Can We Talk Public Transportation?

There has been significant discussion about bike lanes, sidewalks, parking, creating “districts” in our community, amongst our MAC members. While these are very important, we are missing one essential element in this discussion, accessibility and the availability of public transportation. Many bus lines were suspended during the pandemic and have not been reinstated. The Flex Bus was one of those essential public transportation methods that helped to alleviate traffic congestion, reduce cars on the road. FLEX provided alternative transportation for students, universal access for shopping, and a route to our local BART Station. Many in our community are no longer able to access their community, BART, etc. There are parts of Castro Valley with no bus service, no sidewalks. Members who use strollers, walkers, wheelchairs, are stuck in their neighborhoods and cannot navigate to the nearest accessible and active bus line due to no sidewalks. I strongly encourage the MAC to push to reinstate these very essential bus lines. There is no community without public transportation.

–Maureen Gilhooly, Castro Valley