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