It’s no secret. I use public transportation and will advocate for it whenever possible because I’m also a customer. Especially, during these brutal winter months, where I’ll be waiting in sub zero temperatures for a ride. I’m an old soldier. I can take it. But there are seniors and others who can’t, and that means that these services must run as efficiently as possible.

The challenge I’ve experienced recently is with the Green Bay Metro On Demand service. Specifically, negligent riders abusing the service causing delays for those that really need it.

We’re talking about careless riders tying up vehicles with requests, just to no-show when the driver actually arrives.

We’re talking about riders who don’t start getting ready to leave until the vehicle actually gets there, exercising a blatant disregard for others waiting to continue their trip.

And we’re even talking about bored riders using the service to travel two blocks away, when they could have made the trip three times over by foot.

If this still seems small to you, I want you to imagine that you’re waiting in Ashwaubenon for a ride in sub zero temperatures, but you can’t get one because your driver has to run all the way to the far east side, just for someone that has no serious intention of using the service.

Let’s talk solutions. We need a strike system that tracks the email registered with the account. Three of them and your suspended from the service pending a review by an administrator.

The Green Bay Metro On Demand service isn’t perfect (we’re still stranded on Sundays). But being considerate riders allows us to reduce these wait times, which are often longer than the fixed route pick ups.

And it allows us to continue proceeding towards a greater Green Bay community where everyone can get to where they need to be.