Cyride

Infobox Bus transit
name = Cyride

logo_size = 250

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image_size = 300px
image_caption = Pictured is bus #975 (left) and #980 (right)
#975 is a 2002 Orion Bus Industries V bus
#980 is a 1988 Orion Bus Industries I bus
company_slogan =
parent =
founded = 1976
headquarters = 1700 6th Street
Ames, IA 50014
locale = Ames
service_area = Ames, Iowa,
Iowa State University
service_type = Intracity bus service
alliance =
routes = 12
destinations =
stops =
hubs =
stations =
lounge =
fleet = 66
ridership =
fuel_type =
operator = City of Ames
Iowa State University
ceo =
website = [http://www.cyride.com Official Website]

CyRide is a partnership between Iowa State University and Ames, Iowa. Cyride provides public transportation to the community throughout the city of Ames. The word CyRide is a combination of the two words; Cyclone (which is the mascot of the Iowa State Cyclones) and the word ride.

History

From the 1860s until the early 1890 college students were taxied to and from campus by a horse drawn carriage that was operated by brothers, Nichols and Maxwell Livery. The town committee published a report on November 1, 1890 stating that there would be a benefit to create a railroad to replace the current system. [ [http://www.ameshistoricalsociety.org/exhibits/dinkey/dinkey_photos.htm Ames & College Railway Dinkey ] ]

On July 4 1892, the rail line, named the "dinkey" (given by the size of the engine) departed from its barn on the east end of 5th street, for its first convert|2|mi|km|sing=on trip to the Iowa State University campus. [ [http://www.ameshistoricalsociety.org/exhibits/dinkey/dinkey_photos.htm Ames & College Railway Dinkey ] ] The dinkey ran on 30 lb/yd (15 kg/m) rail that is small compared to the 136 lb/yd (67 kg/m) rail that is used today. The dinkey had three passenger cars that were often at maximum capacity because of the growing population of the city.

In 1929, the dinkey was replaced by a bus system that transported passengers to and from the Iowa State University. [ [http://www.ameshistoricalsociety.org/exhibits/dinkey/dinkey_timeline.htm Dinkey Timeline ] ] In 1976 all operating buses were combined and CyRide was started as a city department. In 1981 Bob Bourne was the director of CyRide. He brought CyRide from a 12 bus, 3 route system to a 65 bus, 11 route system in his 25 years of employment at CyRide. [ [http://www.bournetransit.com/about.html Borne Transit ] ]

Routes

Fares

;Iowa State StudentsStudents of Iowa State University are able to ride Cyride free of charge by presenting the bus driver with their Iowa State identification card. This is necessary on all bus routes except the Gold, Cardinal, and Orange Routes which always allow passengers to travel without charge.

;Reduced Fare RidersTo qualify for reduced fare, you must be a student in grades K-12, a senior citizen, or a person with a disability. The reduced Fare is .50 US Dollar for a one way trip. Multiple tickets can be purchased at a time if a ticket book is purchased in advance. Ticket books come in a packet of 10 which cost 5 US Dollars. Ticket books can be bought at local grocery stores, Ames city hall, and Cyride headquarters.

;Full Fare RidersFull Fare Riders covers everyone else who is riding. The regular fare is 1.00 US Dollar. Full fare riders can also purchase multiple tickets in advance. Ticket books come in a packet of 10 which cost 10 dollars. Ticket books can also be bought at local grocery stores, Ames city hall, and Cyride headquarters.

;Children Under FiveChildren under the age of five are free with an accompanying adult. There may be no more than three children per adult.

Additional Services

Moonlight express

In 1984 Cyride started to operate a on Friday and Saturday nights service called Moonlight Express which has been dubbed “the drunk bus” by students..citation | last=Culberson | first=Becky | title= Iowa State University : Off the Record (College Prowler)| newspaper=| year=2005 | date= | url=www.collegeprowler.com| accessdate=2008-02-23 ] This system was put into service to allow students to socialize with their friends while offering a safe alternative to driving while impaired. Between the hours of 10:00 pm to 3:30am the moonlight express will stop at any stop along the normal fixed route.

In the time Moonlight Express has been running, there have been no drunk-driving fatalities in Ames during its hours of operation.

Dial-A-Ride

Dial-A-Ride is a door to door service that caters mostly to elderly and disabled persons. This service take people within ¾ mile from any fixed Cyride route. A Dial-A-Ride rides need to be scheduled the day before to ensure a spot. In 2005 Dial-A-Ride was turned over to the Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Authority (HIRTA) which is operated out of the Heartland Senior Services site in the Ames area.

Future

CyRide is considering bringing a "fare-free" system to all Ames residents. CyRide currently receives 270,000 dollars from paid fares that will have to be compenstated for some other way [ [http://media.www.iowastatedaily.com/media/storage/paper818/news/2008/02/13/News/Cyride.Considers.Opening.Doors.To.All-3205673.shtml CyRide] ]

Awards

*2002 APTA Gold Safety Award Finalist
*1999 APTA Neil E. Goldschmidt Silver Safety Award Finalist
*1997 APTA Neil E. Goldschmidt Silver Safety Award Winner
*1996 APTA AdWheels Award Winner
*1995 APTA Neil E. Goldschmidt Silver Safety Award Winner
*1993 APTA Neil E. Goldschmidt Silver Safety Award Finalist
*1992 Public Risk Management Administration Achievement Award
*1991 APTA Neil E. Goldschmidt Silver Safety Award Finalist
*1989 UMTA Outstanding Public Service Award
*1989 UMTA Administrator's Award [ [http://www.bournetransit.com/about.html Borne Transit] ]
*1983 All America City Award
*15 State Bus Roadeo Winners (as of June 2006)
*2nd place in the 35' bus division at the 2004 APTA International Bus Roadeo
*5th place in the 35' bus division at the 2007 APTA International Bus Roadeo

References