Greetings!  Mountain Rides is doing a great job gathering public input regarding a potential bus hub to support transit efficiency and needed route links in Ketchum. It has structured a four-part process over the next few months, each one addressing a different aspect of the hub question.  

This week's open houses provided information on the existing bus  system - usage and routes in particular; the public was asked to critique the system and suggest what might be provided that isn't available now.   

I'll leave it to the Mt. Express to report the findings from both open houses but my informal review of the afternoon's written comments showed that the system is much appreciated: drivers are terrific and helpful, bike portability is excellent, the North- South Valley route is especially valuable, and service is on-time. Constructive comments were to streamline route linkages and make them less confusing, and add nighttime service. (I asked that dogs be allowed). Many people felt a hub made sense - but were unwilling to commit to one without first knowing what its location might be.  

Kudos to Mountain Rides for responding to public concerns about creating a hub. By stepping back and crafting a responsible, professional approach to seeking give and take between itself and the public, it has assured that our community will achieve the best possible outcome. Mountain Rides has chosen to educate us about the current transit system and ask for feedback about its ideas. This avoids the potential pitfalls of Board member insularity while empowering public interest and support for the organization given its responsiveness and respect for the public's intelligence.   

While Mountain Rides is now going slow - sometimes a frustrating aspect of public process - it is nevertheless working with a well-laid out strategic plan, target dates, and a target endpoint. Further, it has clearly and transparently laid these out for the public to see and anticipate. It has also recruited a substantial number of helpful "guides" who objectively provided information and guidance to the open house process. Thanks for the excellent effort to the Mountain Rides Board and Executive Director Jason Miller.    

Until next week...Jima Rice

P.S.  I gather that last week's link to the article about New York City's "Yotels" was broken.  You can try it again here.