Lindsey’s letter

Dear Senator Eichelberger,

I am a 9th grade student at Roosevelt Junior High School. I usually spend time after school at my godmother's office. When she is out of town (which is quite frequently), I have to ride the 3:00 p.m. 3rd Avenue Amtran bus.

I may just live about a mile away, but I also live on a hill. I also have asthma. Having asthma is ok, but walking a mile, mostly uphill, can be quite bad. When I get home, I am usually breathing heavily, most often needing to use my rescue inhaler. Also most sidewalks have ice or ice-covered snow and make it very difficult to walk through and on.

Riding the bus helps me stay safe. I have become acquainted with many of the drivers and they have become acquainted with my grandmother. I know that when I ride the bus they will not let anything bad happen to me. They are very trustworthy people.

The price of the bus fare is very reasonable and not too much of a hardship on my family to purchase the bus pass for me. I feel much safer riding an Amtran bus than walking through ice and snow or through shady neighborhoods.

I have heard on the news where they may have to stop operating some of the buses, cut routes, or stop providing some bus service altogether. This concerns me quite a bit. Is there anything that can be done about the funding, so that the price of fare can remain reasonable? There is no price that you can put on a person's safety.

I do hope that you will consider assisting Amtran in getting the funding they need to keep their bus service as it is. If they raise the fare, it may be too expensive for some to continue riding the bus. This would mean myself and others would lose one way to travel safely.

Sincerely, Lindsey