For 10 years, the getDowntown Program has had the tagline: Commuting Opportunities in Ann Arbor
We’d like to change the tagline to something new. And we’d like your help.
Help us pick a new tagline by voting for your favorite here: getDowntown tagline vote
There are some changes in AATA bus routes because of the new Park & Ride at Plymouth Road and other items. If you work in downtown Ann Arbor and have any questions about these changes, please contact getDowntown.
FYI from the AATA:
On Sunday, January 24, The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority will implement service changes to bus routes 2, 6 and 22.
The service changes will include improved service on Route 2 with connections to the new Plymouth Road Park & Ride Lot, new routing on the inbound Route 6 to serve Research Park Drive and schedule and routing adjustments on Route 22.
Route 2 – Plymouth
Route 2 overview
Route 2: from Downtown map & schedule
Route 2: to Downtown map & schedule
Weekday service will now connect to the new Plymouth Road Park & Ride Lot, and additional trips are being added at midday and peak commuting times. Route 2X has been renumbered as route 2C and integrated into the route 2 schedule. This route will provide service to the Glazier Way/Earhart Road neighborhood and will provide a faster connection to the Kerrytown/City Hall area and UM Central Campus without serving the UM Medical Center.
The service changes include renumbering of Routes 2 and 2X to Routes 2A, 2B and 2C as follows:
Route 2A: Plymouth via Nixon/Green
Route 2B: Plymouth
Route 2C: Plymouth via Glazier
Route 6: Ellsworth
Route 6: to Ann Arbor map & schedule
As a result of a collaborative effort between the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority and the Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living (AACIL), all trips on Route 6 going to downtown Ann Arbor will serve Research Park Drive with new bus stops at the Social Security Office and the AACIL.
There will be no change on the trips to Ypsilanti. The portion of the route on Ellsworth west of Research Park Drive and on State Street south of Research Park Drive will be served only on trips to Ypsilanti.
Route 22: Connector
Route 22: North map & schedule
Route 22: South map & schedule
Recommended transfer boarding locations
Northbound trips will continue the long-term detour on Washtenaw east of Carpenter Road before heading west to the Arborland area to provide for safe transfers with other buses. Timepoint adjustments will be made at several places along Route 22. In addition, Route 22 will now serve the Glazier Way and Earhart Road neighborhoods on Saturdays. Direct service to the VA Medical Center will no longer be available on Saturdays.
The latest information on AATA routes, schedules and detours is available at 734.996.0400 and on the AATA Routes and Schedules page.
In August 2009 the AATA began offering a new service, the A2 Express. It is comprised of the Canton-to-Ann Arbor Canton Express, and the Chelsea-to-Ann Arbor Chelsea Express. Making commuting into Ann Arbor easy and green for downtown employees is what we’re all about at getDowntown, so I sat down with a Canton Express commuter, Rosanne Frank of Miller Canfield, to get a better understanding of how this bus route works!
gDt: Why did you decide to try commuting by bus?
Rosanne Frank: I saw the flier [for the A2 Express] at our office and the times fit my work schedule, so I tried it. There was a two-week free trial in September that worked great for me, so I started commuting daily by bus in October.
gDt:How has the cost of the A2 Express Commuter Pass balanced out against the price you were paying to commute by car?
RF: I drive a Ford Explorer which doesn’t have the best mileage. It gets 17 mpg. And when you drive in from Canton, which was approximately 25 miles, which could be 3 gallons a day. That could end up being $40 or more in gas a week. I pay $62.50 for the Commuter Pass [as a go!pass holder] once a month. Plus I don’t have to pay for parking for my car at the Ann & Ashley structure.
gDt: How does the A2 Express work?
RF: I start my day at 7:17 am at Independence Park and the bus driver is extremely punctual. I get dropped off between 7:55 and 8:00 a.m. one block from my office. Before when I drove it’d take 25-30 minutes to commute by myself, but then sometimes I would get caught in traffic. I’m able to catch the bus home at 5:08pm. I work an 8-5 day, so I end up putting in an extra half hour each day on this schedule. Because I put in extra time during the week, my bosses let me leave on the 3:35 pm bus one day per week
I’m happy that I take the bus. If I know in advance that I am going to have a busy schedule at work I can take an earlier bus. If I need to get home early for some emergency, there is an emergency cab that is offered, so I know that I have a way to get back to Canton.
gDt: What in particular do you like about the A2 Express?
RF: The buses are comfortable and the drivers are great. The drivers also know where each rider’s stop is so if we don’t need to stop, he doesn’t. The buses are on time too, very punctual.
gDt: What do you do to pass the time on your ride?
RF: Listen to my iPod, sometimes I sleep. A lot of people read and some other riders are coworkers so they ride in together.
gDt: Had you only been a car commuter before?
RF: Yes.
gDt: Have you tried to convince any of your other coworkers to commute by methods other than the car?
RF: I have. My other coworkers’ schedules are too irregular for the bus to work for them. I’m glad that Miller Canfield is a part of the go!pass program, and that they allow me to work within the bus schedule and are flexible so I can take advantage of the A2 Express.
Thank you to Rosanne for her time! If you have any questions about the A2 Express, visit www.a2express.org or call 734-996-0400. If you are a go!pass holder and would like to purchase the discounted tickets, please contact the getDowntown Program at 734-214-0100.
I recently spoke at the Workantile Exchange on how not to be a slave to your car. After my presentation, I asked the audience to help me come up with some hints and tips for others wh0 might want to break (or at least loosen) the chains between them and their cars.
Here are the hints and tips we came up with. Feel free to add your own in the comments section.
How Not to Be a Slave to Your Car
1. Get a decent commuter bike. Get fenders for your bike and chain guard so you can keep your pants clean.
2. Get all-weather gear. Prepare for the inevitable rain, snow and wind that are part of Michigan’s seasons.
3. Start biking when the weather is nice (like now). Then gradually ease into cooler months.
4. Check out bicycle commuting websites like Commute by Bike.
5. Be willing to spend $200 on a nice gortex jacket and $200 on pants. And $75 and booties, gloves etc. These are all worth it to have a pleasant cool weather bike ride. While the cost might seem like a lot, it doesn’t even compare with how much it costs for insurance for your car, gas, etc?
6. If things totally fall apart, you can put your bike on the bus. Here’s a step by step picture guide to show you how.
7. If you think you’ll get sweaty on your bike ride, get a membership to the YMCA. Then you can go to the YMCA and shower there.
8. Learn the bus system. Then, if your car breaks down, or you break a leg and can’t drive, you can still get where you need to go. Need assistance? email info@getdowntown.org.
9. Don’t be afraid to ask someone for a ride. Sharing rides/carpooling can be fun and relaxing.
10. Look at other ways to get where you want to go (e.g. taking the Amtrak or Megabus to get to Chicago instead of driving.)
11. If you are walking, try and find pleasant alternatives. Don’t want on the nasty streets that are depressing and busy.
12. Get a Zipcar Membership. That way, you can see if you really do need a car as much as you think you do. And they’re good for running errands or going to meetings without paying to park downtown.
13. Read How to Live Well Without A Car.
Any other thoughts or suggestions? Put them in the comments section below.
Starting today there is now some on-street bike parking in three different locations in downtown Ann Arbor. This is temporary parking that will be around during the warmer months. Each on-street bike parking rack holds about a dozen bikes. The racks are located in front of the People’s Food Co-Op on Fourth Ave, Arbor Brewing Company on Washington, and Bivouac on State Street.
Here are some pictures of the one at the People’s Food Co-op. It already has some bikes in it!
I recently listened to a podcast that got me thinking about where children play. In the podcast, James Howard Kunstler discusses the effects of suburban sprawl on childhood obesity. If you think about the typical suburban community, like the one I grew up in in Maryland, the play areas for children are often created exclusively for playing. I clearly remember the “playground” inside a local mall. I’m sure many of you have play structures in your neighborhoods.
Oftentimes, parents take their children to these spaces because they are percieved as safe and comfortable. They are specifically for children and allow kids to do something in a kid-safe environment. This is also a reason why many families move out to the suburbs once they have kids. Since downtowns don’t have play structures, they aren’t really supposed to be for kids, right?
But here’s the challenge and how I link it back to childhood obesity. In addition to play structures in many neighborhoods in Ann Arbor, there have also been the creation of other place spaces that can pretty much only be gotten to by driving. Think about Jungle Java for example, where kids can play while their parents sip coffee. I know of two of these play spaces. One is on Jackson after Wagner and the other is on Washtenaw. Both locations are not very friendly to walking or biking. So rather than kids being able to just walk to a place to play, they have to be driven to that place. This is kind of how people who want to work out will drive 10 miles to go to the gym.
Here again is an interesting example of segregating uses for development. Instead of everything being mixed into one community, so you can play, eat, shop, work, work-out, etc. in one place, all of those uses are spread apart so that you are encouraged to drive from one destination to the other. And this could defintely make it harder to get the kinds of exercise that can keep all of us fit. I’m talking about the little bits of exercise you get when you live in a walkable place where walking/biking is just a way to get around.
But here’s the challenge, suppose we want to encourage kids to be able to walk to places where they can place. Since downtown Ann Arbor seems to be very walkable . . . how do we design places like downtown Ann Arbor in a way that is both friendly for kids and adults? Do we actually need to do anything different? Can kids “play” just fine without a specific place for them to do so? Or do parents feel like downtown Ann Arbor would be a bad place to raise a child because of the lack of schools and other things kids need?
I guess the reason I am bringing all of this up is that I often hear that downtowns (including downtown Ann Arbor) are not good for families because they lack the type of spaces that families need. But then many of these families move out to the suburbs and are forced to drive everywhere including to drop kids off at daycare, to go on play dates, etc. Not only does this cut down on exercise, but it also takes time . . . time that could be spent in a community.
The more I look at these different issues, the more I see how important it is to create walkable spaces with a variety of uses that allow everyone–from a small child, to a teenager, to an adult, to a senior–to get around without having to drive. It just seems to make sense. But development still hasn’t caught up. I wonder if other people feel the same way.
I had the pleasure of having lunch Michael Ford today, AATA’s new CEO. Mr. Ford met with myself and my advisory board as we completed our retreat.
My first impression: impressive.
Mr. Ford grew up in Seattle and went to school in Portland. He helped make Portland what it is today in terms of great transit (including rail). And as many of us in Ann Arbor like to compare ourselves to Portland, it’s great to have someone at AATA who comes from that area.
Mr. Ford was funny and well spoken. He already seems to have a grasp of some of the key issues we face in this community (such as having both rural and urban components, issues with transit funding, and relations between the U and the area) and was very good at listening to what all of us had to say.
For all of you avid cyclists out there, you might also be interested to know that he’s biked the 200 some miles from Portland to Seattle.
I only got to meet with Mr. Ford for an hour, but I am excited about what he will bring to the AATA. In the past couple of days he has managed to get the Northeast Connector Study approved by the AATA Board and is trying to figure out a better solution for the Arborland issue.
I’m sure we’ll be hearing more about Mr. Ford in the coming months. It seems like he’s off to a good start.
I’ve been doing a lot of planning for the getDowntown Program lately and have put together this list of accomplishments for the past year. You can view our accomplishments by clicking here.
Think you have what it takes to work for getDowntown? Here’s your opportunity to prove it:
getDowntown Program Employee Services Coordinator
The getDowntown Program is looking for a full time hard working and enthusiastic people-centered Employee Services Coordinator.
The Employee Services Coordinator will energetically and skillfully promote, market and coordinate getDowntown’s programs and services to downtown Ann Arbor employees. This is a small office and the ideal candidate will work to support the getDowntown program Director and program goals. This includes a variety of activities such as answering commuting questions over phone or email, conducting engaging commuting presentations, and writing creative and compelling blog posts on employee-focused commuting topics.
A background in Marketing and Communications, Customer Service, or Social Work is preferred. Must be able to juggle many projects at once and embrace a job that includes a great number of administrative tasks (like delivering go!passes, doing mailings, coordinating events and overseeing bike locker rentals) as well as creative projects that involve new strategies and incentives to encourage people to change their commuting behavior.
Of course our ideal candidate is someone who “walks the walk” (by using sustainable transportation) and can therefore talk more knowledgably and enthusiastically about the many transportation options available to downtown Ann Arbor workers.
Please send a cover letter and resume, including salary expectations, to info@getdowntown.org with “getDowntown Job” in the subject line. No phone calls, faxes or snail mail, please. Deadline for submitting a job application is July 24, 2009 at 5pm.
If you are trying to commute by bus to or in Ann Arbor, here’s an overview of your options. This is also posted as a page on the getDowntown Blog and will be updated from there.
The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (The Ride) has buses that run throughout the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti area. Here are some resources to help you plan your commute:
There are a bunch of different types of bus passes available to people who want to ride the bus:
If you work downtown, you are in luck! Almost every AATA bus comes to downtown Ann Arbor. A lot of buses also stop on the UM Campus for those of you who work at UM. Here’s a brief overview of some of the routes to take if you are coming from certain parts of town:
The AATA has 4 Park and Ride Lots throughout Ann Arbor. You can park at Park and Ride Lots for free and take the bus to work. Lots more info on Park and Ride Lots is on the getDowntown website and on the AATA website. Here is an overview of the lots:
A2Chelsea Express :If you live in Chelsea and work in downtown Ann Arbor or at the UM, the A2Chelsea Express may be the Commuter Bus for you. The bus even has wireless! Early morning trips leave the Arctic Coliseum in Chelsea at 6:10 and 7:16am and arrive in Ann Arbor (downtown and at the UM Hospital) around 6:39 and 7:45am. Return trips in the afternoon leave Ann Arbor at around 3:47 and 5:15pm and get to Chelsea at 4:15 and 5:44pm. To learn more about the A2Chelsea Express, click here.
There are a couple of Late-Night Bus Service Options in Ann Arbor:
Every AATA Bus has a bike rack for your bike. Combining biking with riding the bus can save you time and give you a chance to get some exercise. Click here for step-by-step instructions for putting your bike on the bus.
Here are some basic hints and tips to keep in mind when riding the bus:
Other Bus and Transit Services
