Ridership 'light' on Day 1
| • | Union leader faces challenge |
| • | Lee Cataluna: Return of buses brings mostly relief |
By Mike Leidemann and Mike Gordon
Advertiser Staff Writers
Bus ridership appeared a little lighter than usual yesterday, officials said, as city buses rolled for the first time since being idled for 34 days by a strike.
Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser
"Just by the look of it, some of the buses looked pretty light and some looked pretty normal," said Kenneth Stanley, OTS vice president for operations, planning and marketing. "By the early afternoon, the buses were starting to look a little fuller again."
Bus rider Millie Cruz of Nanakuli, left, and friend Theresa Uyehara of Waipahu, spent most of the day blowing kisses and shouting "Welcome back!" to bus drivers stopping at Ala Moana Center. A strike idled buses for 34 days on O'ahu.
Nearly 400 buses in the OTS fleet rolled out as scheduled yesterday morning with no major mechanical problems; drivers reported traffic on the roads was relatively light in the morning, Stanley said.
"I didn't hear of any major snafus," Stanley said.
Cheryl Soon, city director of transportation services, said it will take at least a few days to determine how much ridership has dropped off since before the strike, when the buses provided an estimated 240,000 rides a day.
Bus rides are free through Friday. "If they start with us when it's free, they'll probably just stay with us," Stanley said.
All over O'ahu, on busy thoroughfares and crowded streets, in neighborhoods and business districts, from Makaha to Makapu'u, city buses announced an end to the strike with groaning gears, squeaking brakes and the whoosh of opening doors.
"It's terrific," said bus driver Alan Nohara, as he set his bus in motion, 'ewa-bound along Kapi'olani Boulevard. "Everybody's happy."
Nohara shook hands with 77-year-old bus rider Robert Lee, a regular on his route.
Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser
"I'm very happy they're back working," Lee said. "Absolutely, I missed them. I think we all did."
Ridership appeared lighter yesterday, but don't tell that to this crowd lined up for a Salt Lake-bound bus on Hotel Street. Bus rides are free through Friday to help lure back riders.
Members of the Hawai'i Teamsters and Allied Workers Local 996 ratified a new contract Saturday, clearing the way for service to resume. The city's 1,300 bus workers had gone on strike Aug. 26.
"I thought it would be really busy, considering the free bus rides," said Philip Balmores, as he waited for his regular bus at Kapi'olani Boulevard and Isenberg Street.
He looked around at the five people waiting. "I guess not," he said.
Shawn Ah Sing-Bombard, a student at Honolulu Community College, said he was relieved that the buses were running. The strike was a trying experience.
"I have no alternate form of transportation, so I have to ride the bus," she said. "During the strike, I had to rely on the mercy of friends and family. But honestly, if I had a car right now, I would be driving."
At Alapa'i Street, carpenter Mark Alan was waiting for a bus ride to the Windward side. He was taking his bike with him, a bike that someone bequeathed to him so he could get to work.
"I think it's great the mayor made it free the first week," Alan said. "I think it will bring a lot more people back to the bus.
"Some people will end up sticking with that alternate transportation," he added. "Buses are convenient and they're economical, but they're also troublesome, all the time waiting for them to come."
University of Hawai'i student Sereny Cholymay, 20, lives close enough to walk to school, but said for longer trips, she and her mother relied on taxis — $8 to get to choir practice near Thomas Square, $11 or $12 to get to Kalihi.
Cholymay found herself staying home far more often than she would have otherwise. "I'm so glad we have the bus again," she said.
Reach Mike Gordon at mgordon@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8036. Reach Mike Leidemann at mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-5460.
Advertiser staff writers Vicki Viotti and Treena Shapiro contributed to this story.
