Charleston, SC-Efforts continue this week to make transit riders and potential transit riders more effective advocates for improved transit in the Lowcountry, an effort getting attention and interest as Elizabeth Colbrt Busch and Mark Sanford close on their May 7 special election for Congress.
Tonight at the Daniel Island library at 6 pm, we’ll begin the process of bringing improved public transit to that community, a promise made by politicians and developers who marketed that community to thousands of people over a decade ago. As the Island’s population has aged and grown more economically diverse, the failure to keep that promise has imposed great hardships on the residents and is holding the community back. Senior Citizens no longer comfortable driving are stranded near their homes. Low income residents have their choices limited.
Jobs on Daniel Island go begging because people who need them just across the river in N. Charleston can’t get to work there. Those people finding work on the island become paying customers of it’s businesses. Lots of potential is being wasted. Tri County Link already has limited service through Daniel Island and CARTA has considered service there on two occasions. We’ll begin organizing this community’s effort.
On Thursday and Friday of this week, you are invited to become a Democracy Bus Rider. If you have time, we’ll set you up with fliers, a compatible driver and a good bus route to talk to transit riding voters about the elections. It’s easy effective work. Nowhere else can you talk to fifty potential voters per hour while sitting in Air Conditioned Comfort. We’ll talk you through your first trip. Facebook Signup https://www.facebook.com/... or Contact William Hamilton to work out a ride at 843 870-5299
We’ve distributed about 15 thousand Transit Voter flyers in the last two weeks in Charleston, N. Charleston, Mount Peasant, Summerville, Moncks Corner, Goose Creek and Beaufort. Nowhere are our more effective than on the buses and at the stops themselves where people carefully read every word, aware, from years of transit service cuts and problems that politics does have an impact on transit. As we’ve learned from the problems with the Intermodal center, an area’s Congressman has a direct impact on the quality of transit services within the district.
The Transit voter education effort is non partisan and not affiliated with either Congressional Campaign. Full details can be found at www.busec.org/vote online.
We have flyers available to anyone who needs them to hand out on the bus, at your community or group event or wherever you like. We’ll do our last, major even distribution Friday evening on Marion Square at the outdoor film screening of the Hunger Games. Volunteers welcome. Work on the buses, in neighborhoods, at churches and other group events will continue through election day. A separate effort in Beaufort is working hard down there and has already reached over 1500 people.