I’d like to respond to Mr. Kiser’s Jan. 1 letter about bus transit on Whidbey Island. First of all he obviously doesn’t ride the bus. If he did he wouldn’t complain about the cost of supporting the system with sales tax (nine-tenths of 1 percent). Island Transit is a great way to get around and I recommend you try it before you publicly criticize it. The buses run promptly, they’re clean, safe, the drivers are helpful and courteous and there is no passenger fare.

For those who say the buses run empty they obviously haven’t noticed the buses during the commuter hours when they’re nearly full of people getting to-and-from work or school. The bus that runs straight up the highway each morning has so many people using it that Island Transit has to chase it with a smaller bus to pick up the overflow.

Island Transit now carries 5,000 people a day. This includes 90 vanpools that go on-and-off island, many serving our military, para-transit which provides independence to those who cannot drive, and buses from Clinton to Camano Island that connect to bus systems in neighboring counties.

In these challenging economic times, Island Transit provides transportation for those who are marginally employed trying to make ends meet on a tight budget. It gives people a chance to go to work, school, shopping or visit family and friends without the expense of driving a car while the price of gas creeps over $3 a gallon.

Even those who don’t use the bus should be happy to have it as it takes 5,000 cars off the roads, reduces noise and pollution and provides more parking for all those who can’t seem to wean themselves from their cars.

Thanks to everyone who shops in Island County for this great service.

Harriet Baker

Greenbank