Bus Transportation

Reflecting soaring gas prices, bus ridership in Santa Fe has hit all-time highs, mirroring a national trend. Presumably, fewer of us are commuting by gasoline-intensive cars. For those on a limited income, reusing, recycling and riding the bus are not social statements, but a way to survive. Riding the bus is a bargain at $2 for an all-day pass or $20 for a monthly pass. Santa Fe Trails operates some of the most fuel-efficient vehicles on the road. The 25 buses have been a green fleet since 1992. They are powered by clean burning compressed natural gas.

Since the City Council adopted the policy in July 2008, teenagers under 18 no longer have to pay bus fare to ride on SF Trails. Councilor Dominguez, who sponsored the measure, hopes this will get young people into the habit of using public transportation as adults. All city buses are wheelchair accessible, and are equipped with a front bicycle rack.

Bicycles

Not surprisingly, more people are also biking these days. Bike shops are busy refurbishing old bikes. Some are being outfitted with racks and bags to make them more functional. Besides saving gas, bicyclists help the environment, reduce traffic congestion and get some exercise on their way to school or work. Bicycling is sometimes actually faster than taking a car. Many public bicycle racks have been added to the downtown area.

The legislature provided funding for new bike-friendly shoulders on the sides of busy Santa Fe thoroughfares. The city is creating new bike trails and has more than doubled the number of “sharrows,” which remind motorists to share the road. That isn’t always easy, given Santa Fe’s narrow downtown streets. The safest place for bikes on any narrow urban street (particularly with heavy street-side parking) is right in the middle of the lane, not on sidewalks or in the gutter.

A long-awaited municipal bikeways and trails map, developed by Santa Fe’s Metropolitan Planning Organization, has been released. The map showcases roads with bike lanes, displays regional trails and the interconnectivity between different routes. The map is free at City Hall, city recreation centers, libraries, bicycle shops and other local businesses.

City Councilor Patti Bushee has proposed a bike-sharing program. Various forms of bike-sharing have started in Canadian, European and US cities over the last decade. The service would depend on people voluntarily returning the bikes or would require a deposit. An advisory committee and the City Council have been considering the proposal, which may include new regulations for cyclists. Part of Bushee’s intention is to get people out of their cars, particularly in the core downtown area. The bike-sharing program could tie in with the new Rail Runner Express commuter train service. Albuquerque has announced that it is starting a bike rental program. 25 kiosks near existing transportation hubs will house up to 600 advertising-covered bikes with global positioning systems.

City Vehicles

Five new alternative fuel trucks for the City of Santa Fe’s Planning and Land Use Department are among recent additions to the city’s alternative fuel fleet, which consists of more than 50 vehicles marked with signs that say, “This Vehicle Uses Alternative Fuel.” The five Flex-Fuel ethanol (E85) pickup trucks reduce greenhouse gas emissions and can drive between 268 and 341 miles on one tank or charge. The city’s parking enforcement division utilizes zero-emission electric vehicles that run on rechargeable batteries.

Santa Fe – A Top Walking City

In a survey of more than 500 cities, Santa Fe has been recognized by Prevention magazine and the American Podiatric Medical Association as number 22 of the top 100 “Walking Cities in America.” Prevention.com says, “Experts give Santa Fe an exceptional 3.7 out of 4 for general walkability because walking around the town is comfortable and pleasant – and Santa Fe offers more than 200 art galleries, most within walking distance of one another. A higher percentage of people walk to work in Santa Fe than anywhere else in the state, and the city has the most parks per square mile.”