RIDE REGISTRY IMPROVES LIVES
AN INTERVIEW WITH PETE MARDEN
by Anny Owen
GO GERONIMO: How long have you been registered with GO GERONIMO?
Pete Marden: What has it been, about four months I guess.
GG: Do you have a car . . . do you drive?
PM: I don_t have a car . . . My mom has a car but I can_t drive because I_m legally blind.
GG: How often do you use GO GERONIMO?
PM: Quite often, probably about 3 or 4 times a week.
GG: Where do you go?
PM: I generally use GO GERONIMO to go to town, to do grocery shopping, go to the video store, or do things for my mom that she needs to have done.
GG: How easy is it for you to get a ride?
PM: Most of the time, it_s within two minutes. The rides I catch are usually with people I know but sometime people stop who are just curious about the sign.
GG: Do you use GO GERONIMO primarily to help the environment or do you mostly use it as a practical way to get around?
PM: It could be both. GO GERONIMO is definitely practical for me, because I don_t drive. It also helps the environment which is something that is really important. For me, mainly, it_s my way of getting around.
GG: How did you get around before GO GERONIMO?
PM: My mom used to drive me, but I needed to depend on her. GO GERONIMO makes it so I can depend on myself.
GG: Before you had GO GERONIMO, did you ever hitchhike when your mom couldn_t give you a ride.
PM: No. I usually would walk, or if it was over the hill I just wouldn_t go. GO GERONIMO has made it easy for me to get where I want to go over the hill. Once I get into town, it is easy for me to get where I want to go.
GG: Most adults have cars these days. Do you think it_s advantageous for people who do have a car to also use this?
PM: Even if you have a car and you can drive, it saves the hassle of parking. It_s wonderful!
GG: Tell me about when you go grocery shopping.
PM: I usually get maybe a bag of groceries at a time . . . what I need. It_s just easy. It_ no big deal carrying it to a stop where I can get a ride with GO GERONIMO.
GG: Some people have talked about how different their day goes socially when they use GO GERONIMO as opposed to getting in their car alone etc.
PM: Well I_m a gregarious person anyway so GO GERONIMO gives me a chance to be really gregarious. I get rides from people that I may not know and I get to talk to them and find out more about them. I love that, it_s fun. That makes my life really great.
GG: Has GO GERONIMO improved your life?
PM: Yes GO GERONIMO has improved my life, very much so. I_ve met some people that I would be very interested in being friends with through GO GERONIMO.

BIKE RACKS ON BUSES NOW IN USE
by Debbie Hubsmith
Yes, it_s true! As of January 1, local commuters have been enjoying the new Golden Gate Transit bike racks on buses program.

Right now, the District has 14 front-mounted racks on their buses. On weekdays, the racks are usually found on the #40 bus, which goes to the East Bay. On the weekends, the #63 (headed to Stinson) and the #65 (headed through the Valley) are often equipped with racks, which hold two bikes.

This March, the District will be receiving bids from manufacturers to purchase bike racks for their entire fleet of 267 buses. By June, it will be easy to navigate bike to transit trips, as you_ll be able to bring your bike on all Golden Gate Transit buses - day and at night - at no extra cost. The racks are very secure and easy to use; instructions are posted on the bike rack frame. It takes about 15 seconds to load and unload a bike.

GO GERONIMO is proud to have served as a lead organization in advocating for this essential commute alternative. Local residents now have the option of biking to a bus stop, hopping a Golden Gate Transit bus, and then biking to their final destination. Check it out.

This is the first installment of a new feature in The Wheel, letters to Joe Garonimo. Become a spoke of The Wheel by writing in with your adventures, questions, or insights: P.O. Box 304, San Geronimo, CA 94963.

Dear Joe Garonimo,
I ran down the hill to the Forest Knolls stop, held out my laminate, and surrendered to Sir Francis Drake.
After several cars sped by, generously leaving me their exhaust to breathe, a rumbling old paint-chipped beater screeched to a halt.
"Where you goin_?" the friendly voice yelled out the passenger_s window.
"Fairfax,"
"Giddyup, let_s go," she burped.
"Do you have a laminate?" I asked.
"A what?" she asked, confused.
"Have you heard of GO GERONIMO?"

She had indeed. "Oh yeah, you mean the registered ride sharing program that lets neighbors meet neighbors while at the same time reducing pollution, car costs, traffic, and road rage? Not to mention the fact that it encourages people to think about their influence on the government and the war in the Persian Gulf. What we should really think about is tearing out Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and growing hemp on all the golf course lands."

Oh well, no credit towards earning my free CD, but a ride nonetheless.

Signed,
Reggie
GO GERONIMO Fan Club (GGFC)

Dear Reggie,
Sounds like you got a good ride, even though the driver was not registered. Remember though, GO GERONIMO always encourages riders to go with registered drivers. Tell strangers who offer rides that they can register at the Cultural Center if they live in the Valley. The political discussion on your ride is another story.

Joe

Dear Joe,
I don_t own a car, so bicycling, ridesharing, and public transportation are my methods of getting around. I use the GO GERONIMO Reg about 8-10 times each week for short trips - around the Valley and to Fairfax. For me, the Reg works great; personally I never wait longer than five minutes for a ride. Several times a month, however, I travel to the East Bay and to San Francisco to visit friends. Unless I can find a ride in advance, I travel across the Bay by taking GO GERONIMO to Fairfax, hopping on a bus, and then transferring to the BART. The Skedge On-line will help me to find rides much more easily - and will save a lot of time. I hope that others will use the new Skedge On-line program, and post their rides offered and rides needed.

Signed,
Regina Ryder
Reg Regular

Dear Regina,
I too hope that people will take advantage of GO GERONIMO_s many programs. Different things work for different people. Some parents might not feel comfortable having their kids use the roadside ride registry, but might be willing to arrange for a ride found through the Skedge On-line, being offered by someone they know. The possibilities will keep growing with community participation and input.

Joe

SUGGESTIONS AND SAFE RIDES HOME FOR TEENS
We recently got a lot of good feedback through our phone survey, and by conducting registrations at Drake High on February 12.

Angelica Salazar, a student at Drake, let us know that teens often need safe rides home from parties. She suggested that community members who would like to offer rides (in case of an emergency) could be listed on a card that would fit in the students_ wallets. Then, if teenagers were stuck without a sober ride, they could call on community members for help. If this sounds like a good idea and you might like to volunteer to be listed as a driver, please call us at 488-8888.

Do you have thoughts on what GO GERONIMO should be doing, or what we could be doing better? If so, please call 488-8888 or write to us at: P.O. Box 304, San Geronimo, CA 94963. With your help, we_re putting the public back in public transportation.

FREQUENT RIDER MILES SET TO OFFER INCENTIVES
by Jasper Thelin
A new incentives program, following last year_s CD earning opportunity, will begin on the Spring equinox, March 21. "Pollution Saving Miles" can be earned by getting around in ways that eliminate single-occupancy vehicle trips, or leave the car behind altogether. The transportation modes of walking, bicycling, skating (roller, in-line, or skateboard), taking the bus, and carpooling all count as miles earned, when Reg members log their "miles saved" between Lagunitas and Drake High in San Anselmo. When a total of 25 miles have been accumulated, the GO GERONIMO member is eligible to receive a certificate for a free CD or cassette of their choice from Bedrock Music. Approximately 50 CD_s are available.

The "Frequent Rider Miles" program is open to all members registered with the GO GERONIMO Ride Registry. Just remember to record your miles saved on the tally card; many people will be earning miles by merely documenting their normal trips. The program is self-monitored.

In addition to the CD give-away program, mileage earning leaders in each transportation mode (walking, biking, skating, busing, and three types of carpooling - the reg, the skedge, and regular carpooling) will be awarded mode specific prizes after the competition ends on May 1. We_re hoping that the community will rally behind this incentive to promote transportation alternatives. This program will also highlight the folks who are getting around pollution free. Local businesses will be providing awesome donations for the modal-mileage leaders.

GO GERONIMO is also working with the Lagunitas School to encourage all Middle School students to keep track of how they travel, for one week.
Special thanks to Rich Young for designing the tally cards.

GO GERONIMO HISTORY AND PROGRAMS
GO GERONIMO is an innovative grassroots approach to a community solving its own transportation needs using the generosity, trust and good will of community members as its primary resource. The program is an outgrowth of the San Geronimo Valley Healthy Start Collaborative, a state funded initiative that addresses the needs of children and families in the Lagunitas School District. Surveys conducted during the 1996 Healthy Start planning process determined "Better Transportation Options" as the number one need, among children and adults alike. In the fall of 1996 we formed an ad hoc committee to begin addressing the Valley_s transportation needs. This committee has grown into what is now GO GERONIMO. We are working on four program areas:

THE RIDE REGISTRY, "THE REG." Registered members can get safe and convenient rides without prearrangement simply by waiting at designated GO GERONIMO stops on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. Registered drivers can pick up riders while making their normal trips. Both drivers and riders have photo ID laminates, and all adults must pass a background check by the Marin County Sheriff_s Department.
THE RIDESHARING SCHEDULE, "THE SKEDGE." Regular ongoing and one-time only rides may be arranged through consulting a bulletin board centrally located outside the San Geronimo Valley Cultural Center. Those seeking or posting rides may also call the Healthy Start office at 488-8888, where a ridesharing database is being maintained and updated. By the end of March, The Skedge will be on-line, enabling travelers to easily update rides offered and rides needed. The address will be www.gogeronimo.org
BICYCLE ADVOCACY. GO GERONIMO facilitates community bike rides (on the last Sunday of every month at 1 PM), plans bike repair classes, and helps to restore, maintain and advocate for bike trails in the San Geronimo Valley. We have conducted bicycle education programs for students at the Lagunitas School District, installed bike racks in key community locations, and served as a lead agency in successfully advocating to get bike racks on all Golden Gate Transit buses.
THE FUN BUS. Our recent survey confirmed that community members would like GO GERONIMO to manage a shuttle bus. The acquisition of such a vehicle has been one of our goals since GO GERONIMO_s inception in 1996. With only one Golden Gate Transit bus leaving the Valley at 7 AM each day, a community-run shuttle service makes sense. We_re now exploring grant programs, hoping to make this dream a reality. We_d like the Fun Bus to be a clean-air vehicle if possible.

INKWELLS CROSSING IN THE WORKS
by Brent Harris, Chair of the Inkwells Citizen Advisory Committee
We are another step closer to creating a connector in the Inkwells/Shafter Bridge area for cyclists, equestrians, and hikers between Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and the Samuel P. Taylor Bike Path.
The Marin County Department of Parks, Open Space, and Cultural Services has hired a design consultant to draw-up preliminary plans for the project. As part of the design process, public input is being sought by the design firm, Design, Community & Environment.
The first of three public forums was held on September 14th at the Planning Group membership meeting. Members of the community asked the designers to study three possible alternative routes:

1) A bridge across The Inkwells at the same spot in which the pipe crosses.
2) A bridge downstream of the Shafter Bridge on State Park property.
3) A route utilizing an existing residential bridge upstream in Lagunitas. A path could go on the hill behind the houses adjacent to the creek, and link up with the existing trailway (which is the old railroad right of way).
The other two meetings to further define the project are scheduled for evenings in October and November. Please see the Point Reyes Light and a Valley-wide mailing from the Planning Group for exact dates, times, locations, and other details.
Another step forward was taken in late August when Planning Group Inkwells rep Marshall Krause and I met with Steve Petterlee of the County Open Space District and the owner of a strip of private land which any new path at he Inkwells must cross. The property owner was very helpful, offering to cooperate fully in the project.
In the not-too-distant future, we can look forward to safely journeying to Samuel P. Taylor Park and points beyond without our cars, and without having to ford the creek.

Special thanks and acknowledgement goes out to the following people for being registered members of the GO GERONIMO Ride Registry. If you stand out on Drake to "reg a ride," you now know who you might be sharing a ride with.
Nicholas Aiello
Martha Allen
Ana Isabel Almejo
Kalika Ansel
Curry Anton
Gregory Anton
James F. Archer
Chantal Arroyo
Kyle Anne Atherton
Craig Bailey
Robert Del Baker
Clay Baldwin
Richard Bradshaw
Stephen Barrett
Demian Bartholomew-Keller
Noel Bartholomew-Keller
Somerset Bassett
John Beckerley
Zoila Berardi
Jean Berensmeier
Martin Bernbaum
Margaret Bernstein
Michael W. Bloom
Victoria B. Bloom
Patricia Bock
Janet Dale Bookey
Nancy Boxer
Gordon Brauer
Laurence Brauer
Barbara Swift Brauer
Rebecca Braun
Zack Brennan
Lea H. Brennan
Mary Ann Brenner
Forest S. Briggs
Matthew Ward Butler
Gay Cain
Tim Cain
Anna Chapman
Mary Chapman
S. Blake Chapman
Alan Charne
Dustin Charne
Lynn Charne
Lhasa Charne
Jessica G.Charrier
Emily Jane Charrier
Jill Charrier
Steven C. Charrier
Stephen B.Clein
Nicole M. Conde
Felix Conde IV
John Cook
Dave Cort
Howie Cort
Tara Coyote
Andrew Craig
Timothy B. Crosse
Liza Crosse
Anne Ramsey Cutler
Cornelia Cyss-Wittenstein
Evan Dahme
Jim Dahme
Sandra H. Daunell
Lindsay Daunell
Philip Winship Davis
Andrea Taylor Davis
Veronique De Jaegher
Wypke de Vries
Harriet Perlman de Vries
Diana DeBardeleben
Zachary J. Demers
Barbara den Ouden
Leo den Ouden
Robert T. Densmore
Kelly L. Densmore
Albert Desilver
Ernie DiBenedetto
Susan Dick
Birgitte Dobrer
Cecelia S. Donahue
Larkin Seifert Donley
Skag Dukkers
Ryan Easton-Brown
Dyann Easton-Brown
Alex Easton-Brown
Michelle Eaton
Catherine Edalgo
Molly Edwards
Peter Edwards
Lori Eicher
Gregory Eicher
Thomas Harold Eller
Ben Eller
Larry Enos
Mara Alicia Evans
Jaxon James Fagan
Carol Flloyd Fagan
Richard D. Fahrner
Cerridwen Fallingstar
Robert M. Figari
Rhonda Fisher-Brown
Bryce W. Fleming
Dennis A. Fleming
Keith R. Fleming
Jai Flicker
Tessa G. Fontaine
Raymond C. Forbes
Lori-M. Forbush
Fred Frauens
Willard Frederickson
Sally Frederickson
Christa Freund
Forrest D. Freund
Glenn J. Freund
Robert E. Freund
Max Friedrich
Stephanie Furniss
Lauren Galanes
Eva Galanes-Rosenbaum
Christopher Gale
Terry Garthwaite
Teryl George
Judith Gilbert
Briana Gladstern
Maya Gladstern
Tommy Gorlin
Mathew S. Grad
Ruby Udell Grad
Ellen Gray
Richard Gray
Adam Greene
Jeff Groethe
Erik Gunnarson
Marcia Gunnarson
John R. Gunnarson
Laurel Gunnarson
Lynn R. Gurievsky
Darci Hammond
Nanette Harris
Oliver Brent Harris
Aleta Forrest Harris
Laurie Healy
Kai Hecker
Luanna Helfman
Deborah Henderson
Donna Henderson
Kenneth Henderson
Jeffrey Henderson
Linda Herman
Mario Robert Hernandez
Jesse D. Hicks
Stephen Denis Hicks
Natalie A. Hicks
Jessie Hock
Donna Hoffman
Victoria Holman
Steve Holt
Linda Howe
Mike Howe
Sharon Howes
Debbie Hubsmith
David Hughes
Janet Haas Hughes
Alex Hughes
Roma Kate Hunt
Piro Ishizaka
Marshall Johnson
Ann Jones
Peter Jones
Michael Joseph
Wendi Kallins
Dahlia Kamesar
Jack Kamesar
John Kaufman
Karlon Kepcke
Sara Kersey
Steve Kinsey
Jean Kinsey
Breeze Kinsey
Veronica Kleinberg
Jack ornfield
Paul Kovin
Marshall Krause
Margaret Krauss
Judy Jessop Kuever
Lynn Kushel
Susan LaCroix
Steve Lawless
Peter Lengsfelder
John Lerch
Katrin Lichtenstein
Michael Lighthawk
William Lindenau
Jenna Luscynski
Meaghan Maher
Pete Marden
Maria Margason
Laurel Marinelli
Jeanne Marlow
Ian Matthew
Anne McClain
Yvette McGowan
Caitlin McInerney
Lynette McLamb
Don McMillen
John McNally
David Mendez
Eli Mendez
Jan Mendez
Carol Meszaros
John Millar
Kevin Miller
James Miller
Johathan Miller
Rosalyn Miller
Gershon Mitchel
Stephanie Mogel
Elizabeth Montague
Justin Moscoso
Sita Mulligan
David Nakagawa
Sara Nesson
Will New
Nancy MillsNewman
Bill Noble
Tina Noble
Rick Noll
Karen Novacich
Maranda Nowell
David O_Connor
Andreas Olesen
Peter Berg Olesen
Kristi Olesen
Sarah Olesen
Nancy Olesen
Jennifer Olsen-Spindell
PeterOppenheimer
Eve Orcutt Eves
Sophie Orcutt
Anny Owen
M. Brett Paley
Judy Parle
Buck Parle
Forrest Luke Pechak
Christina Pedersen
Tonya Peterson
Rachel Philips
Margot Phillips
Darrell Phipps
Marcia Phipps
Margit Renate Pirsch
Nora Pirsch
Jennifer Piscatelli
Christopher Piscatelli
Barbara Poborca
Mark Poborca
Jered Michal Poppe
Lynnel Powell-Gurley
Barbara Prather
Paul Price
John Proctor
Andy Rader
Morgan Rahn
David Rasmussen
Morgan Rasmussen
Charlene Ravani
James Rawlinson
Jane Rawlinson
Carol Rebscher
Larry Redalia
Debra Redalia
Helen Reich
David Reich
Wynn Richards
Tracy Richardson
Alison Rider
Edie Robinson
Susan Wilson Rodgers
Mia Rosenberg
Maxwell Rossmassler
Jerry Rubin
Suzanne Sadowsky
Angelica Salazar
Bobbie Salazar
Placido Salazar
Xavier Salazar
Naomi Schaeffer Draper
Jamie Lynn Schoen
Suzi Schuenemann
Jim Schuenemann
Susan Scott
Roberta Seifert
John Oran Severson
Raechel Shelfer
Michelle Shelfer
Lochlan Shelfer
Robert Shoup
Ram Paul Sibley
Richard Sielert
Elly Simmons
Jack Sims
Joanne Sims
Parker Sims
Mark Smith
Aaron Spindell
Sheldon Spindell
Heather St. Giles
Todd Steiner
Laurie Sterling
Suzanne Sterling
Eugene Stockton
Susan Marie Swan
Helayna Taylor
Angelica Tercero
Myra Terziev
Nicolay Terziev
Mia Terziev
Marsha Thelin
Ace Thelin
Jasper Thelin
NancyTingley
June Tolbert
Julia Tully
Rex Valencia
Amy Valens
Tom Valens
Julie Van Amerongen
Tom Sim Veach
Jacquilin Veta
Judy Voets
Buzz Voytovich
Jean A.Warner
Ezra Trey Waters
Thelma Joan Weiss
Mark Weiss
Liv Wheeler
Bonny White
Nick C. White
Donell Willis
Sebastian Wittenstein
Andreas Wittenstein
Yuri Wittman
Katherine Woodward
Ysa Wynn
John Yannotti
Jose Ysaguirre
Brent Zeller

BIKE RIDES EVERY LAST SUNDAY COMING SOON TO A NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR YOU
by Brent Harris
They move through the quiet roads of this sleepy rural Valley astride their silent two-wheeled vehicles in search of scenery and adventure. Attired in lycra tights, faded jeans, baggy shorts, sweat pants, and paisley-printed bell-bottomed corduroys; laughing and gabbing; some on skinny-tire ten speeds, some on high-tech mountain bikes, some on fat-tired Schwinns with fenders; they cruise the roads and paths of the Valley. The women and men, some of whom forgot decades ago the thrill of the silent steed, are re-indoctrinated into the Ancient Order of The Pedal by the children who lead them.

Who are these mysterious invaders?

They are your neighbors who join together once a month to celebrate the joys of cycling. They are the GO GERONIMO "Know-Your-Neighborhood Bike Riders." This open society of cyclepaths meets at 1 PM at the Cultural Center on the last Sunday of every month for a leisurely hour or two of cycling camaraderie and exploration. Their numbers are growing and they are COMING TO A NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR YOU. Join them.

ON-LINE RIDESHARING: WWW.GOGERONIMO.ORG
by Debbie Hubsmith
By the end of March, GO GERONIMO will feature an interactive web site with the address www.gogeronimo.org

The site will maintain many interesting features including two databases - one for rides offered and one for rides needed. Here_s how it works. First time users of the "Skedge On-line" will be asked to fill-out a short form with contact and ride information. People search for rides offered or needed by indicating days, times, locations, etc. The database will provide a list of rides that meet the criteria of the person conducting the search. Those offering or needing rides can contact each other via phone, or by clicking on a posted entry - instantly sending an e-mail to the potential ride sharer.

The Skedge On-line will enable people to make arrangements in advance for local or long distance trips. Others will be able to find long-term commute-buddies for getting to work or school.

In addition to the Interactive Skedge On-line, the GO GERONIMO site will feature: program history and descriptions, links to other transportation sites, advocacy updates, a chat room, frequently asked questions, clips from the GO GERONIMO video, a multi-media slide show, back issues of The Wheel, and much more.

www.gogeronimo.org is being constructed by Jeff Rogers, an alternative energy technologist and web consultant for other fine environmental groups including North Coast Earth First! (headwatersforest.org/ef) and Project Earth (projectearth.org). Special thanks to Woodacre residents Jenny Voy and Brian Staley who volunteered considerable amounts of time to help GO GERONIMO conceptualize and plan this project.
GO GERONIMO will conduct a Valley-wide mailing this Spring to alert all San Geronimo Valley residents about our new web site and the Skedge On-line.

RIDES FOR BAY AREA COMMUTERS
Subscribers to the Marin Independent Journal may have seen Jasper Thelin_s op-ed piece last November entitled "Ride-sharing Must Be Part of the 101 Solution." The article sought to bring greater awareness to the numerous ways ridesharing can be convenient, fun, and expedient. It was also written in an effort to preserve the extended HOV hours on highway 101; unfortunately, Marin_s CMA and Caltrans went with the cries of single occupancy vehicle commuters and rolled back the hours.

In his article, Jasper mentioned the organization RIDES for Bay Area Commuters. RIDES is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to helping Bay Area commuters find alternatives to driving alone. They have many programs, including a database of rides offered and needed throughout the entire Bay Area. Since they recently relocated, GO GERONIMO wanted to provide the new contact info for this group. Here it is:

RIDES for Bay Area Commuters
1333 Broadway, Suite 601
Oakland, CA 94612
phone: (510) 893-7665; fax: (510) 622-0201
internet: www.rides.org
GO GERONIMO also wanted to encourage readers of The Wheel to register for two upcoming events, sponsored by RIDES. Both give you the opportunity to win prizes, and save on pollution emissions.

1. "Make Your World a Little Greener," encourages commuters to try a commute alternative at least once between March 1 and Earth Day, April 22. Those who carpool, vanpool, take transit, bike, walk or telecommute will be eligible to win $1,000 or other great prizes.
2. The "Fifth Annual Bike to Work Day," takes place on Tuesday, May 18. Commuters who sign a pledge to try bicycle commuting at least once during the week of May 17-21 are eligible to win prizes.
Entries for both programs can be submitted by calling RIDES at 800-755-POOL or by registering online at www.rides.org. Annually, commuters who share the ride, bicycle, walk or telecommute help keep approximately 2.7 million pounds of pollutants out of the Bay Area_s air.

THANKS FOR TALKING TO US: SURVEY REPORT
By Victoria Holman
Spring is coming and GO GERONIMO is gearing up for another year of cutting edge transportation. Support continues to roll in from our community in the form of feedback and ideas, so we continue to roll on down the road of affordable, multi-modal transportation alternatives.

Last year we were awarded a $10,000 grant from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, through Marin_s Congestion Management Agency. One of the grant requirements is to monitor our programs and gather statistical information which shows how many tons of harmful car emissions GO GERONIMO is reducing from entering into the environment. In other words we_ve got to show that we_re making a difference.

The valuable information gathered about how the GO GERONIMO Reg and Skedge are helping to reduce emissions is now being entered into a database. In the coming months we will be conducting another survey to measure the growth of the Ride Registry and Ride Sharing Schedule. Once both surveys are complete, these figures will be compiled and provided for our final report for the Transportation Funds for Clean Air award.

One of the major bonuses of this rather arduous process has been the accumulation of a lot of information that is interesting and helpful to our own efforts to grow GO GERONIMO. We¹re getting feedback galore. So thank you for your cooperation and for helping us to learn how we can better serve the Valley_s transportation needs.
From kids we heard:

"Awesome," "GO GERONIMO is Cool," "A totally good idea," "I get rides pretty quickly," "I like it; I_m always comfortable and nice people pick me up."

From adults we heard:

"Great program," "Essential," "Well conceived," "If it weren_t for GO GERONIMO I would have had to move out of the Valley," and "Revolutionary program with fabulous potential."

Many folks, especially parents, expressed serious interest in a bus or van that could make regular trips over the hill and to Drake High School. This idea has been kicked around since the beginning of GO GERONIMO. The obstacles are mainly financial. A van requires maintenance, upkeep, insurance, and drivers, all of which are costly. However, this is certainly something that GO GERONIMO wants to pursue, especially in light of the support within the community.

By far the overwhelming sentiment expressed in the survey was that people want to see more riders. "There_s never anyone at the stops" was a common complaint. Well, there are two reasons for this. One is that there are so many wonderful, willing, registered GO GERONIMO drivers that riders get picked up immediately. The second reason for the limited number of riders is that drivers don_t want to get out of their own cars. I_m the first to admit that I_m hard pressed to give up the flexibility and convenience that my car provides. But the purpose of our program is not just to provide rides to those who don_t normally have them, but also to provide opportunities to everyone in our community to help reduce congestion and pollution in our environment. This is a new and different way of looking at things that will surely take time to catch on. But now is the time for all of us, car owners and non-owners alike, to consider sharing a ride and sharing the road whenever possible. At first it may not seem convenient, but it is ultimately important to our community, our environment and our future. And the best part is that GO GERONIMO is just plain fun.