A city bus terminal … a city’s cultural intersection

This week I had the privilege of sitting in on an informational gathering session in prelude to an architectural firm designing a new bus terminal. The firm was seeking community preferred interests for a terminal’s function and design.

After hearing viewpoints from many aspects of a city’s functions, organizations and rider interest groups, I sent a response email to the session’s facilitator. As I was writing the email, I realized I was expressing a philosophical position for city public transit. So I decided to post the core of the letter as it has relevance to any city’s culture and a desire to build a healthy, vibrant lifestyle in a community. Below:

To summarize my views, as a city bus passenger for the last couple years, I have a cultural mission in what I do. Which is...  transit within its operating practices and services can affect a community beyond the functional service it provides to revive it, make it stronger, and stimulate economic and sociological advancement.

Some may see it as a service for the poor, disadvantaged, down and outer way to get around. In my view, the general culture of our community would benefit from more cross-cultural interaction.

A bus transfer facility could enhance this. The struggling, less influential culture could be positively affected by those who have established, comfortable lifestyles. A quality facility, physically attractive as well as functional, could attract the more accomplished person who would lend to a balanced blend of people connecting daily. This intermingling presence alone would have positive impact on a culture as a whole.

So I see the terminal as a key cog to facilitate this. Also, a quality environment would bring the self-image up of those who use transit as their sole method of getting around… being bus patrons who are part of something the community sees as a positive center piece of community activity. It can be an attractive gathering place blending a city's cultures, promoting better community understanding, and nourishing a community's heart of well being.

From this perspective, it is a key to creating long-term, significantly positive impact on a community.

Lesson learned: one part affects how all parts work… each affects all the others. Maybe that’s why Jesus prayed may they be One as We are One. A chord in a piano out of tune makes the whole piano sound out of tune. All in tune with each other can make music very pleasing to the ear.

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