WS Chronicle

What do the Gateway YWCA, the William G. White YMCA; all three Winston-Salem WalMart locations; both hospitals in Winston-Salem; the movie theaters on Reynolda Road and Kester Mill Road; Thruway Shopping Center, Northside Shopping Center and Hanes Mall all have in common?
They are all located on a WSTA bus route! Chances are if you are traveling
to these locations you are getting there either in your own car or you may be riding with a friend.  

As the summer temperatures rise, the cost of gasoline will possibly rise as well. Unless there is a gasoline genie going around giving seniors a discount on the cost of a tank of gas, you pay what everyone else pays when you fill up your car. Why not consider leaving your car in the driveway when you want to go shopping, out to eat with friends, to the hospital to visit your neighbors or to your gym?

Believe it or not, there are quite a few benefits to taking the bus. You have the opportunity to get a little exercise in while walking to the bus stop, you get to see and/or meet your neighbors while waiting for the bus; but more importantly, you will save a lot of money.  Seniors pay half fare to ride the bus. Instead of paying a dollar (which is the full fare for riding one way), it will cost fifty cents. In the event you want to ride multiple days, a 10-ride pass will cost you $5.00, which will allow you to ride 10 times; and your transfers are free! The cost of a monthly pass for seniors is $15.00, which will give you unlimited rides for a full 30 days.

Think about it, a full month of travel and it only costs $15.00. Public transportation is for everyone; seniors, persons with disabilities, students and Mr. and/or Ms. John Q. Public who have to go to work every day. Everyone wants to save money and public transportation is a great way to do it. Regional transportation is an even bigger opportunity to save because the Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART) is a wonderful way to visit High Point, Mt. Airy, Lexington, Yadkinville, Kernersville and Greensboro. PART offer discounts for seniors too.

If you want to learn just how easy it is to ride the bus, WSTA and PART offer groups and individuals a chance to ride and learn about using the local transit system(s) to get where you want to go. Both systems offer the service free. To learn how to ride with WSTA, call Tina Carson-Wilkins at 336.748.3243. If you want to take a buddy ride on PART, call Ray Coble at 336.662.0002.