Gas-starved drivers may prefer commuting by bus with GoTriangle Transit partners
The gas crisis may cause more people to consider other transportation options, maybe even a bus. "Go Triangle" provides regional bus service and at a surprisingly low cost. In fact, the fare is actually FREE!
Posted — UpdatedGas is not a problem for GoTriangle riders or for drivers across the partner city network, which serves Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Chapel Hill, Wendell and areas in between.
"We use about 2,000 gallons a day so we have plenty of gas for like the next week," explained GoTriangle president and CEO Charles Lattuca. He said the system expects a big gas delivery out of Illinois on Friday.
With average driver paying close to or above $3 a gallon at the pump, Lattuca has a better offer that motorists may not be aware of. "Since COVID hit last March, we went free-fare," he said.
All the city transit systems offer the same deal as part of their effort to attract riders with the assurance that they are reducing the risk of infection on the bus. Riders board through the rear door with social distancing and masks. Six seats behind the driver serve as a safety barrier.
Before COVID-19, the system had about 6,700 riders a day. "We lost a lot of our ridership in the immediate aftermath, but we are back up to about 4,000 riders a day now, so it’s coming back. We are at 60%," said Lattuca.
He welcomes new riders who are willing to leave their cars parked. The bus can drop them off as close to work or home as possible. "Uber or Lyft is your choice for your last mile," said Lattuca. Bike riders can even bring a bike on the bus to close the gap to the doorstep.
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