RIPTA’s Slashing Beach Bus for Urban Kids is Blasted by Advocates and Candidates - UPDATED
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Community members -- and Providence mayoral candidates — are decrying the move by RIPTA to cancel this year’s express beach runs from the state’s urban core to south county.
GoLocal unveiled the decision by RIPTA on Monday — which Governor Dan McKee called “disappointing,” but defended the public transportation agency’s decision, citing low ridership.
RIPTA drivers union vice president Joe Cole, however, blamed RIPTA for not having a public awareness campaign for the routes — which he says now will be exorbitant for a family of four, as a direct round trip, instead of being $4, will now be $12 using three buses.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“They’ve been trying to kill [the route] for years. They don’t market it. It used to be on the radio and bus shelters. Now they say, oh, we’ll just put it on our Facebook page,” said Cole. “What does that really do?”
“If they wanted to make it work, they could,” he added, calling the move to cancel the direct runs “unconscionable” in light of record gas prices.
Senator Meghan E. Kallman (D-Dist. 15, Pawtucket, North Providence) -- who has been a legislative advocate for making RIPTA free for all riders -- decried the decision.
"In my view, the elimination of the beach bus program without public input is lazy, and an insult to urban communities like Pawtucket, Providence, and Central Falls who could benefit from the service," said Kallman. "The beach bus is a triumph of planning and a failure of communication. I am deeply disappointed in RIPTA for abandoning urban communities who could have regular access to RI beaches."
Conrad Ferla, who has been a vocal advocate for coastal access in the state, said he sees the move as something more.
“How are we going to advertise and market ourselves as the ocean state when we continually make it harder for working-class Rhode Islanders to go to the beach and use the shoreline. We are about to enter another recession with $5 gas and we are removing the only affordable way for families to escape and enjoy the beach,” said Ferla.
“The state is flush with federal money…so that’s not the real reason… so what is it? I suspect this is political and the by-product of nimbyism, elitism, and segregation along our shores,” he added.
Candidates Call for Direct Routes to be Returned
Now, Democratic candidates for Mayor in Providence are calling on RIPTA for the express routes to be reinstated.
“Rhode Island is known as the Ocean State. Yet, many children who live in urban communities, especially kids of color, have never seen the beach or the ocean. RIPTA bus service to the beaches in Newport is crucial to making Rhode Island accessible - a step towards combatting summertime segregation and recreational inequality,” said Providence City Councilwoman Nirva LaFortune and candidate for Mayor. “These routes should remain in place.”
“I absolutely think that RIPTA should maintain this service - which costs the equivalent of 0.01% of the State's reported budget surplus this year - and work with community partners to raise awareness and increase ridership,” said mayoral candidate Gonzalo Cuervo.
"We should be increasing access to public transportation across our state, not decreasing it,” said mayoral candidate Brett Smiley. "For so many Providence residents, RIPTA is their main method of transportation and with the price of gas, inflation and other increases we should be providing every family in Rhode Island the means to access our beaches."
Warwick resident Patrick Maloney Jr. -- who has been a candidate for school committee as well as State Representative as a Democrat and indpendent --- called out what he said he sees as the consequences of canceling the service.
“It’s the perfect way to increase gas purchases and get more gas taxes. The perfect way to sell more beach parking passes. The perfect way to ticket people who can’t find proper parking,” said Maloney. “It’s all about the state making more money.”
First published: 5/18/22 7:48 AM
Updated: 5/18/22 10:50 AM
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