BUS DRIVER APPRECIATION: Who remembers their bus driver from grade school? For some, the person who came out to pick them up became one of the regulars in life. The trusted bus driver, especially in areas like ours, remained the same from grade school through high school for many.
Today is National Rural Transit Day, a day to honor and recognize the work of those who make sure residents of rural areas have safe transportation to get riders from one place to another — every single day.
In addition to our school bus drivers, this area relies on the Area Transportation Authority (ATA) to get people all over the region, even during the worst weather. Our ATA even has an app you can download to find schedules, receive alerts and plan trips. The MyStop mobile app is available on the APP Store.
For anyone who would like to participate in the national conversation, an easy way to do so, according to NationalToday.com, is to “Take part in the #RuralTransitDay Twitter Chat. Share your thoughts about rural transit, its benefits, current challenges, and how they can be solved.”
A little more locally, recognize the bus driver who takes your kids or grandkids to school during the first week — it is coming up fast! If you or someone you know rides the ATA, let the driver know that they are appreciated, give them a smile (it goes a long way), take a short moment to say hello or good night, make them part of the day — remember the drivers are people and would probably enjoy a rider or two acknowledging them.
