Dial-a-ride Defended

Sditor, The#íews: 'he general impressión of the comnts by City Council as reported in The n Arbor News on Jan. 15, I take issue ,;h as a driver of Dial-A-Ride. N These impressions were: . It takes an hour to get a bus to your use. 2. Gasoline consumption rate is 8 pas„nger miles per gallon. Because of telephone difficulties - which are being corrected, bad weather, streets are full of chuck holes, etc., it CAN take up to an hour but the average is 20 to 30 minutes. Mr. Benner categorically stated "It takes an hour to get a bus to your house." This is a false impressión. Further, Prof.'Marc Ross was quoted by Mr. Briggs as reporting the gasoline consumption rate of the mini-buses as 8 passenger miles per gallon. I don't know where he got his figures or when but I conservatively estímate from my own experience that the figure should be 30 passenger miles per gallon. I have actual figures to prove this and challenge anyone to ride with me, count passengers and take actual mileage if they wish. The price will be 50 cents per round trip. Our service is for convenience and safety above all else, not speed! "Singular case of massive inefficiency," Mr. Benner claims for the AATA. It can be compared to "Singular case of maiiSivenefficiency" by City for snowj removal and chuck hole repairs which have helped to créate our slower service in most cases. j Many of our Senior Citizens, studentsj housewives, and young children' have no other means of transportation while Dad! is at work. They.have errands to run, bilis to pay and recreational and study needs as well as Church on Sunday. With door-to-door service there is no fear of personal harm. How can Mr. Briggs justify his statement that it is possible not probable in an economy car to get 30 to 40 passenger miles per gallon. Maybe true for 1 or two passengers but how about 15 as we have over and over during the course of the day.