Marin Transit​ Seeks Rider Feedback On Survey

MARIN COUNTY, CA – Marin Transit is asking riders to complete a survey on fare payment preferences and options for local bus service.

The 15-question survey also asks questions about rider demographics including income, ethnicity, and age.

Respondents also are asked if they prefer to pay by credit or debit card, Clipper card, cash, 1-, 7- or 30-day passes or if they would like to pay by smartphone which currently is not available.

The survey takes about two minutes to complete and is available in English and Spanish. It is available at www.marintransit.org.

In addition to the online survey, which will continue through next week, riders are also surveyed onboard buses and at bus stops, Robert Betts, Marin Transit's director of operations and planning said.

"We're hoping to target 350 riders," Betts said.

Most Marin Transit riders pay with cash or some of the pass programs that exist for youth and College of Marin students, Betts said.

"Not a lot are using the Clipper card," he said.

The electronic payment Clipper card option offers discounts for youth, seniors and people with disabilities.

Betts said, "We're trying to figure out how to get fewer cash payments and more payments with passes that give discounts. We want to speed up boarding."

Betts said cash payments delay boarding time and slow down Marin Transit service.

Betts said many low-income riders pay cash instead of using the available passes that have discounts that can save them money.

Marin Transit serves about 3 million riders a year, or about 10,000 fixed route riders on an average weekday.

The survey is the first to gauge riders' payment preferences.

By Bay City News Service / Image via Shutterstock