2020 was not a great year for most people or businesses with Covid-19 taking over our way of life. Masks/no masks, 3 - 6 feet apart, no tourism, state locked down.
A few businesses were able to make a positive difference for us back then, and The Mountain Climber was one of them. Recognizing that times were beyond brutal for everyone, the Mountain Climber temporarily suspended charging one dollar for a fare. It was the right thing to do. But who could have seen we would be dealing with COVID for several years? What was hoped to be a short grace period of not charging for a fare turned out to be nearly three years later, an unprecedented inflation hike, and a labor shortage throughout the valley, to name a few changes.
In 2021, technology was also introduced to the Mountain Climber through an app VIA. This allowed riders to bypass the call-waiting music and book their rides on their phone. This has worked well for all members of the community since its introduction, although there are still some people who like to ride without going anywhere. And one more notable issue: people don't always show up for the rides they book. Drivers would spend time circling an area, parking the bus, and knocking on doors for people who booked a ride, but they were nowhere to be found. This meant rides were often late and the service became less consistent for the riders. "It's easy for people to no-show when they don't have anything to lose," said Elizabeth Woods, director of the Mountain Climber. "It has no value to them."
So, the leadership of the Mountain Climber, with approval from their Transportation Advisory Committee and County Commissioners, decided to reintroduce the $1 fare later in 2023 with a few modifications from pre-Covid days. "Our drivers won't carry cash as they did in the past, which was dangerous for them. Riders can use the app, call, or purchase multiple tickets...not just $1 at a time, but $10 or $25 to use as needed," Liz explained.
Bus drivers have been sharing information with their customers for several months to prepare them, and the Mountain Climber will be offering training throughout July. More information can be found on the Mountain Climber website https://www.mtnclimber.org and on their Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Mountain-Climber/.