I was shocked and very disappointed to read the GoBus article in the OU Post on Wednesday. It was not at all what I was expecting. Very poor choices of words were used throughout the piece. They were misleading, biased, and in some cases, completely untrue. No passenger has EVER been “forced” to do anything. Nor has GoBus or HAPCAP “taken advantage” of any motor carrier regulations.
GoBus is a public service. It is our mission to provide safe, reliable, and affordable transportation to rural Southeast Ohio communities. We provide a much needed service to community members as well as Ohio University students and staff. We have run into challenges and we have made appropriate changes to overcome these challenges. I have no problem with local papers writing about what we have done right or, in their opinion, what we may need to review. What I have a problem with is being misrepresented. It is alarming that such an article was allowed to be printed in this manner.
GoBus, HAPCAP, and Lakefront Lines follow and often surpass all regulations put forth by the Federal Transit Administration and the Ohio Department of Transportation. We have safely transported more than 130,000 passengers nearly 1.2 million miles over the past three years and are very proud of the service we provide.
HAPCAP considers Ohio University as well as The Post to be our partners in the GoBus project. I hope we can continue to grow and develop our relationship.
Carolyn Conley is the GoBus transportation services manager.
