West Side Deserves Better Ride

Folks on the West Side are fed up with the struggle of getting around. They complain about the lack of convenient options. But what they might not realize is that buses can be a game-changer. The thing is, the bus routes here just aren't as reliable or frequent as on the other side of town. For instance, two of the busiest routes, #21 on Harrison Avenue and #33 on Glenway Avenue, both stop at the Western Hills Shopping Plaza. This leaves a big chunk of the West Side without proper Metro service. Communities like Bridgetown, Dent, Mack, and parts of Delhi are left in the dark. People live there too, and with gas prices through the roof, it's unfair that they have limited options compared to other dense areas like Anderson or Sharonville.

Take Route 43 on Reading Road, for example. It runs 20 miles from Downtown to past I-275. Meanwhile, #21 buses on Harrison Avenue only go 8 miles into the West Side. It's clear that Metro needs to step up its game.

Extending Route #21 to the Meijer in Dent could be a start. This would help people in Cheviot, Green Township, and Westwood get to places like Meijer, Kohl's, and Kroger without a hassle. Why not extend the #33 or #6 route on Glenway Avenue too? Or how about a bus on Bridgetown Road from Western Hills Shopping Plaza to Cleves?

The idea is simple: if you build it, people will use it. This is known as induced demand. When you make a resource more accessible, people will take advantage of it. The numbers back it up. For example, extending Route #21 would cost around $392,557. But think of the benefits. More bus service means more economic activity. Just look at Harrison Avenue between Race and Wesselman. New housing developments are popping up, which means more traffic. But if people had a reliable bus option, they'd be less dependent on cars.

This is especially important during an affordability crisis. A small investment in better bus service could lead to a cleaner, healthier neighborhood. It could put more money back in the pockets of West Side residents. They could enjoy taking the bus to the grocery store, a Reds game, or Zip Dip without the stress of parking and traffic.