OTS Announces Bikes on Buses

Continues Driving Excellence in Orleans County

ALBION, NY – Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority Orleans County Commissioner Henry Smith and RGRTA Chief Executive Officer Mark Aesch announced today the addition of bike racks on all Orleans Transit Service buses as part of the Authority’s on-going customer service enhancement program Driving Excellence in Orleans County.

“Customers can simply hook their bike onto the easy-to-use RTS bike rack and enjoy a bus ride to work, school or recreation area,” said Mark Aesch, RGRTA Chief Executive Officer. “Riding the bus has never been easier.  It is the economical way to get where you need to go without worrying about record high gas prices.

More people are biking year round. In Monroe County, thirty- five thousand RTS customers take advantage of bike racks annually.  The entire RTS fleet is bike accessible.

Bike-friendly buses allow OTS to be responsive to the needs of customers while attracting new customers. “Bicycling has great advantages, however, unexpected weather or other challenges make OTS a very welcome way to complete the journey,” says Aesch.  

“Putting Bikes on Buses allows OTS to serve another transportation need in the community,” said Chairman of the Orleans County Legislature Henry Smith, Jr. “Bikes on Buses makes using public transportation an easy and convenient way to get to work anywhere in Albion, Medina and Brockport and offers residents the opportunity to explore areas they could never get to by bike alone.”

Joining RGRTA’s Mark Aesch and Commissioner Henry Smith Jr. was Brockport Student Government President Evan Brengel.

OTS ridership has increased 14% in two years with more and more students at the College at Brockport choosing to leave their cars at home.  Students who don’t live within walking distance of a bus route can put the bike on the bus and utilize public transportation.

OTS customers can burn calories instead of fuel, reduce the amount of their budget that goes to paying for gas and support local green initiatives. “Riding the bus and riding your bike all in the same trip reduces your carbon footprint.”

All OTS buses will be fitted with bike racks and new OTS buses are ordered with bike racks as standard equipment.

Whether you use your bike for transportation, recreation or to commute to work or school OTS can make the route more affordable, easier and more convenient.

“The bus bike rack will be a great advantage for the people of Orleans County.  Many people in the County depend upon public transportation as a means of travel to work, shopping, doctor appointments, the downtown business district, etc.,” said Chairman Smith. “People who do not live in close proximity to public transportation can ride their bike to the bus stop and utilize the bus bike rack.  We are pleased that OTS will add this feature to the busses in Orleans County.”

RGRTA has seen the highest ridership in nearly 20 years with 17 million customers on board.  RGRTA credits this ridership increase to higher quality customer service. Ridership is 2.5 times the national average. When public transit systems across the country are cutting service and raising fares, RGRTA continues to expand service in response to the increase in demand and is committed to keeping the fare stable for the next three years.

Orleans Transit Service joined RGRTA in 2003. Today OTS operates four fixed routes, offers Dial-A-Ride service as well as commuter service from Albion and Medina to employment centers in Monroe County. OTS also partners with The College at Brockport meeting the transportation needs of college students and staff. In 2008-09 OTS served more than 62,000 customers. For more information on OTS route services visit the website at www.rgrta.com.

 RGRTA to Unveil Newly Named Buses in Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming and Livingston Counties

Rochester, NY – The Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA) held four (4) press conferences today, Saturday, May 8, 2010, to officially celebrate and unveil the newly named buses after employees’ children and grandchildren in its OTS, BBS, WYTS and LATS fleets.  RGRTA began acquiring the buses in the Fall 2009.

Chief Executive Officer, Mark Aesch was joined in Albion and Batavia by New York State Senator George Maziarz, New York State Assemblyman Stephen Hawley, Orleans County Legislator Henry Smith and Genesee County Chair Mary Pat Hancock. Wyoming County Chairman Doug Berwanger, Supervisors Rebecca Ryan (Town of Warsaw) and Doug Patti (Town of Attica) joined Aesch at the unveiling.

“This begins a new tradition for RGRTA - one that has created much excitement amongst the employees.  The purpose of the program is to celebrate employees and their families and express their value to the team and the organization as a whole”, said Mark Aesch, Chief Executive Officer of RGRTA.  

Orleans Transit Service unveiled 5 new 25ft. 12-passenger buses each carrying the name of an OTS employee’s child or grandchild.

Batavia Bus Service unveiled 5 new 22ft. 16-passenger buses each carrying the name of a BBS employee’s child or grandchild.

Wyoming Transit Service unveiled 7 new 22 ft. 16-passenger buses each carrying the name of a WYTS employee’s child or grandchild.

Livingston Area Transportation Service unveiled 7 new 25ft. 22 -passenger buses and 3 new 32 ft. 34-passenger buses.

 Naming of vehicles is new to the Authority but not a new concept. “We borrowed the idea from our friends at Federal Express who hold a similar contest to name new planes in their fleet”, noted Aesch. “These kids, these buses strengthen our ties to the community we serve. Many of the children whose names appear on these buses today will be graduating high school and starting college when these buses are retired.”

RGRTA has seen the highest ridership in nearly 20 years with 17 million customers on board.  RGRTA credits this ridership increase to higher quality customer service. Ridership is 2.5 times the national average. When public transit systems across the country are cutting service and raising fares, RGRTA continues to expand service in response to the increase in demand and is committed to keeping the fare stable for the next three years.

 “As ridership at the Authority grows at a rate two times higher than the national average – our public transportation system is a key component to strengthening the local economy, growing our fleet was essential to meet the service demands of the community,” said Aesch.

The names will remain on display for the life of the each bus.  Employees and family members looked on as the children were honored with commemorative certificates and a photo of their bus.