What are the RTA Transit Diaries?
This public forum is meant to showcase the heartwarming, fun and sometimes quirky stories of our invaluable transit riders. Read below to see the latest submitted stories.
Dear Diary,
This September I was rear ended on my way to work by a driver who fell asleep on Mound Road. My trunk was smashed & my rear window shattered. Other than a sore neck I was okay but my 2009 Chevy Cobalt was totaled. Since car insurance is expensive, we only had full coverage on our lease and not this car. The driver had no insurance and I'm still in the process of small claims court. We, like many people in Metro Detroit, live on one income because full time daycare is expensive. We have a small savings but we didn't want to wipe it out for another used car or get a high interest loan from a local used car lot. Fortunately we live near a bus route. I started driving the lease, because transit doesn't reach my job, while my wife began riding the SMART bus. She was able to take it to Ferndale for a hair appointment, to Detroit to the DIA and to the grocery store. Having access to public transit means you don't have to go into debt for a car and you aren't stuck without a car. Public transit is an important safety net for those of us who are one car accident away from immobility. Sure there's Uber but who can afford $45 a day to get to work, especially when you're trying to save up for another vehicle?
Sincerely,
David Gifford