tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60894012536557037572024-03-28T14:41:06.618-07:00Best Friends of Lowcountry TransitWilliam Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06741904019458546425noreply@blogger.comBlogger131125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089401253655703757.post-67290110410851266502023-12-18T08:13:00.000-08:002023-12-18T08:15:49.046-08:00Make Sure Transit Reaches our Fairgrounds<p> </p><div class="corgi-7eifwp" style="box-sizing: border-box; grid-column: 1 / 1; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding-right: 40px;"><div class="corgi-a24si3" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px;"><div class="corgi-1yz7e9k" data-qa="description-content" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><div class="corgi-1wj70kl" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Lowcountry must stand up to make sure our already compromised plan to build a rapid transit line is not further reduced by surrendering to demands not to connect our transit system to our fairgrounds.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This petition is being offered by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BFLowcountryTransit" target="_blank">Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit, Inc</a>. William Hamilton, Ex. Dir. (843) 870-5299 or wjhamilton29464@gmail.com.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTy04w8umXt7nryh58-H7JcgtLewV92mRfUnCHmM-N3ZuRYGnTD0ODEkPd_SRQaS0oJ3NvkMu_DLodXL0wFQRl8I35r6E0uQ-cWQxbJQ06qnPXJuAuRgeceNHrexM61t-VEqIqOVnSKJCJVCBh7_ShyphenhyphenJqpcnFLUi113BSYVrRpl8ynQGlpNXzQsj4B_g/s816/boys%20plan%20transit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="816" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTy04w8umXt7nryh58-H7JcgtLewV92mRfUnCHmM-N3ZuRYGnTD0ODEkPd_SRQaS0oJ3NvkMu_DLodXL0wFQRl8I35r6E0uQ-cWQxbJQ06qnPXJuAuRgeceNHrexM61t-VEqIqOVnSKJCJVCBh7_ShyphenhyphenJqpcnFLUi113BSYVrRpl8ynQGlpNXzQsj4B_g/s320/boys%20plan%20transit.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://chng.it/xmdKnVsGqV" target="_blank">Sign the Petition</a></span></div><div class="corgi-1wj70kl" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />A petition is being circulated attacking the plan to place the Ladson area terminal for the long planned <a href="https://lowcountryrapidtransit.com/" target="_blank">Lowcountry Rapid Transit System</a> at the Fairgrounds in Ladson. The Fairgrounds have suffered from terrific congestion problems for years, which in turn is alleged to have substantially reduced attendance. As the Ladson area has developed along the accepted pattern of suburban sprawl, the extremely limited LINK rural transit bus service hasn't been able to contribute much to helping meet the area's mobility needs. Bus stop shelters were even removed in Summerville. As always, weak, unreliable transit doesn't work. Sprawl strangles our quality of life. The Lowcountry refuses to learn that inadequate effort in things like transportation, housing and education doesn't solve problems. it's time for the failures to stop.</span></div><div class="corgi-1wj70kl" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A Plan that is Already Compromised. </span></h3><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWz_Wy9MHUoRHt1LNTHKduT2DPgu2Fsml0ZKWJAC2sesACkVq80z_CtHtHTji_BOZWUEd6qAmqKvksrazyr2AQxLdg34_ECyfoX3ovsM2YB5VkvoSI67gR7FgW9h3Ea-a1pJNq4mFjVyafdbkTzeC5sU_vsswMtU8wW7qa44TTI7RMS18dcI0lfTZnDME/s3818/bus%2020%20in%20front%20of%20market%20hall%20(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2387" data-original-width="3818" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWz_Wy9MHUoRHt1LNTHKduT2DPgu2Fsml0ZKWJAC2sesACkVq80z_CtHtHTji_BOZWUEd6qAmqKvksrazyr2AQxLdg34_ECyfoX3ovsM2YB5VkvoSI67gR7FgW9h3Ea-a1pJNq4mFjVyafdbkTzeC5sU_vsswMtU8wW7qa44TTI7RMS18dcI0lfTZnDME/s320/bus%2020%20in%20front%20of%20market%20hall%20(1).JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />The 2014 I26 Alt plan for the transit line approved by Charleston County Voters in the 2016 referendum called for rapid transit from Charleston to Summerville, the result of over 20 years and ten million dollars in planning. This plan has already suffered greatly by repeated decisions not to surrender to resistance by giving up use of the railroad line into Charleston as a transit corridor and turning it over for use as a dog walking park for rich people. The plan to have a transit hub in the central city has retreated from the Visitors Center, to Line Street and now to Mt. Pleasant Street, almost two miles from the central city. The system no longer operates as rapid transit in in it's own dedicated lane South of Reynolds Ave. in N. Charleston, running as a regular bus in mixed traffic and flooding to MUSC downtown. The plan for a transit line stop connecting the LCRT to our Train and Bus Station in North Charleston has been abandoned and the nearest stop is now half a mile away. Plans to connect Summerville were abandoned when the system was cut back to the fairgrounds. A critical stop near Huger Street was moved half a mile South into an area with weaker connections. Each of these decisions has been made without a public vote, in secret. What is left is a system which won't have the capacity to provide mobility and relieve traffic congestion the region needs. </span><p></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our political leaders have quietly and undemocratically surrendered the region's rapid transit future to the piecemeal complaints of people who will be enraged when they're spending two hours a day snarled in traffic five years from now with no functional alternative to reach places of business who can't hire staff because people have no way to get to work there in a reasonable time and nowhere to live nearby which they can afford. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sign the </span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">Petition</span>. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit is circulating it's own petition to demonstrate support for having a public transit terminal at the Fairgrounds. For most of the year, this will have no impact on the fairgrounds at all, since it is deserted. On the handful of weekends when the Fairgrounds fully uses it's parking, the access provided by the Lowcountry Rapid Transit System will more than replace the fair attendance</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> the loss of a few parking spaces might cause.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Petition Reads<br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WeD3URenbM6wX9bhlS1HfJUZkDXKwdQdT1n3zzLMy9NOChaQWpVrrrOL-wTz00rdTEVkOHusob4YJjU6-44d8_DgyZ0MBwuK2v-2IItjzPe6Xvx5Ts9KEPJ4tlaKXF6OHEopaA4ew32EW_cQw7wN1e_tbqwizdkIiWuzB7KdQ2g-l8WHkSIiXQbQJoQ/s2048/bus%20stop%20with%20swing%20from%20the%20North.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WeD3URenbM6wX9bhlS1HfJUZkDXKwdQdT1n3zzLMy9NOChaQWpVrrrOL-wTz00rdTEVkOHusob4YJjU6-44d8_DgyZ0MBwuK2v-2IItjzPe6Xvx5Ts9KEPJ4tlaKXF6OHEopaA4ew32EW_cQw7wN1e_tbqwizdkIiWuzB7KdQ2g-l8WHkSIiXQbQJoQ/s320/bus%20stop%20with%20swing%20from%20the%20North.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Image, left, transit stop in Mt. Pleasant. </i></span></div><div class="corgi-1wj70kl" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="corgi-1wj70kl" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><a href="https://chng.it/xmdKnVsGqV" target="_blank">Sign the Petition to Make Sure our Transit Line Reaches the Fairgrounds</a><br /></i></span><p></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><i>As a resident of the SC Lowcountry, I would like to be able to travel to and from our region’s fairgrounds by Public Transit using the planned <a class="corgi-1ct102y" href="https://lowcountryrapidtransit.com/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #157db9; cursor: pointer; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px;" target="_blank">Lowcountry Rapid Transit System. </a></i></span></p><p style="animation: 0.5s ease 0s 1 normal forwards running spintext; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.5em 0px 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>I am disappointed that an agreement has not yet been reached to build a transit station at the Fairgrounds to serve the community, make this location more valuable to the region, increase fair revenue for local charitable causes and to reduce traffic congestion associated with events held there. A functional transit terminal adjacent to the fairground would increase the value of the fairgrounds to the entire community for all the events held there and activity at the adjacent Coastal Carolina Flea Market. Reducing traffic congestion will also help ensure safety by avoiding blocking fire, police and EMS services from operating in the area during the fair. </i></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.5em 0px 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>I do not believe it is appropriate for outdated attitudes about racism and discrimination to get in the way of assuring our community enjoys the benefits of public transit and a successful, inclusive fair in the future. </i></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.5em 0px 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>I am asking the Exchange Club to work diligently to reach agreement with local governments so we can all move forward quickly to the day when everyone will be able to reach the fair without fighting traffic including the disabled, elderly, those without access to automobiles and those who prefer not to drive. </i><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit, Inc. </span></h3><p></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This petition is being offered by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BFLowcountryTransit" target="_blank">Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit, Inc</a>. William Hamilton, Ex. Dir. (843) 870-5299 or wjhamilton29464@gmail.com.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div></div></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0px;"></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0px;"></span></span></div></div><div class="corgi-tqtihq" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; grid-area: 1 / 2 / span 2 / 2; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><div class="corgi-u056nf" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: 1753.2px; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px;"><div class="corgi-102zp4a" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 8px; min-width: 0px;"><div class="corgi-1vhrc7e" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding-top: 8px;"><div class="corgi-1yz7e9k" data-qa="signature-thermometer" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><div aria-label="Signature progress bar" aria-valuemax="100" aria-valuemin="0" aria-valuenow="20" class="corgi-14uudcj" role="progressbar" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: 8px; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="corgi-1l4cjar" style="border-radius: 28px; box-sizing: border-box; height: 8px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 303.984px;"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>William Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06741904019458546425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089401253655703757.post-7797865508930756942023-10-24T15:23:00.000-07:002023-10-24T15:52:18.323-07:00Connect Future Lowcountry Transit to the Fairgrounds<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJts0ZvJCgGu4Qn4i3_wK8KRrgANuDxlf6cV0DQkQ_8rHZpEhcuFHNAc43-pc41j0wv4negFH-ft80fACifX7eAwC4UW-MDlL42znpyNj8kfPK_AIk5jXyWExFP11Yw9JMGY5CrbS1RAasWphDEXO0_o-vpHdf_BsFE1zjIWCmC_9s77DtQcluDGikJOk/s4032/20200311_095533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1960" data-original-width="4032" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJts0ZvJCgGu4Qn4i3_wK8KRrgANuDxlf6cV0DQkQ_8rHZpEhcuFHNAc43-pc41j0wv4negFH-ft80fACifX7eAwC4UW-MDlL42znpyNj8kfPK_AIk5jXyWExFP11Yw9JMGY5CrbS1RAasWphDEXO0_o-vpHdf_BsFE1zjIWCmC_9s77DtQcluDGikJOk/s320/20200311_095533.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><i>Charleston,
SC, USA-</i> At the October CARTA Board Meeting, Ron Mitchum, </span><strong style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="background: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;">Executive Director of the Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester Council
of Governments</span></strong><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">
</b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">re</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">ported that an
agreement on placing a stop at the Fairgrounds for our planned Lowcountry Rapid
Transit System had not been reached.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">The
exact nature of the reason why this has not been accomplished during the Eight
years that the system has been in planning at a cost of over Five Million
Dollars was not fully explained. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Best
Friends of Lowcountry Transit will mobilize transit riders and supporters to
encourage the Exchange Club and associated organizations connected with the
management of the Fairgrounds to move quickly to resolve this important issue
during this year’s Coastal Carolina Fair, scheduled to begin Friday. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Members of
the organization will be asked to hand in forms showing their support for a stop
at the fairgrounds and an online petition will be run, which will be delivered
to the Exchange Club at the end of this year’s Coastal Carolina Fair. Links to
the form can be accessed from the group’s facebook page at </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">https://www.facebook.com/BFLowcountryTransit</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> online.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The Form
and petition read: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“As a
patron of the Coastal Carolina Fair, I would like to be able to travel to and
from our region’s fairgrounds by Public Transit using the planned Lowcountry
Rapid Transit System. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I am
disappointed that an agreement has not yet been reached to build a transit
station at the Fairgrounds to serve the community, make this location more
valuable to the region, increase fair revenue for local charitable causes and
to reduce traffic congestion associated with events held there. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Please
work diligently to reach agreement with local governments so we can all move
forward quickly to the day when everyone will be able to reach the fair without
fighting traffic including the disabled, elderly, those without access to
automobiles and those who prefer not to drive.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9F8AUT0g8aATI_86F7wNVcbwy3XrsJlL3KwIVOZFSUKp-CxvdEFKmcl7tgcJAuEYmVvtMFHzJEP3bWwVuUgcffoRMNS4rhupNid0zo5-56YDg9gP1diXhO0isJh0MGM06NF72hg_q5gNASzj8Qnq71UmqFGZodjwK2FQVehiPOcx5UxklhABSLaEQNH0/s1224/charleston-transit-1-press-orange-bg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="936" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9F8AUT0g8aATI_86F7wNVcbwy3XrsJlL3KwIVOZFSUKp-CxvdEFKmcl7tgcJAuEYmVvtMFHzJEP3bWwVuUgcffoRMNS4rhupNid0zo5-56YDg9gP1diXhO0isJh0MGM06NF72hg_q5gNASzj8Qnq71UmqFGZodjwK2FQVehiPOcx5UxklhABSLaEQNH0/w153-h200/charleston-transit-1-press-orange-bg.jpg" width="153" /></a></div>For more information,
contact<br />
William J. Hamilton, III<br />
Ex. Dir. Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit<br />
<a href="mailto:wjhamilton29464@gmail.com">wjhamilton29464@gmail.com</a>, (843)
870-5299<o:p></o:p><p></p>William Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06741904019458546425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089401253655703757.post-72865902893588274302023-06-05T16:56:00.007-07:002023-06-12T11:03:33.519-07:00Guided Transit Trips to the Beach at IOP<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxlkT-HcAQpC-f72mrS0D-JGonsrpNQSOJz412UtPxRCKL0AzdsnUmToOimPHis9_c5uHQFmWfR49ExWYW3bgkbPrOh8RwzvczbE3hJ8bTZJUSJ5UvPz0DZS2fIeZB1ZFRvtjR_6JIG6kW1VGlSxn1Xfv0masEgnERSPeJHorFgJ6-rctuW-v3W3v5/s960/logo%20for%20bflt.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxlkT-HcAQpC-f72mrS0D-JGonsrpNQSOJz412UtPxRCKL0AzdsnUmToOimPHis9_c5uHQFmWfR49ExWYW3bgkbPrOh8RwzvczbE3hJ8bTZJUSJ5UvPz0DZS2fIeZB1ZFRvtjR_6JIG6kW1VGlSxn1Xfv0masEgnERSPeJHorFgJ6-rctuW-v3W3v5/w200-h200/logo%20for%20bflt.jpg" width="200" /><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></a></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Guided Rides- Helping New Transit Riders Reach the Beach</span></h2><i>Temporary Content- Check Back for Revision</i><br /><br />New material appears first on our Facebook Page at <a href="http://www.bfltransit.com">www.bfltransit.com</a><p></p><p>We know rising our limited local transit system is hard. This summer we're planning a series of events to help get everyone to the beach. As the parking on the Island disappears, experienced transit riders will meet you inland and help you reach the beach. Transit to the Atlantic, Summerville to the Sea. </p><p>Most of the guides leading our rides will be experienced members of our corps of conductors. </p><p>We're also doing the opposite, setting up some Flee the Sea rides for IOP residents escaping the congestion and the crowds for shopping and diversions on the mainland because transit should be about options. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDSNK-4VT0FQVuW46h4f1jtMF1y4OjAsmNLpVthICPcvj9oEGq2ICgGUVBOdBBoAOc1-tj664wSE6bCmGvhmGi4Lt7XvNOJodSvcHr1k_LhJmGm0E95ED2_Ec07-vnsUpRmDeexlGvVEdG5Y5onoJyNTJrPKjEbBa4F_aW9dm7qIi499py4gfJwBD/s960/March%20to%20the%20sea%202015.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDSNK-4VT0FQVuW46h4f1jtMF1y4OjAsmNLpVthICPcvj9oEGq2ICgGUVBOdBBoAOc1-tj664wSE6bCmGvhmGi4Lt7XvNOJodSvcHr1k_LhJmGm0E95ED2_Ec07-vnsUpRmDeexlGvVEdG5Y5onoJyNTJrPKjEbBa4F_aW9dm7qIi499py4gfJwBD/w280-h210/March%20to%20the%20sea%202015.jpg" width="280" /></span></a></div><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-small;">Image, left - Members of Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit March to the Sea to Demand a Bus to the Beach</span></i><br /><br /><b>Flee the Sea Ride- Sunday, June 18</b>- After coffee, we'll lead and escape party from the Island headed inland for Lunch, shopping or maybe a movie. Registered participants on our first flee the sea ride get a commemorative button. Sign up for our <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/flee-the-sea-guided-bus-trip-tickets-650251899937" target="_blank">June 18 Flee the Sea Ride now on Eventbrite</a>. <p></p><p>Guided rides and events for people from Summerville, Ridgeville, Lincolnville and Brownville will mark the end of Juneteenth. </p><h3>Sat. July 1- T-Day Veterans take the Beach and the Bus</h3><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8AR5VazteLxcFsWgFwDXOh_7EMHNwGiwQbrl7T-QOir-zlDa4rOo1Os18UK5Wmr1a_2tzOG2WBFDbjTflEH6cMr9kDm6nN6BkBwd4EUJ-axB_QqfrFIRIncTaLvmOYYp8jJnTlUkXIlUhLhB_HHkLHnflTiJbpfTMSsnw8q-NbS5kOdzUkFPP6Pe/s750/Tday%20social%20media%20header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="750" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8AR5VazteLxcFsWgFwDXOh_7EMHNwGiwQbrl7T-QOir-zlDa4rOo1Os18UK5Wmr1a_2tzOG2WBFDbjTflEH6cMr9kDm6nN6BkBwd4EUJ-axB_QqfrFIRIncTaLvmOYYp8jJnTlUkXIlUhLhB_HHkLHnflTiJbpfTMSsnw8q-NbS5kOdzUkFPP6Pe/w302-h181/Tday%20social%20media%20header.jpg" width="302" /></a></div>Veterans from across the Lowcountry will begin the Independence Day Holiday period by helping each other and the community reach the beach at the Isle of Palms See the <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/t-day-veterans-take-the-beach-the-bus-tickets-656862351977?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=escb" target="_blank">Eventbrite ticket sign up for guided rides </a>originating near where you live. We’ll have experienced transit riders working as guides from veterans facilities in inland areas. On the Isle of Palms, veterans will be welcomed at the VFW Post 3137, the Post on the Coast, with it’s wonderful oceanfront deck and view. To Reach the VFW Post see <a href="http://vfwpost3137.org" target="_blank">vfwpost3137.org</a></div><p>For a very different way to enjoy the beach, look into our Pirate Project. The Beach is Breat, but it can be better for some people if they are pirates. Read about <a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2023/05/queen-ruby-of-pirates-and-her-ladies-in.html" target="_blank">Queen Ruby of the Pirates and Her Ladies in Raiding. </a></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">How You Can Help</span></h3><p>All of these effort depend on people working together. If you would like to help please contact us. Donations can be made to <a href="https://secure.actblue.com/donate/best-friends-of-lowcountry-transit--inc--1" target="_blank">Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit through Act Blue</a>. </p>William Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06741904019458546425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089401253655703757.post-29851797358175927722023-06-01T19:24:00.007-07:002023-06-01T19:33:24.795-07:00Queen Ruby, Sir Isaac Newton and the Decision to Engage<p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">Chapter 4</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></b></div><div><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 11pt;">To read the full Narrative see the <a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2023/05/the-tale-of-queen-ruby-ladies-in.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tale of Queen Ruby and the Ladies in RaidingOn Board the Jeweled Princess</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Something Radical Onboard</span></h3><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Something truly radical had been going on during the years since the Ruby and the Ladies in Raising had liberated themselves from Pirate Anderson’s Marauders. Members of the crew had come and gone, many returning to their homes. Ruby and those remaining aboard have been recruiting women of ambition and intellect. Within the wooden walls of the Jeweled Princess, the greatest treasure being sought and stored is human knowledge. </span><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-d70ec688-7fff-84eb-e1e0-bcd995250ddb"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While famed for their acts of charity and their fights against the cruel pirates and monopolistic West India Company, these women have been educating each other. Ruby began teaching the other women as soon as they were free. Her Admiral father was a member of the Royal Society when it was led by Sir Isaac Newton. Ruby has her father’s books and continues to cultivate some of his connections to intellectual life in Britain and Europe. The booksellers of London don’t know the heavy orders of scientific and philosophical literature being sent overseas to a number of fictional names end up in the library of a pirate ship. Over time, other exceptional women have joined the crew bringing what they know, learning and teaching others.</span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xvIaCz008SvhuDCnDoc6a5trLtqGBrbCJUipNpuVJkRRDjRIQyNwybhDdmqLryeACk1-Epx1Jlyu6FXY9t8GfK0K48_XYBg5DLTQoSXN3YI9HIbwBx1vDo-v1d8GbkNkCt0pofgSxFG8vVRYpta_zUTPxttKImXYMfrrY8Ga2tD4UBuvdG6OklzS/s800/isaac_newton.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xvIaCz008SvhuDCnDoc6a5trLtqGBrbCJUipNpuVJkRRDjRIQyNwybhDdmqLryeACk1-Epx1Jlyu6FXY9t8GfK0K48_XYBg5DLTQoSXN3YI9HIbwBx1vDo-v1d8GbkNkCt0pofgSxFG8vVRYpta_zUTPxttKImXYMfrrY8Ga2tD4UBuvdG6OklzS/s320/isaac_newton.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sir Isaac Newton</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Jeweled Princess is the most advanced institution of higher learning in the Caribbean and equal to most colleges and universities in the Western Hemisphere. In a world where women are barred from formal higher education, these lady pirates are probably the largest collective of educated women in the New World. Their outfits and theatrics they delight in mask their true nature. Their mastery of Newton's calculus contributes to the exceptional precision of their artillery fire. </span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ruby also met and has read the writings of John Locke, who wrote, "The natural liberty of man is to be free from any superior power on earth, and not to be under the will or legislative authority of man, but only have the law of nature for his rule." </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Locke felt that women had the ability to reason, which entitled them to an equal voice. He wrote, "It may not be [wrong] to offer new... [ideas] when the old [traditions] are apt to lead men into mistakes, as this [idea] of [fatherly] power's probably has done, which seems so [eager] to place the power of parents over their children wholly in the father, as if the mother had no share in it; whereas if we consult reason or [the Bible], we shall find she has an equal title." </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDeoeAnztmnh4bmXcYgvINLC_nlfPgZ4nxxlu5ceDLV1UqdZA7RQAFtqQMGp67o8zXhnwN8f_-BEAdZf5hV50NDQ3hAw5w6av17Y-DCwTAefVxMf00snuCvwwNu4Tmq5ttRo7Vv8Anl-QzXv6EuGj9dwDEDUSIR2VxY4nttIu99KOJe42aGvEKtjiH/s248/John_Locke.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="248" data-original-width="190" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDeoeAnztmnh4bmXcYgvINLC_nlfPgZ4nxxlu5ceDLV1UqdZA7RQAFtqQMGp67o8zXhnwN8f_-BEAdZf5hV50NDQ3hAw5w6av17Y-DCwTAefVxMf00snuCvwwNu4Tmq5ttRo7Vv8Anl-QzXv6EuGj9dwDEDUSIR2VxY4nttIu99KOJe42aGvEKtjiH/s1600/John_Locke.jpg" width="190" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"> John Locke</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At this early stage of the Enlightenment, science and reason are on the rise. Many people look to the new world as a place where these ideas can be developed. Locke drafts parts of the fundamental constitutions which set up government in the colony of Carolina. Locke invests in the new world and is one of the stockholders in the “Company of Adventurers to the Bahama Islands.” Locke also invests in slave trading, which Ruby and the women abhor. </span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ruby had been attempting to discover how the key to the sea worked, but that is far beyond the science of her time and ours. A rigid separation between science, religion and magic hadn’t yet evolved, but Ruby is certain she can solve the riddle of its power. She has no idea why or how the power of a major hurricane has thrown the ship and crew 300 years into the future, carrying a boatload of the Kings Guard and Dread Pirate Anderson’s band with them. She doesn’t know how the key landed her back on the surface of the Earth when the planet and the sun had moved billions of miles through space in 300 years. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Uneven Progress in the World of the Biscuit Which Mesmerizes</span></h3><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">
Everywhere that Queen Ruby and her ladies go in the modern world, she discovers how uneven human progress has been. Medicine is a wonder, though Ruby isn’t sure how they’ll access a modern hospital if one of them becomes injured or ill. There are computers, aircraft and electricity. Poverty, disease, and oppression are still everywhere, even in an advanced society like the United States. Though chattel slavery is gone, race and sexism are still huge issues. </span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Having struggled to obtain books and scientific equipment in her time, Ruby is shocked to see how little universal instant access to all sorts of knowledge has contributed to human happiness. She resents “the Biscuit that enthralls,” her invented term for the smartphone. Everything necessary for human happiness can be found in this world, often in abundance. Much of it is wasted. In Charleston she finds huge libraries of books, videos, and access to electronic information, often nearly empty. In California she sees brilliant minds wasted and as companies seek quick profits and discard human talent. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOD6rXKd8cxFdRAqZ9vjb7QfJyck83W6ZboaDKHgZPC-inYd1sFStO-9zjOU64U7zVUChxIEtg3S5IOM9Nnev2TZNnogadLPuUCPnP525fflQLUxF49DLoZWNMZsBxGMop86oGcnRtCsFtozIMa3OiYQOVT_PmKzG_in6NSeMFJdCccbRM27VUeF4R/s4032/20230527_092215.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOD6rXKd8cxFdRAqZ9vjb7QfJyck83W6ZboaDKHgZPC-inYd1sFStO-9zjOU64U7zVUChxIEtg3S5IOM9Nnev2TZNnogadLPuUCPnP525fflQLUxF49DLoZWNMZsBxGMop86oGcnRtCsFtozIMa3OiYQOVT_PmKzG_in6NSeMFJdCccbRM27VUeF4R/s320/20230527_092215.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>There is a rising tide of violence which could be avoided. Politics is as corrupt as ever. Ruby knows she can’t rob the massive corporations of this century and hand out necessities to the homeless around her and long survive. The ship’s store of treasure is large, but it won’t hold out forever. </span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wary of the risks of becoming entangled in the modern system of documents and identification with the bogus identities offered to her by her high-tech friends in California, Ruby and the Ladies in Raiding are locked out of large parts of the economy. They’re able to sell their antique doubloons for huge amounts of money, but since they’re limited to cash and some experiments with gift cards they can’t book a hotel room or rent an automobile. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They’re riding transit and camping out with the homeless. Ruby notes that a trip around Charleston is slower on transit stuck in traffic than it would be on horseback. Nearly everyone has a car that can go 80 knots, but they’re sitting still in them. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With the Key to the Sea thrown in the ocean for safekeeping, Ruby has to find a way forward for her and her ladies. They can’t hide out forever. Sooner or later, someone is going to make a mistake and law enforcement, or some government agency is going to discover there are women from 300 years in the past walking around the Holy City. Questions will be asked that can’t be answered. If that happens, Ruby’s ladies will need friends, people who share her hatred of oppression and long for progress. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ruby visited the VWF Post on the Coast on the Isle of Palms on Memorial Day using the Bus to the Beach (no way to use Uber) hoping those old warriors might be able to help her. She meets many women who have fought in the modern armed forces. As one of them tells her, the cannons and wooden ship thing sounds cool, but she wouldn’t stand that up against her RAH-66 Comanche Helicopter Gunship. The veteran lady shows Ruby a video on her “Mesmerizing Biscuit.” Ruby smiles when she thinks of what Comanche helicopter gunship could do to Anderson. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYBIJi5ZYuxTBTkpaNCsmh73dJzbI01Q5NfE1pm9a6ZMcvIgU9cjdam-NLB_lIsVxOr7J8YEA6WFAkeZ1HSqrtFQxQ4f05UFyrpfGMfJveR9xpkR0DSKpalEqwW2lheG1vLn5Mtv6Y0dlixbdaCQvWLLsP9iG_9BgFqV9MGy1IUYbSt2uoBVpfrbUr/s3593/ruby%20with%20bus%20at%20town%20centre.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2109" data-original-width="3593" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYBIJi5ZYuxTBTkpaNCsmh73dJzbI01Q5NfE1pm9a6ZMcvIgU9cjdam-NLB_lIsVxOr7J8YEA6WFAkeZ1HSqrtFQxQ4f05UFyrpfGMfJveR9xpkR0DSKpalEqwW2lheG1vLn5Mtv6Y0dlixbdaCQvWLLsP9iG_9BgFqV9MGy1IUYbSt2uoBVpfrbUr/s320/ruby%20with%20bus%20at%20town%20centre.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Ruby has already made some friends who pay her fee to march in Charleston’s Pride Parade. She’s no stranger to issues of gender and sexuality. In the watery frontier of her time, she’s seen a lot and she and her ladies have accepted the variety of human choices. Ruby knows that given the staggering risks of modern existence racism and sexism have long outlived their time. Having fought these things her entire life, she and her ladies resolve to take the Ruby Flag down the streets of Charleston with hundreds of other marchers. <p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They’re still undercover. Most people regard the Ladies in Raiding as a fun, but rather strange sorority with quaint mannerisms and an acute interest in severely dated social philosophies and scientific ideas. Sapphire is up to date on Isaac Newton, but she’s still working on Einstein and Quantum Mechanics. Locke is great, but the crew is still chewing through the Feminine Mystique and the Shock Doctrine. Nobody has heard of their favorite woman playwright, </span><a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/madrid-exhibit-highlights-forgotten-women-writers-17th-century-spain-180975725/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ana Caro</span></a><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, whose romantic comedies they sometimes presented to each other on deck. To relax, the crew are big fans of science fiction. They prefer Picard to Kirk and Janeway to both of them. They hate pirate movies.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They still wear their pirate outfits some of the time. Most guys never see beyond the fishnet stockings and corsets. That’s very useful. They’ve gone thrifting and bought modern clothes as well. They’re making friends, but it’s time to move.</span></p><h3 style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Opening the Rolls for Enlistment of Modern, Remarkable Ladies</span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Queen Ruby and the ladies vote to open the rolls of the Ladies in Raiding to people who identify as modern women. They’ll sign them up to march with them in the Pride Parade. Another friend gets them a listing on Eventbrite, though Ruby would prefer a quill and parchment. She prefers clear, committed relationships to vague electronic entanglements. Someone has modern copies of their tattered ruby pirate flag made. Crystal’s new friends from Summerville are already on board. It’s cool to be a pirate. Dress shops are having run on black dresses and leather. They’re setting a style. In a time of uncertainty and oppression, it’s fun to pretend to be a pirate. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjItFIHPyamOW_kaXm4sO67OVSs8Lk7xn6oC2HpeGY9XE4V6bbfm2Wy-00YvL_smQyQIyteVBKoitdgFLSl7BtFB_svElmMiWBfzVoHpt3IQLt0P10vMhDmF9lGqHFc-kwC28XTPDypKftuzTzB9Lco63zmRIIUXhN-S9qMNrfv8DKz06go0mP1H8N/s960/Queen%20Ruby%20at%20Blessing%20of%20the%20Fleet.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjItFIHPyamOW_kaXm4sO67OVSs8Lk7xn6oC2HpeGY9XE4V6bbfm2Wy-00YvL_smQyQIyteVBKoitdgFLSl7BtFB_svElmMiWBfzVoHpt3IQLt0P10vMhDmF9lGqHFc-kwC28XTPDypKftuzTzB9Lco63zmRIIUXhN-S9qMNrfv8DKz06go0mP1H8N/s320/Queen%20Ruby%20at%20Blessing%20of%20the%20Fleet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>On Saturday, June 3 the crew will march with their new friends who don’t know they are joining a hip new club with some very senior members. Some of the intellectual stuff sounds interesting. The crew’s already doing Yoga. Many of the modern women find the martial arts training a bit dated but functional. Emerald reluctantly agrees that cutting an overly handy man down in a Charleston bar with a cutlass really isn’t a practical option. They use less lethal defensive moves. Nobody touches a lady in raiding unless they want them to. <p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Later in June, the crew will muster their new recruits on the Isle of Palms as Ruby figures out how to manage their new fight with their old ones. Anderson is still about and knows all about the Ladies in Raiding’s modern activities now. The King’s Guard is still stumbling about, disoriented, and getting no help from the British Government, who dismisses them as crazy people. The British Army won’t remit their pay. The men they claim to be disappeared in a storm in 1723. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Summer’s heating up in Charleston. </span></p><br /></div>William Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06741904019458546425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089401253655703757.post-86323321764150990372023-05-23T11:50:00.022-07:002023-06-06T14:25:06.066-07:00 The Tale of Queen Ruby, the Ladies in Raiding and the Key to the Sea<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Capitian's Log- The Tale of Queen Ruby, the Ladies in Raiding and the Key to the Sea</span></h2><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_b9Na0b8cr6aZZ1Y6Y_XYQg-CI9-IafwoAtajNTFQ78EPoas7tp0fMrY7lhG7QLCel9TnT00HCp4a6u3tnDC5IcAgEfz5_7wyF1siQdsqN8iWWWTZ8QFiwwG0YVxb9MTBW_iMMTd3CZrO3aLf5lIOaVCJPG-atdimQjjRiDOeKU_nte3N93eCZnCX/s3593/ruby%20with%20bus%20at%20town%20centre.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2109" data-original-width="3593" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_b9Na0b8cr6aZZ1Y6Y_XYQg-CI9-IafwoAtajNTFQ78EPoas7tp0fMrY7lhG7QLCel9TnT00HCp4a6u3tnDC5IcAgEfz5_7wyF1siQdsqN8iWWWTZ8QFiwwG0YVxb9MTBW_iMMTd3CZrO3aLf5lIOaVCJPG-atdimQjjRiDOeKU_nte3N93eCZnCX/s320/ruby%20with%20bus%20at%20town%20centre.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>We maintain a continuing written narrative so you can follow developments in our participatory pirate drama. This page contains links to all the chapters and related events in the order of the story, which may differ slightly from the time when material is release to the public through various media.<p></p><p>The goal of this interactive, participator community pirate drams is to bring fun and a sense of possibility to the effort to improve public transit by increasing ridership on our bus to the beach, which links the CARTA system and Mt. Pleasant with the Isle of Palms. It's just more fun with Pirates. <a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2023/02/bus-to-beach-2023.html" target="_blank">Learn about the Bus to the Beach (Beach Reach Shuttle)</a> which runs weekends and holidays from Memorial weekend to Labor day. </p><p>You are invited to join the drama. You can <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/queen-rubys-pirates-muster-on-the-isle-of-palms-tickets-648229079627" target="_blank">sign up for the June 17 Pirates Muster</a>. By your participation, you help shape the drama which we set down in writing as it evolves. We can help you build a pirate outfit. We all make this together. By participating and sharing what we're doing, we enrich the story for everyone. </p><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: helvetica;">Chapter One- The Voyage Begins</span></h3>Queen Ruby and the Ladies in Raiding liberate themselves, maroon Pirate Anderson's cutthroats, commence the famous cruise of the Jeweled Princess and then discover themselves 300 years into their future in 2023. <a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2023/05/queen-ruby-of-pirates-and-her-ladies-in.html" target="_blank">Read the first chapter. </a><p></p><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: helvetica;">Chapter two- Crystal Goes A Roving</span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Eyu2gcQThPhyDFCfH1gi7mUeUsZ9wLnTW4z4HqUcrCm7mfmZ-P6c7yrcmXP8F0r_EPTmWg_uUKxozXm11_8stNph7S3_uERnz48p0vPn2lhTXnnYfelFYxTCi76_Eik-NYYj2uaD0RYBdhPXgHpLzti58jj2EmnPwrSQ5kfmEQ7OmJ4fPCGjWPPh/s2048/ruby%20flag%20with%20pirate%20coins%20wihtout%20fly%20corrected.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Eyu2gcQThPhyDFCfH1gi7mUeUsZ9wLnTW4z4HqUcrCm7mfmZ-P6c7yrcmXP8F0r_EPTmWg_uUKxozXm11_8stNph7S3_uERnz48p0vPn2lhTXnnYfelFYxTCi76_Eik-NYYj2uaD0RYBdhPXgHpLzti58jj2EmnPwrSQ5kfmEQ7OmJ4fPCGjWPPh/s320/ruby%20flag%20with%20pirate%20coins%20wihtout%20fly%20corrected.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Chrystal, dark haired and beutiful teenaged member of the crew leaves the safety of the Jeweled Princess to sample teenage life in the 21st. century and becomes a Pirate Influencer on the Internet. It's all fun and games up in Summerville, but she's attracting hostile attention. <a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2023/05/crystal-goes-roving-pirate-war-in.html">Read Chapter two. </a><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: helvetica;">Chapter three- A Welcome Home Party for Queen Ruby</span></h3><div>Queen Ruby leaves the SC coast on a secret mission which takes her to Silicon Valley and the high tech underground. The Ladies in Raiding try to hid out in Charleston until her return. They plan a pirate party to build up cover noise so they attract less attention in a Charleston full of pretend pirates. <a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2023/05/a-welcome-home-pirate-party-for-queen.html" target="_blank">Read chapter three</a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;">May 24- Pirate Party at Container Bar</h3><div>Details on your first chance to join the story. Sword fights, costume contests, button making, half price run drinks to those with pirate coins and a Pirate Poetry Contest. <a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2023/05/queen-rubys-pirate-party-wed-may-24.html" target="_blank">Read about the Pirate Party at Container Bar</a></div><div><br /></div><div><h3 style="text-align: left;">May 27- Opening of the Ocean</h3>Join us as Queen Ruby opens the Ocean on the Isle of Palms, celebrating the start of summer bus service and commencing the revels by the sea on Memorial Weekend. <a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2023/05/sat-may-27-queen-ruby-opens-ocean-for.html" target="_blank">Read about the Opening of the Ocean. </a></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>May 27- Queen Ruby to Sail through Rain to Open the Ocean. </b></h3><div>Pirate Queen Ruby Cancel? "We’ve sailed a pirate ship through a hurricane three hundred years into the future. A little water will never stop the Ladies in Raiding.” <a href="https://mailchi.mp/c5acf381a431/sat-pirate-queen-ruby-opens-the-ocean-at-the-isle-of-palms-to-celebrate-the-3rd-season-of-cartas-bus-to-the-beach?e=[UNIQID]">Read the Press Release</a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjngdVSFrPpFCWn5tqpEZWnDqEKEETvckxJ2JUzseuvMDAFZmGAbP8JLK1lMTHk9XRBREfcHuLO8ESDtoBsJrtv0EUhDSBwsaTdf0w6tgc5Jp5zIXOBYhPlYjXij2SebPxvsZHw6i4bN2YbwE7UUfERex_oVmgFF9bVtSp7F4gmVOhwypt7K-wkcD8l/s2268/queen%20ruby%20inducts%20a%20new%20lady%20in%20raiding%20Queen%20Cookie.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjngdVSFrPpFCWn5tqpEZWnDqEKEETvckxJ2JUzseuvMDAFZmGAbP8JLK1lMTHk9XRBREfcHuLO8ESDtoBsJrtv0EUhDSBwsaTdf0w6tgc5Jp5zIXOBYhPlYjXij2SebPxvsZHw6i4bN2YbwE7UUfERex_oVmgFF9bVtSp7F4gmVOhwypt7K-wkcD8l/s320/queen%20ruby%20inducts%20a%20new%20lady%20in%20raiding%20Queen%20Cookie.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">Queen Ruby Inducts an Honorary Pirate Queen</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table></h3><div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: helvetica;">Chapter 4- Queen Ruby Does the Reading, Isaac Newton and the Pirates</span></h3><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">These ladies don't just dress smart. They are smart. There's a pirate's college afloat and they're bringing Enlightenment era philosophy and science to the challenges of the 21st. Century Find out if they like Kirk or Picard. <a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2023/06/queen-ruby-sir-isaac-newton-and.html" target="_blank">Read Chapter 4 about the brain trust afloat on the Jeweled Princess. </a></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;">June 3- Queen Ruby and the Ladies in Raiding March in the Pride Parade</h3></div><div>Queen Ruby and her Ladies in Raiding will be out in full force for the Charleston Pride Parade. Join them as they march in support of better public transit, equality and social justice. We have props and loaner gear to complete you look if you want to jlin her pirate band. Those identifying as men are welcome to march at members of the King's Guard or Anderson's vile band of cutthroat pirates. After the parade, look for Pop up Piracy around downtown Charleston. <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pirates-in-the-pride-parade-tickets-646171575577" target="_blank">Sign up to march as a Pirate or other character n the parade. </a></div><div><h3><br /></h3><h3>June 10- Party Like A Pirate with A Pink Floyd Popup Potluck at Hampton Park for Piccolo Spoleto Finale</h3><div>We'll Pitch our red Pirate Popup in Hampton Park to party at the Piccolo. Pink Floyd Finale, June 10 at 5:30 pm. You are invited to participate in their piratical party. Prepare your pirate outfit, apparatus, provisions, and paraphernalia. Primp your person from plume to pantaloons. We possess partage pirate pieces and plastic epees to apportion to your person. We propose to push up our Popup by 5:00 pm. Queen Ruby plans to preside over a pirate potluck at approximately 6 pm. Predict Dancing before the performer’s prosceniums. Pack a folding chair. We’ll possess pottage to pour over rice or provender. Import what you can for the supper and a piratical potluck repast. Provide your personal plate. <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pirates-picnic-at-pink-floyd-performance-at-piccolo-finale-tickets-650414466177?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=escb" target="_blank">Details and signup on Eventbrite.</a></div><h3><br /></h3><h3>June-Pirate Pop Ups</h3><div>Keep your eyes open as our Pirate Drama starts to pop up in locations around the lowcountry with little bits of drama which advance the story towards a conclusion we don't really know yet since it depends on what happens with our new recruits and in real life. Our story evolves based on how the public reacts, evens in our own lives and evens in the community and world around us. </div></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;">June 17- Join Up, Queen Ruby Calls a Muster of the Ladies in Raiding</h3><div>Queen Ruby is forced to augment her forces by recruiting women from the modern world to augment the numbers of the Ladies in Raiding, the crew of the Jeweled Princess. Surrounded by modern hazards, she needs the help of women from this modern age to help her ladies survive. She's called a muster of the entire crew and all the new recruits for Saturday, June 17 on the Isle of Palms. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/7202141493134144?ref=newsfeed">Facebook event listing. </a> To became one of the participants in our drama <a href="mailto:Reneeorth@gmail.com">contact the Queen by email. </a></div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Guided Rides for Veterans, Disabled, New Transit Riders and Young People</span></h4><div>We're planning guided rides for people who haven't been on the bus before. We know the first transit ride is a big step for a lot of people. Follow this effort on our <a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2023/06/guided-transit-trips-to-beach-at-iop.html" target="_blank">Guided Rides Page.</a> </div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 13px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-2tHwAKh3Uxh_7xOfkVKGf6QFYv6sJMhlcVu8Wd-KqAopucQlfWZSvBD3MOXiUtVN5BpSUBJD3lIwjt41ugYny34wneg2ivhAfEzOOj9a9ofcK_xrbZAUIhvv5tNMagI2F0-i_ctREEcnp5uJLmEY7UTDWLc6ZFmb3bLzS-lAUC4AQ7jSj6FqEna/s1224/charleston-transit-1-press-orange-bg.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="936" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-2tHwAKh3Uxh_7xOfkVKGf6QFYv6sJMhlcVu8Wd-KqAopucQlfWZSvBD3MOXiUtVN5BpSUBJD3lIwjt41ugYny34wneg2ivhAfEzOOj9a9ofcK_xrbZAUIhvv5tNMagI2F0-i_ctREEcnp5uJLmEY7UTDWLc6ZFmb3bLzS-lAUC4AQ7jSj6FqEna/w153-h200/charleston-transit-1-press-orange-bg.jpg" width="153" /></a></div></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: medium;">More Information-</span></h3><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 13px;">If you need to reach the organizers, contact William Hamilton at (843) 870-5299 or </span><a href="mailto:wjhamilton29464@gmail.com" style="background-color: white; color: #3778cd; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">wjhamilton29464@gmail.com</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>William Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06741904019458546425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089401253655703757.post-63115703527560214592023-05-23T11:26:00.006-07:002023-05-23T11:27:44.999-07:00 A Welcome Home Pirate Party for Queen Ruby<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;"> A Welcome Home Pirate Party for Queen Ruby</span></b></h2><p>Copyright 2023 by William J. Hamilton, III</p><p>Chapter 3</p><p>Previous Chapter- <a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2023/05/crystal-goes-roving-pirate-war-in.html" target="_blank">Chrystal Goes a Roving</a></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRLSoasdFfvLfzhwFVvmhDa0e-uMkoJGiUnRj6wLP_0PHQrJEhYjGnd-eaWexsQ8vGaXQ79Ev8CTdmm6ncAID3B1qTb1xY6QInjVKtap21ytJbkvxgHwStcTvRJSMW4Y2Hbi6_dNT1wtU_X2Z4E8ty28tolx6lDmV2xFgXfDA-E2CyGGx-oiQj5dN/s2048/ruby%20flag%20with%20pirate%20coins%20wihtout%20fly%20corrected.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRLSoasdFfvLfzhwFVvmhDa0e-uMkoJGiUnRj6wLP_0PHQrJEhYjGnd-eaWexsQ8vGaXQ79Ev8CTdmm6ncAID3B1qTb1xY6QInjVKtap21ytJbkvxgHwStcTvRJSMW4Y2Hbi6_dNT1wtU_X2Z4E8ty28tolx6lDmV2xFgXfDA-E2CyGGx-oiQj5dN/s320/ruby%20flag%20with%20pirate%20coins%20wihtout%20fly%20corrected.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Two weeks ago, Queen Ruby of the Pirates left Charleston to reach the West Coast where she hoped to make contact with the High-Tech underground near San Francisco. For a capable, intelligent woman from the year 1623, the cross-country Amtrak train trip (Ruby lacks the ID needed to fly commercial) has been a wonder. She’s seen technical progress everywhere, but more human suffering and waste than she can accept. Clearly this is a society which doesn’t know how to steer a sustainable course towards human happiness for everyone. She saw this in her time three centuries ago, but given the wealth and power available now, seeing these same problems causing billions to suffer flabbergasts her. <p></p><p>In California, Ruby fits right in. In the High-Tech underground of former Twitter, Apple and Google employees who are now scraping by on the edge of the internet economy. She’s a woman without an IP address or email. She shuns high tech devices for the fear they’ll make her detectable to her enemies. </p><p>The tech people love Ruby. She’s cool and different. Ruby says the most amazing things. She’s a quick learner and very strong on what they call “human factors.” Working together, sneaking into the massive complexes of the high-tech companies at night with forged credentials. They’ve subjected the Key to the Sea to all sorts of tests. It’s a remarkable piece of metal for sure, with a weird structure and odd elements in the alloy they can’t identify, but they can’t tell what it does (Ruby won’t tell them) or how to control it. They do understand that Ruby must be from somewhere utterly different from here and the most perceptive know she isn’t from now. Ruby may know how to time travel. </p><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">On Government Radar</span></h3>If Dred Pirate Anderson and the King’s Guard weren’t problems enough, the Department of Homeland Security is looking for something too. They know there was a massive energy busts off the SC coast a few weeks ago (detected by satellites as a possible nuclear detonation) and some small ships were in the area immediately following that event, clearly appearing on satellite images. However, these ships have zero electronic signatures and they’ve lost track of them. There have been some women turned aside from secured facilities in Charleston due to lack of ID and guards report they sounded and acted “weird.”<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxTmgIKp11JbtRhIvprXLlxlJHx9LnYoLwA-rnkpc0s58DTtf5hdHsacjl45DRWt3PuSiR9yR9FfvhxW827bBbXnv7tgSXwoV9F4eUcaK0BhoUK3grro9aaHujS7aDGv89K1-_2rukh8pAtKdBtXBWFYfr7UGHFynLCUg1zmi-WuauL-PCsRabFdZ/s4077/Map%20of%20Charleston%20harbor.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4077" data-original-width="3312" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxTmgIKp11JbtRhIvprXLlxlJHx9LnYoLwA-rnkpc0s58DTtf5hdHsacjl45DRWt3PuSiR9yR9FfvhxW827bBbXnv7tgSXwoV9F4eUcaK0BhoUK3grro9aaHujS7aDGv89K1-_2rukh8pAtKdBtXBWFYfr7UGHFynLCUg1zmi-WuauL-PCsRabFdZ/s320/Map%20of%20Charleston%20harbor.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>Maybe all of this is nothing, or maybe it’s a terrorist threat. Homeland security is busy, so they’ll get back to these reports later.<p></p><p>The ladies in Raiding are getting nervous in Ruby’s long absence. Crystal is still somewhere in Summerville, making noise on the internet but keeping her actual location secret. </p><p>The Ladies in Raiding have have set up a welcome home party for Ruby. They’ve set it up so they can recruit some pretend pirates with contests and games in hopes of flooding Charleston with pretend pirates to throw Pirate Anderson’s Band and the King’s Guard off their trail. The party will be held from Wednesday, May 24 from 7 pm to 10:30 at Container Bar in Downtown Charleston. These lonely ladies from the past will need friends in the present to survive their visit to the future. They’ve collected costume items and fake swords to turn their new friends into pretend pirates on the spot. </p><p>Meanwhile young Crystal and her new teenage pirate friends from Rollins School of the arts didn’t show when third Thursday was rained out in Summerville last week. Crystal is thinking of taking the bus down to Charleston for the party with her new friends. Hopefully meeting Mom in a context where an actual flogging will be impossible. Mom is “Emerald” on the Jeweled Princess, the ships master at arms and she has punishment devices in her locker modern people would struggle to imagine. </p><p>Far away, Queen Ruby is returning to Charleston by Private Jet, loaned to her by a High Tech Friend who may, or may not own it. He’s smitten with the powerful pirate lady. She’s encouraging his kind attention, but has been evasive. Ruby’s flying at night to reduce the chance she’ll be detected. She’s trying to get back to her Ladies in Raiding to plan her next move. In the Holy City, Pirate Anderson gets word of the Party and may show up. </p><p>Will Crystal make it to the party with her new pretend Teenage Pirate friends. How will Emerald, her Mom react to her two week, unauthorized absence and new internet fame. How does being a teenaged pirate influencer fit into everyone’s plan. Things could get pretty intense when your mom owns a Cat-o-nine tails and thumb screws. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivFxn9IKScb5pNzc44QtKpab0dJrqLZ7nJMSHWsnkdSTs2BA1fWrVH2IQBpThesPYOMlRTp3Z2KfuGaJ5h7uZWKsgVQdQkcjx0LX3D_4RCLjv97vBCPUUdAV0oH8G0Kp1CuE2b37um_IVQ3lgb6IBxL4a5Ef8qeV_rt0gG1l-yx7Vx3c62gS9V0ji/s1174/Chris%20Jackson%20on%20Beach%20Shuttle.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="880" data-original-width="1174" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivFxn9IKScb5pNzc44QtKpab0dJrqLZ7nJMSHWsnkdSTs2BA1fWrVH2IQBpThesPYOMlRTp3Z2KfuGaJ5h7uZWKsgVQdQkcjx0LX3D_4RCLjv97vBCPUUdAV0oH8G0Kp1CuE2b37um_IVQ3lgb6IBxL4a5Ef8qeV_rt0gG1l-yx7Vx3c62gS9V0ji/s320/Chris%20Jackson%20on%20Beach%20Shuttle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Ruby is sending coded messages to the Ladies in Raiding at Container Bar. Can they decode them? Will she make it to the welcome home party in time?<p></p><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">What Happens Next</span></h3>Will the Ladies in Raiding recruit the help they need to hide out in the Holy City or will Dred Pirate Anderson, the King’s Guard or even Homeland Security show up?<p></p><p>Will the Pirate Poetry offered in the contest be any good?</p><p>There once was a pirate named Ruby</p><p>Who took the bus to the beach for her booty</p><p>She lay on the sand</p><p>Getting warm and well-tanned</p><p>Enjoying rum drinks which were sweet and fruity. </p><p><br /></p><p>Come to Container Bar on Wednesday, May 24 to see what happens next. </p><p><br /></p>William Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06741904019458546425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089401253655703757.post-10528292386274660262023-05-23T07:07:00.003-07:002023-05-23T07:45:30.330-07:00Sat. May 27, Queen Ruby Opens the Ocean for Bus to the Beach Season 3<p> </p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; text-size-adjust: 100%; width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"><tr><td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top: 9px; text-size-adjust: 100%;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse; max-width: 100%; min-width: 100%; text-size-adjust: 100%; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="mcnTextContent" style="line-height: 24px; padding: 0px 18px 9px; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><h1 style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 26px; line-height: 32.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: firebrick;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRI6oyRrrYefSPyWOn1DL7h7XimUy5T4FvNGDar_4vNsYjM5sGcYb-cUZzETpn_UW3H2L6pAnQGBdhdv2fO2SB49jqY7PfsW-VFSVw1YyC3r2VAFKiRt6xSWqQaxR217XqOvWACgCUrHZ1LerxXheE0A0vTT3rvxW-LFHrCSo9elu8C2rk5lslSJMm/s750/Opening%20of%20the%20ocean%20social%20graphic%20header.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="750" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRI6oyRrrYefSPyWOn1DL7h7XimUy5T4FvNGDar_4vNsYjM5sGcYb-cUZzETpn_UW3H2L6pAnQGBdhdv2fO2SB49jqY7PfsW-VFSVw1YyC3r2VAFKiRt6xSWqQaxR217XqOvWACgCUrHZ1LerxXheE0A0vTT3rvxW-LFHrCSo9elu8C2rk5lslSJMm/w588-h352/Opening%20of%20the%20ocean%20social%20graphic%20header.jpg" width="588" /></a></div><br />Queen Ruby of the Pirates and her Ladies in Raiding invite Everyone to the Opening of the Ocean on Sat. May 27 at the Isle of Palms</span></h1><p style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><i>Isle of Palms, Mt. Pleasant, SC, USA-</i> To Celebrate the beginning of the Lowcountry's third season of regular public transit bus service to the beach, Queen Ruby of the Pirates and her Ladies in Raiding invite you to participate in the Opening of the Ocean to mark this year's return of Transit to the Atlantic on Saturday, May 27th. in Mount Pleasant and on the front beach, Isle of Palms. </p><p style="line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7hhb4dUYvTw-F3xkYBiX_nCuGoCOVDD44y8Cg9fvh3-4YrnE55aTYWn-Rd6zElmOHUMeGwyobcwvM155N18BOdgdDfeCb9UUfPioQpRglA3qNwl4YW0KY05xflYfBvnfw2gNQNyoTHToAsxBSz4_RJYmAxoKHU1A7MYErlnbLjQbr9kdydtwxZBwm/s7000/shutterstock_2032808081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="7000" data-original-width="5409" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7hhb4dUYvTw-F3xkYBiX_nCuGoCOVDD44y8Cg9fvh3-4YrnE55aTYWn-Rd6zElmOHUMeGwyobcwvM155N18BOdgdDfeCb9UUfPioQpRglA3qNwl4YW0KY05xflYfBvnfw2gNQNyoTHToAsxBSz4_RJYmAxoKHU1A7MYErlnbLjQbr9kdydtwxZBwm/s320/shutterstock_2032808081.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>The celebration will begin when the second CARTA Beach Reach Shuttle bus of the day departs from the Market Center Drive Bus Stop at 10:15 am (on the roundabout near Lowes) and continue to the beach bus stop adjacent to IOP County Park. The procession of Pirates, Kings Guard and other fantastical personalities will begin upon the arrival of the bis at 10:30 and pause at the Flag Poles on Palm Boulevard for prayers and good wishes for a safe and happy summer at the beach and a recognition of our Veterans for Memorial weekend. From there, with a joyous noise, the Lady Pirates, crew of the Jeweled Princess, will proceed with all the celebrants to the beach itself. There Queen Ruby will cast the great Iron Key to the Sea into the waves for Neptune's safekeeping to Open the Ocean. <p></p><p style="line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica;">Queen Ruby and her lady pirates will distribute golden pirate coins throughout the day which allow their holders to wn prizes, get discounts and enter <a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2023/05/queen-ruby-of-pirates-and-her-ladies-in.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the pirate drama which will unfold throughout the summer</a>. </span></p><p style="line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica;">The remainder of the day will be devoted to the revels by the sea provided by local merchants, taverns and places of entertainment punctuated by occasional eruptions or Pirate Drama. The celebration ends with the departure of the last CARTA Beach Reach Shuttle. Events planned for the weekend include special activates for veterans at the VWF post on the island which veterans across the region can now reach on CARTA transit.</span></p><p style="line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8bTcZxz70kfqYASDpD1AAVxZOuJDfvAQscyZzguKEHCRpw_ktMLCi_Mu5hSrRdQ4I2ixTsm8LvD_j59BPfv2aNZPvXq0hC7z_rbl3_0bBJ3Fn1IReMFLx5bW0nLscqL44a1laabVrPAnG1l8Gu4cTF-4c4QetU6e3F8KBmkuRbqtfLvG7g__JtBH/s960/Queen%20Ruby%20at%20Blessing%20of%20the%20Fleet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8bTcZxz70kfqYASDpD1AAVxZOuJDfvAQscyZzguKEHCRpw_ktMLCi_Mu5hSrRdQ4I2ixTsm8LvD_j59BPfv2aNZPvXq0hC7z_rbl3_0bBJ3Fn1IReMFLx5bW0nLscqL44a1laabVrPAnG1l8Gu4cTF-4c4QetU6e3F8KBmkuRbqtfLvG7g__JtBH/s320/Queen%20Ruby%20at%20Blessing%20of%20the%20Fleet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This event continues a summer long interactive Pirate Drama sponsored by Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit. Queen Ruby and her Ladies in Raiding have magically been transported three centuries into the future where they continue their struggle for justice and work to return to their own time. The lady pirates struggle against the evil cutthroats of Anderson's pirate ban and flummox the hapless King's Guard who can decide if they want to imprison the Ladies in Raiding or pitch woo to them. Chapters of the story will be released informed by the evolving interactions of the public as more people join and interact with the on the street drama. You can follow the online portion of the drama by going to the Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit Web page at www.bfltransit.com. <p></p><p style="line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica;">The detailed schedule for the Opening of the Ocean is as follows:</span></p><h3 style="line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Wed. May 24, 7 to 10:30 pm, Kickoff Party</span></b></span></h3><p style="line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica;"><a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2023/05/queen-rubys-pirate-party-wed-may-24.html" target="_blank">Kickoff Pirate party at Container Bar</a> with sword fights, costume, contest, button making and pirate poetry at Container Bar on Mt. Pleasant Street in Downtown Charleston (on the #20 bus line)</span></p><h3 style="line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Helvetica;"><b>Saturday, May 27 - Opening of the Ocean</b></span></h3><p style="line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggE3uSlUQsnTNRzlto4Uxt4Sw58xtAfVE5hmHscCpld5z-d0_a57WnOtFEdtCcaxzD4dsk0cp3vK_fVZPxbpQrn_YDk-Ags_Dx3YuZ2TvccvH7emWUtReA-VyTbc9-gks_hY1p2imQJ_BU1K0KiYNtyvDRtB8OEPyBAKCq6IJeKM4rZ_ImT_ONQ0ov/s2048/ruby%20flag%20with%20pirate%20coins%20wihtout%20fly%20corrected.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggE3uSlUQsnTNRzlto4Uxt4Sw58xtAfVE5hmHscCpld5z-d0_a57WnOtFEdtCcaxzD4dsk0cp3vK_fVZPxbpQrn_YDk-Ags_Dx3YuZ2TvccvH7emWUtReA-VyTbc9-gks_hY1p2imQJ_BU1K0KiYNtyvDRtB8OEPyBAKCq6IJeKM4rZ_ImT_ONQ0ov/s320/ruby%20flag%20with%20pirate%20coins%20wihtout%20fly%20corrected.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica;">9:15 am - Beach Reach Shuttle (Free) begins running from the CARTA Bus Stop on Market Center Drive on the round-a-bout near Lowes to the Isle of Palms. Use the Transit App or Google Transit to track the bus and plan your trip from anywhere on the CARTA bus system.</span><p></p><p style="line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica;">10:15 am - Beach Reach Shuttle begins 2nd. Run of the day to the beach. Some of the Pirate Ladies in Raiding will be on board distributing pirate treasure you can redeem for prizes and discounts.</span></p><p style="line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica;">10:30 am - Procession from the bus stop begins upon arrival of the bus, and proceeds to the Flag Poles on Palm Boulevard prayers and good thoughts for a safe and happy summer season. Veterans will be recognized for Memorial Weekend.</span></p><p style="line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica;">10:40 am—Opening of the Ocean Our Happy Assembly will process to the Surf where Queen Ruby of the Pirates, in the company of her friends will cast the great Key to the Sea into the Surf to Open the Ocean and mark the return of Transit to the Atlantic.</span></p><p style="line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica;">11:OO am - Revels by the Sea begin, check with participating businesses for events throughout the holiday weekend. Join Queen Ruby and the Ladies in Raiding for bits of drama and fun on the Island during the day. Dress your pirate part and release the energy of your pirate heart!</span></p><p style="line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica;">5:30 pm– Last Shuttle Run returns to the Mainland</span></p><h4 style="line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFffjnlsBETTXCNx8OAL5oC2CgLO9A8fc4_tcjuW0u-pznfl9hd_rgF-4YrwPVJUDyqbVuBaWQNak7CoeVwCeMbOgPxOHJOiiU8FplmvHY1tXGs3pVQYFGb_cxkc03utyC51Et8igGVA2ttN6LhLA3QJ-67LGUXNSyb973GRFg_3loMgD02NsZLmp-/s3678/20210530_173337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2758" data-original-width="3678" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFffjnlsBETTXCNx8OAL5oC2CgLO9A8fc4_tcjuW0u-pznfl9hd_rgF-4YrwPVJUDyqbVuBaWQNak7CoeVwCeMbOgPxOHJOiiU8FplmvHY1tXGs3pVQYFGb_cxkc03utyC51Et8igGVA2ttN6LhLA3QJ-67LGUXNSyb973GRFg_3loMgD02NsZLmp-/s320/20210530_173337.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">For more information</span></span></span></h4><p style="line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica;">contact <a href="mailto:wjhamilton29464@gmail.com" target="_blank">William J. Hamilton, III,</a> Executive Director of Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit at wjhamilton29464@gmail.com or (843) 870-5299</span></p><p style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"> <br /><br /> </p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>William Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06741904019458546425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089401253655703757.post-20181084744184518782023-05-18T06:18:00.010-07:002023-05-23T11:30:47.517-07:00Queen Ruby’s Pirate Party Wed. May 24<p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #990033; font-family: Impact; font-size: 36pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Impact; mso-currency-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Impact; mso-default-font-family: Impact; mso-greek-font-family: Impact; mso-latin-font-family: Impact; mso-latinext-font-family: Impact; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #990033; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN7h4M3BJ1fypXCNfEe3SzoqKkHSbOvzuHtfsTSLITi1EJlZ1qgzbm980OEKrjKRbdPgNa6wV8RlfLJtJCufcbBUqoXiEm51V1xIauaeiv7-fXCrzLxoPgL0AeST_ZkbrMOR-zl9srkrBqzfeeFeVfqlfAW-78OgdkK1wrLIxP8WExy_Naqq1bJM6U/s960/Queen%20Ruby%20at%20Blessing%20of%20the%20Fleet.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN7h4M3BJ1fypXCNfEe3SzoqKkHSbOvzuHtfsTSLITi1EJlZ1qgzbm980OEKrjKRbdPgNa6wV8RlfLJtJCufcbBUqoXiEm51V1xIauaeiv7-fXCrzLxoPgL0AeST_ZkbrMOR-zl9srkrBqzfeeFeVfqlfAW-78OgdkK1wrLIxP8WExy_Naqq1bJM6U/w361-h203/Queen%20Ruby%20at%20Blessing%20of%20the%20Fleet.jpg" width="361" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Queen Ruby Handing out Pirate Booty</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #990033; font-family: Impact; font-size: 36pt;">Queen Ruby’s Pirate Party</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; font-size: 24pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-currency-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-default-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-greek-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-ligatures: none;">Wed. May 24, </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; font-size: 24pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-currency-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-default-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-greek-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-ligatures: none;"> 7 to 10:30 pm</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; font-size: 16pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-currency-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-default-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-greek-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; font-size: 24pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-currency-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-default-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-greek-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-ligatures: none;">Container Bar</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; font-size: 16pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-currency-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-default-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-greek-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-ligatures: none;"><br />
2130 Mt Pleasant St, Charleston, SC </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; font-size: 16pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-currency-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-default-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-effects-shadow-align: topleft; mso-effects-shadow-alpha: 40%; mso-effects-shadow-angledirection: 2700000; mso-effects-shadow-anglekx: 0; mso-effects-shadow-angleky: 0; mso-effects-shadow-color: white; mso-effects-shadow-dpidistance: 3.0pt; mso-effects-shadow-dpiradius: 4.0pt; mso-effects-shadow-pctsx: 100%; mso-effects-shadow-pctsy: 100%; mso-greek-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-ligatures: none;"><span dir="ltr"></span>29403</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; font-size: 16pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-currency-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-default-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-greek-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-ligatures: none;"> <br />
On #20, Upper King Bus Route (Fare free)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; font-size: 16pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-currency-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-default-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-greek-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-ligatures: none;"><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/queen-rubys-pirate-party-tickets-638780759447" target="_blank">Reserve your space on board now</a> (Free, Eventbright). </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #990033; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #990033; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Container Bar will offer a half price discount or a single run drink to any person presenting one of Queen Ruby's pirate coins at the time they make the order. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #990033; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Most recent chapter in our evolving pirate drama. <a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2023/05/a-welcome-home-pirate-party-for-queen.html" target="_blank">A Welcome Home Party for Queen Ruby.</a> Come to the party prepared. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ligatures: none;">Queen Ruby and her crew have magically arrived from year 1623. She’s evading Pirate Anderson’s Cutthroat band who wants to rob her and the ladies in raiding of their ship and the magical key to the sea. Ruby is holding this party to start a Lowcountry pirate fashion trend in hopes of increasing her chances of keeping under the radar by filling Charleston with play Pirates, among whom she and her ladies can hide. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ligatures: none;">Ruby's pirates have survived their first encounter with Anderson in this modern world, but life in the 21st century is becoming complicated. They're riding the bus because you can't rent or buy a car even with a handful of gold doubloons without an ID. A birthdate in the 1600s is bout to raise some questions down at the DMV Ruby and the other lady pirates don't want to answer. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ligatures: none;"><a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2023/05/queen-ruby-of-pirates-and-her-ladies-in.html" target="_blank">Read the full, detailed back story. </a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Pirate Party Games</span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbLLfyGWJ1vddBy_5TnCbeTsgvpWQAgS6ufTcDHyMauW8i2a1IeIdR6Xse6P3AcFSKz0N93UtA0Ng_oe87hb96QagBqxbcHFHq0YYCFoN6iIJP4gFcbV62U-KiX9FMh8GH14HwCzVKpG2de7E0o-hptzgSWvA6r8IRMzPaWXyNBGT2j4mFj5D_VWu/s7000/shutterstock_2032808081.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="7000" data-original-width="5409" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbLLfyGWJ1vddBy_5TnCbeTsgvpWQAgS6ufTcDHyMauW8i2a1IeIdR6Xse6P3AcFSKz0N93UtA0Ng_oe87hb96QagBqxbcHFHq0YYCFoN6iIJP4gFcbV62U-KiX9FMh8GH14HwCzVKpG2de7E0o-hptzgSWvA6r8IRMzPaWXyNBGT2j4mFj5D_VWu/s320/shutterstock_2032808081.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>Ruby has devised some party games to help build the Pirate fashion trend int he Lowcountry which will help her and her ladies hide. They may also identify people with sympathies and skills which might be useful in the future. <p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Swordfight</span></b>– Procure a partner. Show your daring do in our swordfight competition. Each team will be presented two foam Nerf swords and have two minutes to fight. Teams will be provided points based on costume (30%), hat (10%), choreography (30%) and drama (30%). </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Pirate Costume–</span> Dress up and let your inner pirate out. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><b>Pirate Poetry-</b></span> Present a short piratical poem. Must rhyme, 14 lines maximum. Must contain the words bus, booty and beach. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivb-lipjpHH4I0uJ2oUoYnt1DHoc3sfqUlee53stfmyFu6ijbqJEIE_KkR78UpPosi8x7sODyD7wTlky1v5vGESnpH_lEnAPaSCTnmiTMQ3tHuSi8WtCXwH1V9-qCNbDsBXAMAs0801C2axX0SBc9IVAk9iiWyPucvrGLd8EwiZiDNryJfDqQFFqiH/s960/March%20to%20the%20sea%202015.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivb-lipjpHH4I0uJ2oUoYnt1DHoc3sfqUlee53stfmyFu6ijbqJEIE_KkR78UpPosi8x7sODyD7wTlky1v5vGESnpH_lEnAPaSCTnmiTMQ3tHuSi8WtCXwH1V9-qCNbDsBXAMAs0801C2axX0SBc9IVAk9iiWyPucvrGLd8EwiZiDNryJfDqQFFqiH/s320/March%20to%20the%20sea%202015.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #990000;"><b></b></span></div><span style="color: #990000;"><b><br />Make buttons–</b></span> Produce a pirate pin to publicly portend your propensity to push preconceptions of an ordinary summer overboard<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image, left- Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit marching to the sea at IOP from Mt. Pleasant in July 2015 to protest lack of public transit bus service to the beaches in Charleston, 98 degrees, The march took the same route the bus does now. </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">For More Information-</span></b> To become involved contact William Hamilton at 843-870-5299 or wjhamilton29464@gmail.com. Contributions to support the effort can be made through act blue. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; font-size: 16pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-currency-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-default-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-greek-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-ligatures: none;">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; font-size: 16pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-currency-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-default-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-greek-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiBold"; mso-ligatures: none;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US; mso-ligatures: none;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>William Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06741904019458546425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089401253655703757.post-38292386059767056722023-05-12T12:21:00.003-07:002023-05-12T17:11:55.265-07:00Crystal Goes A Roving - Pirate War in Summerville?<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Read the full story of <a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2023/05/queen-ruby-of-pirates-and-her-ladies-in.html" target="_blank">Queen Ruby and her Ladies in Raiding- Cruise of the Jeweled Princess </a></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Learn more about <a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2023/02/bus-to-beach-2023.html" target="_blank">2023's bus to the beach</a> and our Interactive Pirate Drama to be enacted across the Lowcountry. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 15pt;">The
Jeweled Princess is hidden at anchor in a remote creek near Cape
Romaine, N. of Charleston. Queen Ruby has taken off of a secret
mission. The ladies in raiding have secured supplies and water, but
have carefully avoided drawing attention.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1xogcHikFuhQtpcGM3dZsoM9ge5qKymBcJS7w9-0-7XENGv1yboKWHyxRXeJ6lIemVVFqIsppAecHatMdMzNVlw0D42aZRKbK4QfVor8CVk89NE56OgtZvHwazYg569gjCH7U53Nw8jcTOi8hYzWvNU_jJQWQPyJ-1yob5KCVXxJX0R6RwUPA6rxo/s1920/black-pirate-ship-silhouette-icon-illustration-free-vector.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1920" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1xogcHikFuhQtpcGM3dZsoM9ge5qKymBcJS7w9-0-7XENGv1yboKWHyxRXeJ6lIemVVFqIsppAecHatMdMzNVlw0D42aZRKbK4QfVor8CVk89NE56OgtZvHwazYg569gjCH7U53Nw8jcTOi8hYzWvNU_jJQWQPyJ-1yob5KCVXxJX0R6RwUPA6rxo/s320/black-pirate-ship-silhouette-icon-illustration-free-vector.webp" width="320"></a></div><br>Crystal,
the beautiful raven haired teenage daughter of the crew's Master at
Arms, Emerald, has disappeared. Also missing are Crystal's personal
arms and small purse of gold coins.<p></p><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Emerald
orders a search for her daughter and discovers in historic Charleston
lady pirates are just assumed to be working in the tourism industry.
A single gold coin purchases CARTA gold bus passes for the entire
crew. They camp among the city's homeless population at night,
sharing their largess with the hungry and unhoused. Emrald does not
understand why a community with so much wealth has so many people
sleeping under abandoned houses and in wooded lots. Some of the
ladies take up event work for meetings and conventions to develop
contacts. The event planners are amazed at the realism of their
accents and clothing. “Best pirate actors I've ever seen,” reads
one online review. Emerald soon finds Anderson and the Kings Guard.
She has the Ladies in Raiding follow them.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Crystal
has found her way inland to Summertime, taking the #41 bus from Shem
Creek where she landed in a borrowed boat with an amazing, but noisy
motor she found near McClellenville. Having rowed hundreds of miles
in her time, this outboard motor is the first of many wonders. The
antique dealer in Mt. Pleasant was happy to give her hundreds of
dollars for just one of her antique coins. Downtown she takes in the
sights and meets a theater student from Rollins School of the Arts
who has been working on a pirate theater project. Together they take
the #3 Express Bus to Summertime where she proceeds to discover the
wonders of teenage life in the 21<sup>st</sup> Century.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Crystal
does some Instagram posts with her friends, picks up a smart phone
and begins to explore Dorchester County. She couch surfs among the
Rollins students and even manages to spend most of a day at Rollins,
amazing the theater teacher with her mastery of stage weapon
choreography. She slipped out of the school when the administration
started asking to speak to her parents. Dad doesn't have a cell phone
back in 1723 and Emerald doesn't have one now.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That
night Crystal was enjoying some pizza and a crisp, cool salad of
fresh vegetables with her new Summertime friends. In Crystal's time,
fresh vegetables wilted or rotted rapidly in the heat. On board a
long voyage everything was dried, boiled or cooked. Crystal is a big
fan of refrigeration. Ice cream too.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But not everything is wonderful, Crystal learns that some of her friends, who struggle with poverty in Summerville have never seen the Atlantic Ocean, only 20 miles away. She promises them, they'll see the sea this summer. She considers taking someone's boat and heading down the Ashley River but figures riding the bus would be less risky. She's also getting nervous about her reunion with the Ladies in Raiding who must be searing for her now. </span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCn0PqswKi-dxnlJat_S2i8hNCjtDxe3H1ajSa1Ij2V9ZnPxjTk1dC2Tk-dVA4VrW_OTXIEAotaRoZtaFzX6JYRu6huAZbafTcoWlxVT7zhw1MVVu2v5LWjzRYdElngaKDcLNvRwJGVVDBWafaLcqObEvgT8HqsELDDgFcYTl6pcz6FsgqX4_AMQ38/s1650/ruby%20red%20pirate%20flag.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1275" data-original-width="1650" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCn0PqswKi-dxnlJat_S2i8hNCjtDxe3H1ajSa1Ij2V9ZnPxjTk1dC2Tk-dVA4VrW_OTXIEAotaRoZtaFzX6JYRu6huAZbafTcoWlxVT7zhw1MVVu2v5LWjzRYdElngaKDcLNvRwJGVVDBWafaLcqObEvgT8HqsELDDgFcYTl6pcz6FsgqX4_AMQ38/s320/ruby%20red%20pirate%20flag.jpg" width="320"></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">As
the students and erstwhile pirate girl discussed the joys of putting
on over on the Rollins administrators, one of the boys examines
Crystal's short cutlass. It's heavy, meant to break bones and sharp.
He slices his finger on the blade. “This is real,” he says,
gesturing towards the foam swords they're planning to use in the
upcoming theatrics.</span><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">Of
course it's real,” Says Crystal, “I would have no chance against
Anderson's pirates or the guard with one of your made in China's.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One
of the other boys says she not really a pirate, but has some sort of
mental health problem.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Crystal's
hand swings down to her delicate boot and fingers reach a knife. In
an instant she brings it up, around and whips it forward so that it
pierces the eye of a character in a poster that looks too much like
Pirate Anderson for her liking. It passes two inches in front of the
boy's nose.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If
you see a man who looks like that, warn me and run.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdman9-Szp2FHlAi8qEfj0JkeeyZu933I04Hx1aZbGS7IFWzotyArL5837p9neEeAOgdtB8szYqUx3ERbqfwm3qz5N81L-8-S-tzowVFESPF3Lbt6O9mHw20OqiKn-iUz19EZb-ttGuo47tLzv0q1aeTLf6HKrByP2-4jTPN4BCd-vnJOttfqgBvk/s7000/shutterstock_2032808081.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="7000" data-original-width="5409" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdman9-Szp2FHlAi8qEfj0JkeeyZu933I04Hx1aZbGS7IFWzotyArL5837p9neEeAOgdtB8szYqUx3ERbqfwm3qz5N81L-8-S-tzowVFESPF3Lbt6O9mHw20OqiKn-iUz19EZb-ttGuo47tLzv0q1aeTLf6HKrByP2-4jTPN4BCd-vnJOttfqgBvk/s320/shutterstock_2032808081.jpg" width="247"></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Downtown
Pirate Anderson has been renting out his ship for events, giving
tours and discovers tourism pays pretty well. However, he wants his
former ship and the precious key to the sea back. Anderson has made
contact with the local criminal underground. <br><br>He soon gets
word of a pirate girl with a growing social media following in
Summerville. He's never seen Crystal, but recognizes the style of her
dress. She has to be one of the ladies in raiding and would make a
valuable hostage. Unable to navigate the problems of getting and
driving a car, he too gets some CARTA Bus passes and rides the #10
Rivers Ave. Bus and Tri County Link bus all the way to Summerville,
where again, everyone just assumes they're working in the tourism
industry and don't bathe enough. Anderson can't understand why it
takes two hours to get to Summertime on a bus which can clearly be
driven 60 miles an hour.</span><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The
King's guard has been shadowing Anderson and hiding in modern clothes
they've received at the Sunday Community Potluck on Hampstead Square.
They also head to Summerville. Lacking a chest of gold, the redcoats
beg for the fare in uniform first. Tourists love the selfies.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVtWxZ-vTetS9qnWTbMcEhVAPCjpjoPFVbZq75yY3HVvZ563igTg4AMFY6XLzyDovnipmkylhpLqI5SA4RofOwmoP0hlGRJxAaXr7NT_JO_oZB9J-Uojp5DrvXucuSZZW1neUQGYUPJexbVqLsneB8hEgm65_NmRYVEnmYiro2-RgYScniIOtMvUJt/s1316/kids%20on%20map%20at%20farmers%20market.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1316" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVtWxZ-vTetS9qnWTbMcEhVAPCjpjoPFVbZq75yY3HVvZ563igTg4AMFY6XLzyDovnipmkylhpLqI5SA4RofOwmoP0hlGRJxAaXr7NT_JO_oZB9J-Uojp5DrvXucuSZZW1neUQGYUPJexbVqLsneB8hEgm65_NmRYVEnmYiro2-RgYScniIOtMvUJt/s320/kids%20on%20map%20at%20farmers%20market.jpg" width="320"></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">It
is May 18, 2023. Crystal is getting ready to have some fun at Third
Thursday in Summerville with her new friends. They're all dressed as pirates.
Crystal is trending online. She's setting the fashion.</span><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Her
mother, Emerald, has also followed Anderson and the Guard to
Summerville, the ladies as usual eliciting information from the
hapless guards.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Some
people have noticed there certainly seem to be a lot of pirates
riding the bus system these days, but the authorities have no idea
what is about to happen. Two warring bands of pirates and a
detachment of royal guards are about to meet a group of teenagers
among the craft booths and food trucks in flowertown. One of those
teenagers is ready, but out of her time. The others are out of their
depth and Queen Ruby and her magical key are far away.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It
is later afternoon when Crystal and her friends arrive at Hutchinson
Square. Anderson, the Guard and the Ladies in Raiding will arrive
soon.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Be
on Hutchinson Square in Summerville on Thursday, May 18 to see what happens
next. </span>
</p><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><h3 style="font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><br></h3><h3 style="margin: 0px; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPvnsxy0bQr_APbor_RVD-vhYJW4ZWFRpGUeE5RHA68D6vHjOCJRBbvZ0vEXw5jE0aPlQ0ebf9PXMGerZNaKbcDwIFhaWuQOQqh2Ry15PoJiZsVW01k5VtaaCLKvgdX8x8T1mZX92GYMk8wdFjvvAtz1vcyB3sBxLOEhNlaAtk3DVoEMdU2tCXfmlX/s1224/charleston-transit-1-press-orange-bg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="936" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPvnsxy0bQr_APbor_RVD-vhYJW4ZWFRpGUeE5RHA68D6vHjOCJRBbvZ0vEXw5jE0aPlQ0ebf9PXMGerZNaKbcDwIFhaWuQOQqh2Ry15PoJiZsVW01k5VtaaCLKvgdX8x8T1mZX92GYMk8wdFjvvAtz1vcyB3sBxLOEhNlaAtk3DVoEMdU2tCXfmlX/s320/charleston-transit-1-press-orange-bg.jpg" width="245"></a></div>Support and Contact Us</span></h3></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 13px;"><ul style="line-height: 1.4; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;">You can support our continuing efforts for better transit by <a href="https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bflt2022" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">making a contribution online on Act Blue</a></li><li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;">You can reach us by emailing executive director William Hamilton at <a href="mailto:wjhamilton29464@gmail.com" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">wjhamilton29464@gmail.com </a>or by calling 843-870-5299.</li></ul></div>William Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06741904019458546425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089401253655703757.post-36955010966824663162023-05-09T07:06:00.004-07:002023-05-10T12:20:08.608-07:00Bus to the Beach in the Lowcountry 2022<h1 style="text-align: left;">2022 Second Season of Service to the Sea at IOP</h1><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmFMSVX5JN7ZU2iUxtfT14n2oTeyNd7xSTBlzllUJS5XEMzWSteNGw3NZgYyI51J_yzftJbNLJybosfY_iT1VtXNThS2AC-BvIePwX1SqmSiIszNkFzA2LAs-rauTP4Mpq1ORaH97yAWxxTOBifq3Qq9ObmoPH2h9njv1RcoKKwE9yM4-mJepIYm4T=s4032" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmFMSVX5JN7ZU2iUxtfT14n2oTeyNd7xSTBlzllUJS5XEMzWSteNGw3NZgYyI51J_yzftJbNLJybosfY_iT1VtXNThS2AC-BvIePwX1SqmSiIszNkFzA2LAs-rauTP4Mpq1ORaH97yAWxxTOBifq3Qq9ObmoPH2h9njv1RcoKKwE9yM4-mJepIYm4T=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Boarding Shuttle at Mt. Pleasant Town Centre</i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">This page is now out of date, Please<a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2023/02/bus-to-beach-2023.html"> check our Bus to the beach 2023</a> page for current information on our special Pirate promotion. </span><br /><br />After a brief experimental operation in Aug. 2020, and seven years of transit advocacy by Best Friends including the 2015 March to the Sea, regular public transit bus service reached the beach in the Lowcountry on Memorial Weekend 2022. Now it returns for its second year. <div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.ridecarta.com/services/beachreachshuttle/?fbclid=IwAR1pONNG1vnt8PCn1hGxQ9nbLK2UuNb9xZX1r5HfKTk5mWDUkpN49KRlx7k" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">Official CARTA page on Beach Reach Shuttle. </span></a><div><p></p><p>This year the Beach Shuttle has a direct and immediate connection to the #40 Mount Pleasant Bus. You can reach the shuttle on the #40 or just park next to the stop in Mt. Pleasant for free. The shuttle is also free. This year's stop at the beach is right next to the County Park where you can find bathrooms, showers and changing rooms. <br /><br />The CARTA Board voted to run the shuttle again this year at their January 2022 meeting. </p><p>We'll be presenting IOP City Council with their copy of the Key to the Sea on March 22 at 6 pm. </p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span><a name="more"></a></span>Here is information on last years bus 2021 to beach effort.</h3><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8YcQyB3PmFPKUsMJdM2C6jSdV9O407VcJEGeXTtTMSXN4UdoNUYJimL7T7TB26eQOLxRyegvFXoVwwBHTq7_0HuoY7qn3vWM2aL2I8oL5hatEvJA_PGgIFaJvqG5hypv_ArnmOsGIZlzl-cI2s9lbvAbEW0AzeioJWq8QeerJU0249kadcRVjIDbq=s3678" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2758" data-original-width="3678" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8YcQyB3PmFPKUsMJdM2C6jSdV9O407VcJEGeXTtTMSXN4UdoNUYJimL7T7TB26eQOLxRyegvFXoVwwBHTq7_0HuoY7qn3vWM2aL2I8oL5hatEvJA_PGgIFaJvqG5hypv_ArnmOsGIZlzl-cI2s9lbvAbEW0AzeioJWq8QeerJU0249kadcRVjIDbq=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Boarding the Shuttle on IOP</i></td></tr></tbody></table>The 2021 Reach the Beach shuttle effort was moderately successful. Ridership was heavily impacted by COVID and a lot of bad weather. Ridership was building towards the end of summer with a strong Labor Day weekend finish. It was absolutely better than fighting traffic and parking on IOP. The company on the bus was pleasant. The views from the bus crossing the Dangerfield bridge are spectacular. You avoid the anger and aggression which is so prominent on the road there. We found that brining a chair, small umbrella and small cooler got it done. So did Chole, our intensely controversial campaign to get people to pack light and enjoy the beach. <a href="https://youtu.be/OaiSwiRGw4Q" target="_blank">Be like Chole</a> really drove the monster truck to the beach people nuts.<p></p><p>On Saturday's, the transfer from the #40 Mt. Pleasant bus route, which runs from downtown Charleston at Mary Street where it connects with the rest of the CARTA system was reliable and generally immediate. On Sundays the two routes had different schedules and waits of half an hour, coming and going took place. Parking at Mt. Pleasant Town Centre was always available. A mid year change to a bus stop at IOP County Park where benches, shade and bathrooms could be found was a huge improvement. </p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2021/02/bus-to-beach-2021-unlock-ocean.html" target="_blank"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgo2mBLQ66Zjo3yur_Md1NmsJLH23bnD_QVwl9j04gXGNdntVI7yMd8kiJfaeDwklajD0ifls-SpXDG2e8ioHxahitX6mhrdQH3JhMDXZuQ2H1PmG3paAVeVXwWkdyAoJ6rQPip5TtvTzjHYkLSv3RK0vuPaNpPFvixP7yAA3RKmJBOOfa-V3GVrAJ7=s3264" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgo2mBLQ66Zjo3yur_Md1NmsJLH23bnD_QVwl9j04gXGNdntVI7yMd8kiJfaeDwklajD0ifls-SpXDG2e8ioHxahitX6mhrdQH3JhMDXZuQ2H1PmG3paAVeVXwWkdyAoJ6rQPip5TtvTzjHYkLSv3RK0vuPaNpPFvixP7yAA3RKmJBOOfa-V3GVrAJ7=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Key to the Sea</td></tr></tbody></table>Bus the the Beach 2021</a> Our main page June 2021 with updates during the season<br /></li><li><a href="https://youtu.be/OaiSwiRGw4Q" target="_blank">Be Like Chole Video</a> We thought this was just fun, big car people did not</li><li><a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2021/06/reach-beach-bus-gaining-traction-report.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bus to the Beach Gaining Traction</a> Report on the operating service, June 2021</li><li>May 2021 <a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2021/05/make-our-new-isle-of-palms-reach-beach.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Making the 2022 bus fare free. </a> Quick action helps make the IOP bus fare free. Within two hours fare free operation was fully funded</li><li><a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2021/05/summerville-to-sea-526-juneteenth-week.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">July Summerville to the Sea Bus Trip</a> Plans for a guided trip to the beach from Summerville</li><li><a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2021/03/open-ocean-for-kids.html">Open the Ocean for Kids</a> Our effort to get kids to the beach. It struggled due to pandemic problems and logistical issues. We did get the summer program from Pink House to the fountain downtown. The basic problem is that the buses run on weekends and the summer programs for kids operate on weekdays. </li></ol><div><div style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="text-align: left;">Why Transit Service to the Beach Matters</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigS4C7bDR-LAWHWTcuiMs6Cd3H9OV9QZzIEL0-LPF_N6u1sd2F6Is4rjzzBVR_6rgilWMthEON-FyMom6co8Pk-KWTvnAba4D2t1ssDS0GqXiakMmuHdz77EfNfdQqVHkQg6TCIXMGBo11ft_DBV469e7SjbMfgLeMmK8MxIrk8PCzo6rR7lFqScRs=s1224" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="936" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigS4C7bDR-LAWHWTcuiMs6Cd3H9OV9QZzIEL0-LPF_N6u1sd2F6Is4rjzzBVR_6rgilWMthEON-FyMom6co8Pk-KWTvnAba4D2t1ssDS0GqXiakMmuHdz77EfNfdQqVHkQg6TCIXMGBo11ft_DBV469e7SjbMfgLeMmK8MxIrk8PCzo6rR7lFqScRs=w153-h200" width="153" /></a></div>Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit campaigned for seven years to get public transit in Charleston returned to our beaches. We continue to believe that it is the moral obligation of a wealthy community like ours which depends on low wage service labor in it's tourism and medical sectors to make recreation at our beaches available to everyone without their having to own an automobile. We also believe reducing automobile traffic to the beach improves everyone's beach experience and promotes a more sustainable human presence on our planet. Doubling transit ridership to the beach this summer is one of our <a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2022/02/transit-equity-demands-for-sc.html" target="_blank">five major transit goals for 2022</a>. </div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Support us and Contact Us</h3></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>You can support our continuing efforts for better transit by <a href="https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bflt2022" target="_blank">making a contribution online on Act Blue</a></li><li>You can reach us by emailing executive director William Hamilton at <a href="mailto:wjhamilton29464@gmail.com" target="_blank">wjhamilton29464@gmail.com </a>or by calling 843-870-5299.</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p></p></div></div>William Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06741904019458546425noreply@blogger.com0Charleston, SC, USA32.7764749 -79.9310512000000134.6329852151913045 -115.08730120000001 60.919964584808689 -44.774801200000013tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089401253655703757.post-36632959530368544972023-05-05T11:23:00.018-07:002023-06-06T14:23:47.808-07:00Queen Ruby of the Pirates and her Ladies in Raiding, the Cruise of the Jeweled Princess<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghiHyz9_b93_6JcGWJAE9_rJAhvSKFVTh93oClcEciSHjMg7Q4hSPgmpb5jlbHpN4SmWEBgqLvKRi_PNkRdA7ioa9oDEO2pjdLu9aLdif35ilYqV0XZOMc_MymqQrgJM4qBhUPIxIEt45fBLpssn4hKsl7OfUUObnWEQsM3xZ-XAvSFKmkEjyfR4TV/s1650/ruby%20red%20pirate%20flag.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1275" data-original-width="1650" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghiHyz9_b93_6JcGWJAE9_rJAhvSKFVTh93oClcEciSHjMg7Q4hSPgmpb5jlbHpN4SmWEBgqLvKRi_PNkRdA7ioa9oDEO2pjdLu9aLdif35ilYqV0XZOMc_MymqQrgJM4qBhUPIxIEt45fBLpssn4hKsl7OfUUObnWEQsM3xZ-XAvSFKmkEjyfR4TV/s320/ruby%20red%20pirate%20flag.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flag of Queen Ruby of the Pirates</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i>© 2023 by William J. Hamilton, III</i></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>Ride the Bus, Join the Drama</b></span></span></h3><div style="text-align: left;">This summer Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit invites you not merely to take the bus to the beach, but to use transit to access a summer island filled with adventure, drama, swordplay and romance. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This is the first written chapter in our pirate drama. We maintain a complete chronology with links to all the chapters and events </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When you encounter Queen Ruby of the Pirates or one of her Ladies in Raiding, you may be given a golden pirate coin which will allow you to win discounts, earn prizes or even participate in the dramatic contest between Queen Ruby, his majesty's royal militia, the fiendish Pirate Anderson or the venal operatives of the British West India company. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Here's our story up to now. Join the next chapter on Memorial weekend when we open the ocean at 10:30 am on the front beach of the Isle of Palms and join the drama which will bring excitement as well as better transit to the Lowcountry up to its conclusion of Labor Day Weekend.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After you have read the backstory below, read the latest chapter, the conclusion of which will u<span style="text-indent: 48px;">nfold in Summerville on May 18. Read </span><a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2023/05/crystal-goes-roving-pirate-war-in.html" style="text-indent: 48px;" target="_blank">Crystal Goes A Roving, Pirate War in Summerville?</a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">A Hard Life Come to a Dead End</span></span></h3><span style="line-height: 107%;">Ruby was the beloved daughter of a famous Admiral of His Majesty’s
Royal Navy. Middle age found her married to a rum ruined former ship’s captain
and now tavern owner in the impoverished town of Port St. Phillip. Trapped in
circumstance, peril and adventure yet awaited the handsome woman who believed
her life was to be spent tending bar, scrubbing run sodden tavern floors and sloping pigs.</span><div><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b>Peril from the Sea, Anderson's Pirates Raid Port Phillip</b></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwkxpyWdM_1ShzX4NcW05tZuvL4T31V_cz3xW69jf4fqd6krRp2gBufbNw8YW8D7-bC1blV4KLlXigjW9UVmPkZPOEYpQ0eDNLvufapeEgr0l1o-bpERIRCKGcSC0H9kMMrTmjf4VOEHKw9rsGesMVkSMrIjZTyCt66zRVqhmcAOTn_GNVna7vSvAK/s960/Queen%20Ruby%20at%20Blessing%20of%20the%20Fleet.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwkxpyWdM_1ShzX4NcW05tZuvL4T31V_cz3xW69jf4fqd6krRp2gBufbNw8YW8D7-bC1blV4KLlXigjW9UVmPkZPOEYpQ0eDNLvufapeEgr0l1o-bpERIRCKGcSC0H9kMMrTmjf4VOEHKw9rsGesMVkSMrIjZTyCt66zRVqhmcAOTn_GNVna7vSvAK/s320/Queen%20Ruby%20at%20Blessing%20of%20the%20Fleet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Peril came in the form of Anderson’s pirate band, who raided
the town and carried off everything of any worth. St. Phillip was poor on a
good day. The King’s taxes and the ruinous terms of trade with the monopoly of
the British West India Company made life expensive and hard. With rations low
and a pirate crew on the verge of munity, Anderson came to take everything Ruby
and her neighbors had. The King and his fleet were, as usual, far away guarding
the profits of the West India company. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Ruby’s husband was a sot, but when the door of his tavern was
breached by the thirsty pirates he rose on his feet to defend his wife, whom he
still loved, the only true treasure he possessed. The Captain's final battle
was brave and short. He ended in a pool of his own blood on the dank, beer
soaked floor. Ruby, unready, was taken prisoner as were the other ladies of the
town. It took five strong men to drag Ruby to their ship. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHM9dL2afgSFOQoHIjlL3jyLDBXYtDnykCvePPxehQpIwIv59jB7PCdCZPOPMnEYjoI1-4uup14eXxR18jx0glrYZsORYaCYV1p6VDc8x_ca4gJz9edVW6zsTpvqKMc7wapBciq_1hNwwqepFM2yQ8n4m8PUl00nkDZbwkUz0x4raqROVN7ezhmYP2/s4032/20210529_131850.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHM9dL2afgSFOQoHIjlL3jyLDBXYtDnykCvePPxehQpIwIv59jB7PCdCZPOPMnEYjoI1-4uup14eXxR18jx0glrYZsORYaCYV1p6VDc8x_ca4gJz9edVW6zsTpvqKMc7wapBciq_1hNwwqepFM2yQ8n4m8PUl00nkDZbwkUz0x4raqROVN7ezhmYP2/s320/20210529_131850.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>On board Ruby and her sisters contemplated the horrors that
awaited them in one form of slavery or another. They were hardship toughened
women from age 12 to 80, subject to the various uses men might devise for them
unless they freed themselves. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Ruby knew the uses of rum on sailors and proposed a party, a
welcome surprise to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the pirates. The
revels began, but the pirates quickly fell into a drunken sleep while attempting
to prove to the smiling women which of them might hold the most rum. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">When they awoke with headaches the following morning, they
were startled to find irons on their feet, shackled to chains run around the
beams of the ship. Above them they could hear the sound of feet on the deck,
hear the rasp of rigging running through the blocks and the high pitched voice
of Ruby, directing the trimming of the main course. What had been their ship was under way. They were now prisoners locked
in irons. Ruby and the women were in command of what was now the ladies’ ship.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Ruby had heard many stories of the sea, none more legendary
and improbable than the tale of the key to the sea. Said to have been forged by Vikings, the large iron key to the sea was alleged to give the Captain who held
it command over wind and wave. It was said the key was the power which allowed
the Vikings to find Greenland and the new world. The key could put the wind
behind your sails and turn it against your opponent. It could calm the storm
for your vessel’s crossing but raise the gale against a ship in pursuit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">In the hands of the righteous, the key was the most powerful
magic on the sea. However, in the possession of a murderous thief and kidnapper
like Anderson it had been of no use, a relic that had cost him much and had yielded
him nothing. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">When Ruby and the ladies battered down the door to the captain’s
cabin they found the key among his many treasures. Ruby knew what it had to be. She
passed over the precious gems, gold and silver in the treasure chest to grasp its handle. She
told the other women; “with this we shall be powerful and free.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b>A Decision is Made, A Voyage Begins</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF5cSOlgvITIH8u2V6eo_rWxJ736MkdbIAvhnC4mcPrUPopJ4-m3C0BuD-HCoRuAzu9ANayNkAf-Y1HW5jlsb-lgfT9uJdI_m2tV4JbExFFMHoqv47IhxJu0Oc8WUmO0bYfatyINw8rnfNj9ndeeYB-eMe-2CiusDODtI1rDF5FMSvLrJfY75n6mpN/s320/pirate%20lady.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="247" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF5cSOlgvITIH8u2V6eo_rWxJ736MkdbIAvhnC4mcPrUPopJ4-m3C0BuD-HCoRuAzu9ANayNkAf-Y1HW5jlsb-lgfT9uJdI_m2tV4JbExFFMHoqv47IhxJu0Oc8WUmO0bYfatyINw8rnfNj9ndeeYB-eMe-2CiusDODtI1rDF5FMSvLrJfY75n6mpN/s1600/pirate%20lady.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>At dawn Ruby donned Andersons worn pirate costume and fitted
his oversized bicorn hat to her smaller head. She directed the women to work
the anchor up with the windlass, lowered the sails and let the ship fall down
into the wind. As what would be known as the Jeweled Princess of the Seas began
to make headway and the rudder began to cut, Sapphire, who had taken up the
work of the helmslady asked Ruby if they should return to the ruins of Port Phillip.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Ruby reached into the pirate jacket’s oversized pocket and
touched the key to the sea with her fingers, feeling the waves tremble beneath
the ship at her touch. She looked at the women before her rapidly become an
effective crew. Ruby considered what their lives back in the power of others
might be. More hardship, burials sure to be forgotten and the certain return of
other pirates. They could expect forced, unfair dealings with the rapacious
agents of the West India Company or the occasional press gangs of the erstwhile
Royall Navy taking the men. That course did not promise freedom or happiness for them or the
many others who suffered. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Ruby looked at Sapphire (all the ladies had taken to naming
themselves after precious gems) whose hands rested on the huge wooden wheel of
the ship. Assisting her was beautiful, raven haired Crystal, a young girl with her entire life ahead. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Ruby turned her face into the wind, feeling the air. The sea
breeze opening with the morning’s warming heat brought the worn plume of Ruby’s
hat up and into the sun. It was a fair wind for travels North to a convenient
island where Anderson and his pirates could be marooned. Beyond that could be found
the wealthy parts of the Caribbean, a sea of arrogant captains, greedy company
agents, slavers and more pirates than a women should have to contend with.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Not the ordinary workplace of a lady for sure, but work which
needed doing. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Ruby looked at Sapphire and Crystal, and beyond them to the blue sea
and islands out to the horizon.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">“I think not,” famously said Queen Ruby, adjusting her hat. “Easy over
three points to starboard.” She touched the key in her pocket and the ocean
beneath the keel yielded to the ship, the wind backed to her desired direction
and the Jeweled Princess began its first voyage.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b>300 Years Later in Carolina</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Pirate Queen Ruby and her Ladies in Raiding have been sailing
for years. Crystal is now a young women and can hold down the poop deck in a
storm with the confidence of any man. However, as Ruby possesses the key, no
storm every overthrows the Jeweled Princess. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvic0Xq06-nCg2v6gfrW-FJWxf012cQYBLnBO_4XD5mqmVAHEioAc2Gw9NyCuXEpdHetzd7Pi4ut5fXNJrHlC1Fe-tp4gRmq-42jEzZ5DY2pWc-BBdp-9gFAclE_HAVlh2zpG0Y_StH4BWzhVgC4qV04LYUbaqkGUn3BlzeZKTbmEzw52bzufsVghz/s3264/20210407_193409.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvic0Xq06-nCg2v6gfrW-FJWxf012cQYBLnBO_4XD5mqmVAHEioAc2Gw9NyCuXEpdHetzd7Pi4ut5fXNJrHlC1Fe-tp4gRmq-42jEzZ5DY2pWc-BBdp-9gFAclE_HAVlh2zpG0Y_StH4BWzhVgC4qV04LYUbaqkGUn3BlzeZKTbmEzw52bzufsVghz/s320/20210407_193409.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>For the struggling people of these colonies, Ruby’s ship and
its crew are a welcome sight. They bring help when needed. The women defend against
pirates and recover some of the wealth the West India Company takes from these
people tossed by hurricanes and often starved by poor, island soils. <p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">On the hot,
still days after a hurricane, when everything is in ruins, it is the Jeweled
Princess that often shows up first with assistance. If the crates of crackers
heaved into the lighters bear the mark of the West India company, no one seems
to mind. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Except of course, for the West India company, who profits for
King and investors by buying everything the islands produce at prices of it’s
choosing and selling everything needed there at a premium, standing on its royal grant of monopoly. The King gets his share of all. The Royal Navy’s first
job it to be sure of that. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sugar cane
grown gets sold to the company for a pittance and the run later purchased costs dear. It does
not profit the West India company to see it’s run and crackers donated to the poor
for free, even after a Hurricane. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">During one storm, when Ruby used the key of the sea to end a mighty Hurricane. The massive energy of the storm was concentrated and there was an exposion. She and her ladies find themselves in a strange world, 400 years in their future. A world of wonders, but also troubles. They have kept their distance up to now, attempting to observe this world of marvels from a safe distance, but their casks have run dry. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Ruby and her ladies have been forced to land at the Isle of
Palms after scouting the Lowcountry to obtain that most precious treasure, water, to fill the casks of the Jeweled Princess. They will distribute some largess,
get help hauling the water out to their ship and be quickly off over the waves
leaving the pirates, royal navy and company agents in their wake, who have somehow also reached the future with her. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">The casks are full. The Jeweled Princess is ready to make sail,
but Crystal, now the flower of young womanhood, cannot be found. Ruby must
remain ashore with the other ladies in raiding to search for her sister. As the
island fills with summer visitors, the Ladies in Raiding are not unnoticed. Reports have reached
the King guards. The West India Company has offered rewards: 20 pounds for a lady in
raiding, 100 for Ruby and a thousand for the Key to the sea.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Crystal is rumored to be in Summerville, reveling in the opportunities this new century presents to an experienced 16th Century Pirate Maiden. Our next chapter unfolds in Summerville on May 18. Read <a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2023/05/crystal-goes-roving-pirate-war-in.html" target="_blank">Crystal Goes A Roving, Pirate War in Summerville?</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;">Ride the Bus, Join the Story</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVx0yEWyGKDZVHF_LWeGpldKodR_07UU-qz0S8D8Ez8jayzp_hdLSszFgoXI9OmlFRN5-3E1excbLWVBPFAnKUuRqu6Um9G1XGpzjb1m-Uy3L4omyAeJmk11CVteRoy7i03sbhhnwCVAZGzjBwi6NnFxvCAr8gL682SU3UHnzt1ve0mHiDmHh7chOE/s1224/charleston-transit-1-press-orange-bg.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="936" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVx0yEWyGKDZVHF_LWeGpldKodR_07UU-qz0S8D8Ez8jayzp_hdLSszFgoXI9OmlFRN5-3E1excbLWVBPFAnKUuRqu6Um9G1XGpzjb1m-Uy3L4omyAeJmk11CVteRoy7i03sbhhnwCVAZGzjBwi6NnFxvCAr8gL682SU3UHnzt1ve0mHiDmHh7chOE/s320/charleston-transit-1-press-orange-bg.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>The Royal Navy, as always, is far away protecting the king’s
profits, but Anderson and his pirates are close. They escaped their lonely
island years ago and stole a new ship. They are bearing down on Ruby, the Isle
of Palms and the King’s small guard, a friend to none of them. It is the
beginning of summer. While visitors revel and sport traveling from the mainland on the free bus service, Ruby and her ladies must
act to save all. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">On May 27, 2023, starting at 10:30 am on the Isle of Palms,
take the free CARTA Beach Shuttle from the mainland and join the story. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;">More Information</span></p><div><span style="line-height: 107%;">For more information, see our <a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2023/02/bus-to-beach-2023.html">main page on the 2023 bus to the beach</a> or contact William Hamilton at (843) 870-5299 or wjhamilton29464@gmail.com</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div>William Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06741904019458546425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089401253655703757.post-26755798435161116232023-04-08T08:18:00.004-07:002023-04-08T08:18:46.356-07:00Mary Bowers & Right to Ride Walking Tour Being Researched for May 2023 Launch<b>From Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit<br /> To Local Press and Media
<br />For Release April 6, 2023 </b><div><br /></div><div><i>Charleston, SC</i>- Today, Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit, Inc. begins the final phase of our effort to create a Mary Bowers Right to Ride Walking Tour of Charleston remembering her successful struggle to integrate the City’s horse drawn streetcars two years after the Civil War. The tour will be first offered to the public on Thursday, May 4, 2023. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP08I6966CDQskxK7zVrguGvwC9l-TMBGLTZC8iCtyv_fUM8Q3MjIZG38QWgkqu-M4Oss-8HbFJ0m1hKGGzCEForM9oH0yxnt61vj6uf-Mp3aWreQSHh2GOhyNenaOilGMzSGktVZn8ELMRZcpaO4n59PKXP3G9jZ3tbFOiozRM5ywIRKkwD3OLM3u/s960/March%20to%20the%20sea%202015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP08I6966CDQskxK7zVrguGvwC9l-TMBGLTZC8iCtyv_fUM8Q3MjIZG38QWgkqu-M4Oss-8HbFJ0m1hKGGzCEForM9oH0yxnt61vj6uf-Mp3aWreQSHh2GOhyNenaOilGMzSGktVZn8ELMRZcpaO4n59PKXP3G9jZ3tbFOiozRM5ywIRKkwD3OLM3u/s320/March%20to%20the%20sea%202015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div><i>Image, right, Demonstrators March to the Sea in July 2015 to demand the return of public transit bus service to the beach. </i><br /><br />William Hamilton will be working in the SC History Room of the Charleston County Library from 10 am to 12:30 pm on Friday, April 7 (Anniversary of the Ironclad attack on Ft. Sumpter in 1863) to fill in answers to some of the questions which need to be answered to move the tour plan towards completion. Hamilton invites persons interested in the work to join him there. </div><div><br /></div><div>For more information see www.bfltransit.com online.
This tour will focus on Mary Bowers, Rosa Parks of the Holy City, and her successful effort to force integration of Charleston’s horse drawn streetcars in Spring of 1867, shortly after the Civil War at the beginning of reconstruction here. </div><div><br /></div><div>This little known, but dramatic history, was uncovered by Dr. Nick Butler of the Charleston County Library. After an April 1857
Republican Party Rally (then almost exclusively consisting or Northerners and freed slaves in SC) to celebrate the passage of the Federal Civil Rights and Reconstruction acts on Marion Square, Mary decided to reality test all those big promises about equality by trying to ride Charleston’s brand new horse drawn streetcars on Meeting St. She was denied the right to ride, made a stand and finally relented to let the car go on, after she blocked up all the cars on the line. Mary told the driver, “If I get off this car, there will be trouble.” </div><div><br /></div><div> Trouble there was, up to and including a near riot and massacre at the four corners of Law where the ex-Confederates of the City Guard (Police Force) faced off against the US Army of occupation, almost exclusively composed of African American freed slaves. Someone was able to talk that down. Everyone went home alive. We don’t know who the person who managed that de-escalation was. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ8zZ0Fs_Wl6nvc7UiGtaZqoiGoRkEahVY9Z0tZLCHTC-RlAsduTL9B--WzfZAc9aMyCrceDVYWSeHpFAlJ7HYpRkveWShh-WAVNCjyfVeot8SaISVVpv7J8743qgOP6JwUaKsdvyYu4hGes4ajX9o-sfek7h88GKpbmmY4GOeM6-8Hfzl8EelKW61/s960/Sylphide%20and%20bullet%20train%20model.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ8zZ0Fs_Wl6nvc7UiGtaZqoiGoRkEahVY9Z0tZLCHTC-RlAsduTL9B--WzfZAc9aMyCrceDVYWSeHpFAlJ7HYpRkveWShh-WAVNCjyfVeot8SaISVVpv7J8743qgOP6JwUaKsdvyYu4hGes4ajX9o-sfek7h88GKpbmmY4GOeM6-8Hfzl8EelKW61/s320/Sylphide%20and%20bullet%20train%20model.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Image, left- Mary Smith portrays Syphide our mascot, the spirit of motion at the Atlanta Transit Expo. Mary was a frequent leader of protests in Charleston before her death in Sept. 2029</i></div><div><br />During weeks of unrest, some things in Charleston were broken. Some things may have been set on fire. Finally General Scott responded to a complaint filed by Bowers by sending a letter to the street railroad company suggesting it would be best to let everyone ride. They reluctantly agreed and on May 4, the cars were thrown open to all. Everyone in the City of Charleston had the right to ride.
The date has been quietly celebrated in Charleston for the past 8 years. </div><div><br /></div><div> The right to ride endured for about 30 years until the passage of Jim Crow laws under rigid segregationist upstate Governor Ben Tillman resegregated public transportation in Charleston for about 65 years. We’re unable to document significant activism regarding the desegregation of SCE&Gs buses here during the Civil Rights movement currently. It may have happened quietly. Research continues. </div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">How You Can Help</h3><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-MxD8N80iSxqN0t0oBd7NWtpx7QLRnJvY_G3DvOyrMLCGas7G_14_0NuIXOC_6ie76Q0cikBvw3umx8Yct-JfdS2r_60CYxG2m4KxxQjbj0RmCdnImTUJD5FpG4hpr5yNBY0X-fNOdD7AM7JP3o171I0iXQscMebihtE7Cz9sokzojkv6LWghl7d0/s1368/Yellow%20Info%20Tent%20at%20W.%20Ashley%20Farmers%20Market.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1026" data-original-width="1368" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-MxD8N80iSxqN0t0oBd7NWtpx7QLRnJvY_G3DvOyrMLCGas7G_14_0NuIXOC_6ie76Q0cikBvw3umx8Yct-JfdS2r_60CYxG2m4KxxQjbj0RmCdnImTUJD5FpG4hpr5yNBY0X-fNOdD7AM7JP3o171I0iXQscMebihtE7Cz9sokzojkv6LWghl7d0/s320/Yellow%20Info%20Tent%20at%20W.%20Ashley%20Farmers%20Market.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />If you work as a tour guide or historian, we welcome your help in refining the materials which will illuminate this remarkable, forgotten chapter in Charleston’s history and putting that awareness on the ground with a tour integrated with the city’s DASH bus system.
The effort needs tour guides willing to conduct the tour as part of their regular business, locals and visitors ready to take it and a modest amount of funding to cover the costs of printing and publicity. </div><div><br /></div><div>To become involved contact William Hamilton at 843-870-5299 or wjhamilton29464@gmail.com. Contributions to support the effort can be made through act blue. </div><div><br /></div><div> END END END</div>William Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06741904019458546425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089401253655703757.post-48193317713253455332023-03-15T13:52:00.000-07:002023-03-15T13:52:13.431-07:00Location for Mt. Pleasant Arts Center Should be Transit Oriented<p> <b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By
William Hamilton</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">
Executive Director, Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit- </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Nova", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="file:///F:/Users/wjham/Documents/Transit%20and%20CARTA/East%20Cooper%20&%20Daniel%20Island/www.bfltransit.com">www.bfltransit.com</a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
Resident- 32 Sowell St., Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464<br />
Ph. (843) 870-5299 or wjhamilton29464@gmail.com<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Presented to Mt. Pleasant Town Council on March 14, 2023. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">At the end of his remarks, William Hamilton offered to restore and donate his late wife Julia's beloved 1920 mahogany Ivers and Pond Piano to the new art center. Julia was a stalwart supporter of music East of the Cooper, founding and performing with I'Onissimo! for ten years and playing 1st violin in the Mt. Pleasant orchestra. Julia played the large parlor grand instrument for 50 years. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4BrNN8aNhs_WUPid6hss15P7MKF9URVptGhnUQpCkyhwpoeaJvCW30L_Q3u5C6ELsbGDWtrbZsr2fbwDH9tNSkQfv9G9i38cL_4AdXP8FgRLsOAQJZ_JZt2Sy6mPEQVSMLErGgteOjZcuwdemzanAXvbX3Eac-MCa7sfkkPKRTXgPNjpM1wu5_T-/s1224/charleston-transit-1-press-orange-bg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="936" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4BrNN8aNhs_WUPid6hss15P7MKF9URVptGhnUQpCkyhwpoeaJvCW30L_Q3u5C6ELsbGDWtrbZsr2fbwDH9tNSkQfv9G9i38cL_4AdXP8FgRLsOAQJZ_JZt2Sy6mPEQVSMLErGgteOjZcuwdemzanAXvbX3Eac-MCa7sfkkPKRTXgPNjpM1wu5_T-/s320/charleston-transit-1-press-orange-bg.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>The
proposed East Cooper Plaza location for an Arts Center is far more useful to
the community and will generate less traffic because it can be served by strong
public transit connections to outer Mount Pleasant and the Old Charleston area
and transit hub. A greenfield site on currently undeveloped land on the north
side of town would be impossible to reach by transit in the evenings and would
have far larger environmental impacts. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I am the
Executive Director of Best Friends of Lowcoutry Transit and run our East Cooper
Hungryneck Straphangers unit. I have been riding public transit to and from the
locations mentioned in this memo since 1978. I am a resident of I’On and take
the bus into Charleston several times a week. Our organization is considered
one of the leading Transit advocacy groups in the Southeastern US and the Town/Transit
Teamwork effort which achieved a 308% increase in transit ridership in Mt.
Pleasant between 2007 and 2012 is still a subject of national study today.
Mount Pleasant wrote the book on suburban transit ridership development. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">On the Reliable #40 Bus Line</span></h3><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">East
Cooper Plaza is currently on the reliable Mt. Pleasant #4O CARTA Bus line with
stops right in front of the Plaza on it’s West end and in front of Sesame
Burger just to the north, where two restaurants provide a pleasant place to wait
for the bus and perhaps contribute to local economic activity and town tax
revenue by enjoying a drink or meal. These restaurants and businesses also
provide rain shelter while waiting. Transit riders don’t have the concerns
about DUIs that car drivers have. While you can’t ride visibly inebriated, the
professional drivers of CARTA, many with million mile perfect safety records
are our designated drivers. The BP station also has snacks and a lighted place
to wait out of the rain near the outbound stop.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">
For trips inbound to Charleston, there is a CARTA bus stop with a bench in
front of First Reliance Bank, pm the frontage road across from CVS.. This inbound
stop is also near Wood and Grain, Second State Coffee and several other
pleasant places to eat or find a snack while waiting. The bank drive through
provides rain shelter at this location. While the inbound stop could be
improved by a shelter and the necessary space is available, it’s a perfectly
acceptable all weather stop now. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Since inbound
transit rides to Charleston require crossing Johnnie Dodds Blvd. Best Friends
of Lowcountry Transit would recommend improved cross walk striping. Pedestrian
push buttons are already in place and functional. Access to and from all
directions is already fully sidewalked. The East Cooper Plaza location is also
within walkable distance of over 1500 residences. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Student and Youth Visitors</span></b></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdKIa7aMqqeKLrXtWVpyyZ8QoxwIF3Crdci5DQGPOH5GHONglTsUKx-a4_aq8K3FBDN0xHi4rJtPOtRL7YDMkwsvBnT5sXlxYXV72ZRMCtY7R3jQREkBqCF34SpE3F176OQK9eKqilAbeAkiJhsjy9uJtsSE2oOM8EJglgTS6hqWk7XJHQeVP2HJz/s1504/kids%20transit%20at%20conneckted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="846" data-original-width="1504" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdKIa7aMqqeKLrXtWVpyyZ8QoxwIF3Crdci5DQGPOH5GHONglTsUKx-a4_aq8K3FBDN0xHi4rJtPOtRL7YDMkwsvBnT5sXlxYXV72ZRMCtY7R3jQREkBqCF34SpE3F176OQK9eKqilAbeAkiJhsjy9uJtsSE2oOM8EJglgTS6hqWk7XJHQeVP2HJz/s320/kids%20transit%20at%20conneckted.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Image, Right, Children planning future transit system for the Lowcountry.</i></span><br /><br />Since this
facility will have many student and youth visitors, who cannot drive access to
transit provides a major opportunity to reduce traffic congestion. Parents or
those assisting transportation challenged adults often make four trips between
their origin point and the location of activity. One to take the young person
to their practice or other activity, another to return to home or work,
another<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to pick the child up and finally
another to return child and parent home or elsewhere. For students without a
parent or guardian driver, youth cultural and civic opportunities are often inaccessible.
Transit access is also of great value to Senior Citizens and the Differently
Abled. Everyone who reaches this center buys tickets, fills seats and gains
value for us all.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">
<br />
While it is a bit of a walk. The Coleman Blvd. #41 bus also has stops at extreme
walkable distance of this location on Coleman Blvd. and Pelzer and Houston
Northcutt, near town hall. <br />
<br />
</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDrA4ZeARKpw27159n94WWnoj3FX4RxHXYmWQOgdC7YdPfoAj9yRqlQRkgG64GYa55138pOD66KsyQqehmBQhnHz95nCCM0uq9_ia_l8tj3wZ6vVWwXmSAlOKd_zVOMaQMNUFJkask66y4h_JV-eE4k2ZyjBXQfvWZgQHqktIJZUW9op6qC0oKgPz/s2048/bus%20stop%20with%20swing%20from%20the%20North.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDrA4ZeARKpw27159n94WWnoj3FX4RxHXYmWQOgdC7YdPfoAj9yRqlQRkgG64GYa55138pOD66KsyQqehmBQhnHz95nCCM0uq9_ia_l8tj3wZ6vVWwXmSAlOKd_zVOMaQMNUFJkask66y4h_JV-eE4k2ZyjBXQfvWZgQHqktIJZUW9op6qC0oKgPz/s320/bus%20stop%20with%20swing%20from%20the%20North.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image, left- Bus Stop at Mount Pleasant Town Hall, which with it's partner across the street linked by a world class pedestrian crossing with center Island is without question the finest bus stop on the CARTA system. </span></i><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The East Cooper Plaza location is also the closest available place for an arts
center which could draw patronage from visitors staying at the Ravenel Gateway
Hotels, all of which have very short, reliable transit links between Hotels and
the Plaza. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is also an easy ride from
the transit hub at the Visitor’s Center Parking Garage downtown in Old Charleston,
where CARTA lines link to the entire region and planned Lowcountry Rapid Transit
System. Free DASH buses there bring tourists from throughout the city to make
connections. If plays and concerts at our arts center are to succeed, strong
transit is needed to fill seats. It’s also critical to provide access to the
elderly and disabled. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">If the town wants to take on a very
ambitious cultural effort, this East Cooper Plaza Location, Town Hall, the Farmer’s
Market, the I’On Mount Pleasant Amphitheater and Waterfront Park could all be effectively
linked by a combination of existing CARTA public transit and town provided
shuttles similar to that operated for the Blessing of the Fleet. Mt. Pleasant
could go big with the sort of locally grounded cultural festival the City of
Charleston, which has lost most of it’s citizen performers can no longer
provide. Piccolo Spoleto was once a feast of local talent. Mt. Pleasant could
take over that tradition with our own talent and voices, while Old Charleston services
tourists with whatever out of town talent it chooses to market. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEHcTE_iZRY5Pq059BVjLs9gDrkom-oihHqy14VqyCzxZtY02JSVolqSOZvT9K6htpXIepXqfR7v_HmQR-PAV53DZ5eM43jbjTKnXcNEkIOzMPYukqdQo2q-NSC9fS7-g9UmOtHDJt4eV07Ufq-o3MvLYbCTxmxBKdIn_7yJqllBhqTm43m8Kzjqc/s4032/20190320_072635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEHcTE_iZRY5Pq059BVjLs9gDrkom-oihHqy14VqyCzxZtY02JSVolqSOZvT9K6htpXIepXqfR7v_HmQR-PAV53DZ5eM43jbjTKnXcNEkIOzMPYukqdQo2q-NSC9fS7-g9UmOtHDJt4eV07Ufq-o3MvLYbCTxmxBKdIn_7yJqllBhqTm43m8Kzjqc/s320/20190320_072635.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I attended
a wonderful, but quite chilly Christmas concert on the lawn of Town Hall last December.
The holidays remain hard on my because my beloved wife Julia, who filled our
holidays with music as the leader of the <i>I’Onissimo!</i> Chamber Music organization
was an accomplished violinist. The silence of the three Christmases since her
death always burdens my heart. Hearing the music we shared performed by a local
group of musicians and singers I knew filled by eyes with tears and drained
away, for a precious hour, some of the grief and loss which arises from the
silence of her piano and violin when Christmas trees glow. I remain grateful
for that hour. I was able to find a ride with friends when holiday weekend surge
pricing for Uber would have made the trips to and from town hall cost over
sixty dollars. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Best
Friends of Lowcountry Transit is already preparing a major summer 2023 effort
called <a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2023/02/bus-to-beach-2023.html">Bus
Pirates, Queen Renee and her ladies in Raiding</a> to support and build
ridership on this summer’s Beach Reach Shuttle. We would be happy to
reinvigorate our historically successful teamwork effort with the town to
supercharge a cultural center at East Cooper Plaza with transit enabled access.
We have ten years of experience producing cultural events in the I’On Community
and 20 years of experience working to build transit ridership in Mount Pleasant.
We can do this cheaply and effectively. We eager to help. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">We’ll see
you on the Bus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Together,
We Go Forward<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">William
Hamilton<o:p></o:p></span></p>William Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06741904019458546425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089401253655703757.post-58967002781671673442023-03-02T04:56:00.009-08:002023-04-08T08:22:32.385-07:00 Century Forward- City of New Charleston<p>North Charleston was founded on June 12, 1972. City of New Charleston will depart from the Lowcountry’s obsession with the past to imagine the possibilities of a Transit enabled, future adapted North Charleston at its centennial, fifty years ahead of now. </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Upcoming Events- We do more than talk about the future</h3><p><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BFLowcountryTransit/events/?ref=page_internal" target="_blank">See our Facebook Transit Events page</a> </b>for upcoming transit oriented events in this effort. </p><p><b>See our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lowcountry.up.is.good.PAC/events/?ref=page_internal" target="_blank">Lowcountry Up is Good page for events</a></b> involving the Schools, Affordable Housing, and the Living wage efforts. </p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Sponsors and Background</span></h3><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6OS_kw_MwmzotRCeJnr4ZC9qjs4qkDbcBWI44_4KEaxQIRdUdyDdBtuzgF62ncUqxiAH6kvh8KxEhs9q0rvjeJOvUAyzHVQF-83pfTKKOQnqNfRzd8kNxaJmwoHk1DJl06HDGYy7RqLoUssJkW46WQHH99Vi9N613BQmF90oXrASWQhvhL3Wx3bj/s2048/20170902_201327.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6OS_kw_MwmzotRCeJnr4ZC9qjs4qkDbcBWI44_4KEaxQIRdUdyDdBtuzgF62ncUqxiAH6kvh8KxEhs9q0rvjeJOvUAyzHVQF-83pfTKKOQnqNfRzd8kNxaJmwoHk1DJl06HDGYy7RqLoUssJkW46WQHH99Vi9N613BQmF90oXrASWQhvhL3Wx3bj/s320/20170902_201327.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Image, Left- Community Shrine Gazebo Bus Stop Shelter in Chicora Community Garden, North Charleston.</i><p></p><p>Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit, Inc. & <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lowcountry.up.is.good.PAC" target="_blank">Lowcountry Up Is Good, PAC, Inc.</a> have now been working towards a transit enabled North Charleston with many other organizations for 10 years. <br /><br />Marvin Pendarvis has been a partner in our efforts since he stepped on the #11 Dorchester Airport bus during his first campaign. He was impressed by the number of people riding in N. Charleston and shocked at how long and slow their bus trips were. From that moment, he's joined us in working for something better. So have many other officials and organizations focused on planning, affordable housing, human needs and education. </p><p>Best Friends helped win the Transit Complete the Penny Campaign to fund construction of the LCRT in 2016. We worked with Rep. Marvin Pendarvis to obtain the SCDOT’s commitment to a complete streets policy in 2019 and are currently working with him to pass his Transit Oriented Development bill, no pending in the SC Legislature. In 2017 we canvassed every business we could reach along the full length of Rivers Ave. with information on the voter approved rapid transit project, helping start the ongoing transit planning process. In 2016 we build and deployed the Tiny House Fit for a King as part of what ultimately became a short lived tiny house village of five residences attached to a group home on Carner Ave. We’ve worked to improve the quality of life of residents in North Charleston with demonstrations and political actions to win the living wage and defend the independence of the community’s public schools. </p><p>While we continue to work in other Lowcountry Communities and have dedicated projects on the Sea Islands, in Mt. Pleasant, in Lincolnville, Summerville and Ridgeville, we have always seen North Charleston as the Lowcountry’s essential hub. It still has functional communities focused on the needs of its own people. It has a magnificent store of installed infrastructure and will have the state’s first Rapid Transit System. While it struggles with problems and a sprawling, diverse landscape it has the potential for greatness as a home for the varied families of the future. </p><p>The City of Charleston, while still essential to the region, has gentrified its urban care out of relevance to the future. It has largely become a tourist-oriented city of the past. It’s decision to accept having no portion of the planned rapid transit line within its boundaries, but instead to merely have LCRT buses operating in traffic south of Reynolds Ave. in N. Charleston is conclusive proof that while the future will happen to Charleston, the pressures of sea level rise and the need to accommodate competing for tourism income will shape its future.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7voOBdrW8KrEmTo5m4l8zbRxODQlmKthDqDOYeTnghJNAkiQGpElSleYqx7I7t4qZNtFJDB5RzX7cfK2-LeDym1RhfiPZU0oNq_ZV8MM91RCILC6brLPaybYa7XtvUx4IK1-ddgPjWfsoV-Fb-6yXkSeixRCNqaeZKnJzWtzbPtOWSqof6utov-Mj/s816/cadets%20plan%20transit.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="816" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7voOBdrW8KrEmTo5m4l8zbRxODQlmKthDqDOYeTnghJNAkiQGpElSleYqx7I7t4qZNtFJDB5RzX7cfK2-LeDym1RhfiPZU0oNq_ZV8MM91RCILC6brLPaybYa7XtvUx4IK1-ddgPjWfsoV-Fb-6yXkSeixRCNqaeZKnJzWtzbPtOWSqof6utov-Mj/s320/cadets%20plan%20transit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">A Year Long Effort Has Started </span></h3><p><i>Citadel Cadets and North Charleston Citizen, North Charleston Public School Teacher Jennifer Saunders planning a transit system for the Lowcountry at Park Circle Creamery in N. Charleston in October 2016 as part of the Transit Complete the Penny Campaign. </i></p><p>City of New Charleston will be a year long effort to imagine the transit enabled community of tomorrow which can grow up along and within one walkable mile of the LCRT line. </p><p>The effort began on Feb. 23, 2023 when SC State Representative <a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2023/02/pendarvis-introduces-bill-to-accelerate.html" target="_blank">Marvin Pendarvis (D-CHS) introduced bill H. 4013</a> in the SC House of Representatives to amend Title 6 of the S. C. Code by adding Chapter 39 regarding Transit-Oriented Development Projects.<br /><br />On March 1st. a lobbying, outreach team from Best Friends and Midland's Transit Riders went to the SC Statehouse to help build support for the Transit Oriented Bill, talking to over 250 people, including 50 members of the SC Legislature and SC DOT Transit office about the bill and planning a SC transit enabled future. We also made contact with over a dozen organizations representing the disabled, the Governor of SC, the University of SC and attended and leafleted a reception for all the State's transit agencies at the Columbia Convention Center. Co sponsors began signing on to the TOD bill by the end of the day. </p><p>City of New Charleston will continue by organizing and funding a youth driven visioning project for the City’s future involving College and High School students across the state of South Carolina. These young citizens will be charged with imagining what the city could best become by its North Charleston centennial in 2072 and South Carolina’s Quadro Centennially in 2070. The students will use the internet and wireless technologies which have been integral to their life experience to share their work with the people of South Carolina, beginning with a preliminary statement of scope and goals before the end of the Spring, 2023 school term. </p><p>An informal group discussion of the project is planned for Sunday Afternoon at <a href="https://www.emergenceburn.org/about" target="_blank">Emergence</a>, the burning may style event outside Summerville in April. </p><p>There will be events sharing parts of the work with the community throughout the summer and early fall. Online and real world conferences, meetings and workshops will be held to both formulate detailed plans and to develop the real world capacity of these young people to lead the state towards a future which rewards its citizens with mobility, prosperity and the gifts of creative patrimony. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7PKQeVXPUhjwIvnH-eLGAN7yn-o37Wsh4FZ56yevT8as5eoNTYeAZCdOLBBXiyNABSU3whP9EoDo3dgzpu-VzToN_NtrBWEsEw8jPVH3B7EWBU4WIk-tfuoeATDSTli4xjFrgW4n3JgpxCSUeSPnPWtwKiKDrdoc4Wq49-QDTxVgbwGImHZ6dsLxB/s960/Sylphide%20and%20bullet%20train%20model.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7PKQeVXPUhjwIvnH-eLGAN7yn-o37Wsh4FZ56yevT8as5eoNTYeAZCdOLBBXiyNABSU3whP9EoDo3dgzpu-VzToN_NtrBWEsEw8jPVH3B7EWBU4WIk-tfuoeATDSTli4xjFrgW4n3JgpxCSUeSPnPWtwKiKDrdoc4Wq49-QDTxVgbwGImHZ6dsLxB/s320/Sylphide%20and%20bullet%20train%20model.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>North Charleston resident, the late Mary Smith, appearing as our Transit Fairy at the Atlanta International Transit Exhibition in 2018</i><p></p><p>The initial effort will conclude in late Fall of 2023 with the New Charleston Future Festival, where to the extent that we can, we’ll share all that they have learned and dreamed with the community and the entire state with participatory activities which will extend the creative process of shaping the future to everyone willing to join the effort. </p><p>Once we have begun the future with the Festival, we’ll continue to support our young planners and visionaries as they join the traditional, often challenging effort to drive government controlled planning efforts towards the future they dream of, in N. Charleston an d across the state. </p><p>The target for funding this effort is Eight Thousand, Five Hundred Dollars ($8,500.00) in cash funding, and an additional contribution in kind support of supplies, facilities and transportation services. Fifteen hundred dollars has already been raised by a grant of support from Marvin Pendarvis and the project can launch as soon as we have Twenty five hundred dollars committed, which will be sufficient to fund the largest visioning unit composed of undergraduates at one of the State’s Colleges or Universities for the first half of the project. </p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">More Information</span></h3><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbMBsoh79PLp3fRYM8IBPuisPDdEvgJ_mVxmFxXQHzrAesZw1AeeB2gJyLs4wC73F8HL3Knfp_nT76FVT3FGEGpczBtRxrB7wu1JxFD_Tc5Gbnp0j73EP5CkoGI9KIUkwLplqo-qvr7amrD1pRZwf5zJEsyoKVnxdpZrXwNJQk9_93cJmvFk-XGyV/s1224/charleston-transit-1-press-orange-bg.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="936" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbMBsoh79PLp3fRYM8IBPuisPDdEvgJ_mVxmFxXQHzrAesZw1AeeB2gJyLs4wC73F8HL3Knfp_nT76FVT3FGEGpczBtRxrB7wu1JxFD_Tc5Gbnp0j73EP5CkoGI9KIUkwLplqo-qvr7amrD1pRZwf5zJEsyoKVnxdpZrXwNJQk9_93cJmvFk-XGyV/s320/charleston-transit-1-press-orange-bg.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 13px;"><h3 style="margin: 0px; position: relative;">Support and Contact Us</h3></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 13px;"><ul style="line-height: 1.4; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;">You can support our continuing efforts for better transit by <a href="https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bflt2022" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">making a contribution online on Act Blue</a></li><li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><a href="https://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?code=1457812326" target="_blank">Contact State Rep. Maving Pendarvis </a>through his office at the State Legislature in Columbia</li><li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;">You can reach us by emailing executive director William Hamilton at <a href="mailto:wjhamilton29464@gmail.com" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">wjhamilton29464@gmail.com </a>or by calling 843-870-5299.</li></ul></div>William Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06741904019458546425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089401253655703757.post-8554835306732057172023-02-24T05:17:00.003-08:002023-02-24T05:57:17.924-08:00Pendarvis Introduces Bill to Accelerate Transit Oriented Development in SC<p> </p><h1 style="background-color: white; line-height: 32.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><em><span style="font-family: "noticia text", georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: grey; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica;">I<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvtBHAPEPhHA5DOJnsqeZ0VoCGslT1JBwiKc2nWYAV-O6x00yTD3JnRCH8msQfzzwUq0PWFLVJYmTauf-di48y4Qa1F_4dPYjZZFC9hvdXv4w2ufxDMSnexERuIk2H7nkJagZGVZG3IaHWSKyHYGJcfkRWNdib-eJpnyyfNWjCiWvD5LiHQnK2xpc/s2383/Pendarvis%20at%20Bus%20Stop.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1340" data-original-width="2383" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvtBHAPEPhHA5DOJnsqeZ0VoCGslT1JBwiKc2nWYAV-O6x00yTD3JnRCH8msQfzzwUq0PWFLVJYmTauf-di48y4Qa1F_4dPYjZZFC9hvdXv4w2ufxDMSnexERuIk2H7nkJagZGVZG3IaHWSKyHYGJcfkRWNdib-eJpnyyfNWjCiWvD5LiHQnK2xpc/s320/Pendarvis%20at%20Bus%20Stop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Image left- Representative Marvin Pendarvis rising the #11 CARTA Bus stopped at the Charleston International </span>Airport<span style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica;">. Since this image was taken a lighted shelter has replaced the basic outdoor bench at this stop.</span></span></span></em></h1><p style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><em><br /><span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, baskerville, georgia, serif;">North Charleston, SC-</span></span></em><span style="font-family: times new roman, times, baskerville, georgia, serif;"><span> Legislation introduced Public Transit carefully fitted into SC communities which are allowed to leverage the mobility it offers to everyone will help create walkable, urbanized areas with lower crime, higher incomes, more rewarding civic and cultural life and less traffic congestion.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman, times, baskerville, georgia, serif;"><span>On Feb. 23, 2003, SC State Representative Marvin Pendarvis (D-CHS) introduced a bill H. 4013 in the SC House of Representatives to amend Title 6 of the S. C. Code by adding Chapter 39 regarding Transit-Oriented Development Projects. It has been Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman, times, baskerville, georgia, serif;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial;"><img align="right" data-file-id="2248581" height="145" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/ceb6b9dc2376f543595f7cc58/images/4f056057-9741-4e13-a673-2cf2d7f12f4a.jpg" style="border: 0px; height: 145px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; outline: none; width: 300px;" width="300" /></span><span><em><span style="font-family: "noticia text", georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Image, Right, PlanningMap for N. Charleston Community improvement Meeting, 2018.</span></em><br /><br />The district Pendarvis represents contains most of the separated busway section of the State’s first planned rapid transit system, the Lowcountry Rapid Transit System (LCRT) </span></span><a href="https://lowcountryrapidtransit.com/" style="color: #007c89; font-family: "times new roman", times, baskerville, georgia, serif; text-size-adjust: 100%;">https://lowcountryrapidtransit.com/</a><span style="font-family: times new roman, times, baskerville, georgia, serif;"><span> online. Charleston County voters approved funding for construction of the LCRT and other improvements to bus transit in November 2016. The LCRT is a Bus Rapid Transit system based on operation of articulated electric buses in dedicated bus only lanes, accelerated boarding and advanced electronic enabled wayfinding and fare payment.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman, times, baskerville, georgia, serif;"><span>The legislative findings set out in the bill begin by stating that, “Public Transit is a valuable element of providing mobility to the people of South Carolina and functions best in communities where density, walkable infrastructure, cycling and short distance transportation services can connect residents and workers efficiently between home, work, shopping, civic opportunities, recreation and education.” It goes on to note that transit benefits drivers by reducing congestion and making use of the existing roadways more efficient.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman, times, baskerville, georgia, serif;"><span><img align="left" alt="Children Planning Transit System on Large Map" data-file-id="2248697" height="170" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/ceb6b9dc2376f543595f7cc58/images/5f15c26d-da48-4dd9-8ddd-b36ec7496022.jpg" style="border: 0px; height: 170px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; outline: none; width: 350px;" width="350" /><em><span style="font-family: "noticia text", georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Image, Left, Children at N. Charleston Farmer's Market plannng model transit system for the Lowcountry on 12 x 16 foot map, October 2019</span></em><br /><br />The bill notes that Transit benefits the disabled and other groups not often considered in making decisions about transportation planning, including “those who have lost their driver's license or lack insurance, reducing the number of illegal drivers on the road the costs of the collisions in which they are involved, which increases the cost of uninsured motorist insurance coverage.”</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman, times, baskerville, georgia, serif;"><span>Unlike many bills introduced in the legislature which have been drafted by national special interest groups, this bill was drafted by Representative Pendarvis with the assistance of Lowcountry Transit riders, people who actually ride transit on a daily basis in his district. Research failed to find similar legislation in other states, so laws from other countries such as New Zealand and Canada were reviewed to help complete the proposed law. The law allows for establishing district and a district authority that can work with government and the private sector to build or redevelop neighborhoods, commercial properties and manufacturing facilities in areas where transit is or will be available.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-family: "times new roman", times, baskerville, georgia, serif;"><img align="right" data-file-id="1855169" height="168" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/ceb6b9dc2376f543595f7cc58/images/092ef87b-0738-4eb8-8646-16b34e86210c.jpg" style="border: 0px; height: 168px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; outline: none; width: 300px;" width="300" /></span><em><span style="font-family: noticia text, georgia, times new roman, serif;"><span>Image, Right Jennifer Saunders and the late Dave Crossley rampaging with Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit for passage of the half penny sales tax for Transit, Transportation and Greenspace during the Coastal Carolina Fair in October 2016.</span></span></em><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman, times, baskerville, georgia, serif;"><span>The Berkeley Charleston Dorchester Council of Governments, The City of North Charleston, The City of Charleston and the Town of Lincolnville are already planning for improvements to the areas along the LCRT to create a safer, cleaner and more rewarding community where car ownership will not be a necessity. While this type of development can’t be constructed everywhere and may not be desired in other areas, its critical to the Elderly, Disabled, workers in Charleston’s critical hospitality Industry, Students and those otherwise unable or unwilling to drive to have some areas available in a region which are adapted to their needs.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman, times, baskerville, georgia, serif;"><span>Representative Pendarvis will now work with transit advocates, organizations working to build affordable housing and local governments to help the bill H. 4013 get the necessary committee hearings and votes in the house to cross over to the senate and ultimately be ratified by the Governor’s signature over the rest of the current two year legislative session. The LCRT is currently planned to begin rapid transit operation between the Fairgrounds in Ladson and MUSC in downtown Charleston in 2028.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman, times, baskerville, georgia, serif;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial;"><img align="left" data-file-id="2249105" height="225" src="https://mcusercontent.com/ceb6b9dc2376f543595f7cc58/images/4313f275-efe7-b841-7273-7e4e86f02886.jpg" style="border: 0px; height: 225px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; outline: none; width: 300px;" width="300" /></span><em><span>Image, Left, Pizzeria Owner Ben D'Allesandro</span><span> posting banner supporting improved transit in downtown Charleston, April 2017.</span></em><br /><br /><span>For more information on the Transit Oriented Development Bill see the full text at </span></span><a href="https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess125_2023-2024/bills/4013.htm" style="color: #007c89; font-family: "times new roman", times, baskerville, georgia, serif; text-size-adjust: 100%;">https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess125_2023-2024/bills/4013.htm</a><span style="font-family: times new roman, times, baskerville, georgia, serif;"><span> or see the Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit, Inc. at </span></span><a href="http://www.bfltransit.com/" style="color: #007c89; font-family: "times new roman", times, baskerville, georgia, serif; text-size-adjust: 100%;">www.bfltransit.com</a><span style="font-family: times new roman, times, baskerville, georgia, serif;"><span> online. Representative Pendarvis can be contacted through his legislative office at (803) 212-6716 or via </span></span><a href="https://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?code=1457812326" style="color: #007c89; font-family: "times new roman", times, baskerville, georgia, serif; text-size-adjust: 100%;">https://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?code=1457812326</a><span style="font-family: times new roman, times, baskerville, georgia, serif;"><span> online. Pendarvis is planning community forums to discuss this and other issues related to improving the quality of life in his district and elsewhere in SC in the future.</span></span><br /></p>William Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06741904019458546425noreply@blogger.com0Charleston, SC, USA32.7764749 -79.9310512000000134.4662410638211512 -115.08730120000001 61.086708736178842 -44.774801200000013tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089401253655703757.post-59593306256572749912023-02-20T08:37:00.041-08:002023-06-14T07:04:52.868-07:00Bus to the Beach 2023- Ruby and the Pirates<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPQZGJS240KwLF4kDfO07rtPKVHKpn8NPgOF3TT78EVDZ40mPbkxOvMJltAImgQVCkgRPhx-XzISvnMU5dphCefohS2qDTyR8T9PBkH4kwSGMi8NEW_dZyOzz8EmW6OylRFfqOqdc2Gc1xYZjqgEVOYdcqEB0ThWCVAhutqxL_Jc2B3HwnVvHVX80/s4032/ruby%20in%20front%20of%20beach%20bus%20at%20IOP.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPQZGJS240KwLF4kDfO07rtPKVHKpn8NPgOF3TT78EVDZ40mPbkxOvMJltAImgQVCkgRPhx-XzISvnMU5dphCefohS2qDTyR8T9PBkH4kwSGMi8NEW_dZyOzz8EmW6OylRFfqOqdc2Gc1xYZjqgEVOYdcqEB0ThWCVAhutqxL_Jc2B3HwnVvHVX80/w400-h225/ruby%20in%20front%20of%20beach%20bus%20at%20IOP.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bus to the Beach at IOP stop</td></tr></tbody></table>Beach service will run on weekends and holidays between Memorial weekend and Labor day. Trips may be planned using Google Transit or </span><a href="https://transitapp.com/region/charleston-sc" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">the Transit App</a><span style="text-align: left;"> on your smartphone. Parking on the mainland can be found along Market Center Drive in Mt. Pleasant Town Centre. The service is scheduled to connect directly to the regular CARTA 40 bus route running from downtown Charleston. Mainland parking and the shuttle are both free. </span></div></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">Official Map & Schedule</span></h3><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBPFtYz17ecWIiRJKOEVzB-ycAJZDO4O0Myz55OwUj6F97agPt7_hatmTrEhomXpL638J0pWpMKQtyIynzm_NfRs45o3jjh3KqAgF2IXE2I4Cb5bB1mDDFUbnnnauOA0h7lelCZn1wweaKrAptrbWU2PFhjP2n7-PTe64nlXDZsoN106-VkUL-Pot/s1080/Beach%20reach%20schedule%20and%20map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBPFtYz17ecWIiRJKOEVzB-ycAJZDO4O0Myz55OwUj6F97agPt7_hatmTrEhomXpL638J0pWpMKQtyIynzm_NfRs45o3jjh3KqAgF2IXE2I4Cb5bB1mDDFUbnnnauOA0h7lelCZn1wweaKrAptrbWU2PFhjP2n7-PTe64nlXDZsoN106-VkUL-Pot/w400-h400/Beach%20reach%20schedule%20and%20map.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Official CARTA <a href="https://www.ridecarta.com/services/beachreachshuttle/?fbclid=IwAR3CdtjGcM4cGSXA5HWx4MtYhISKZ3c8-ttrgnOiLfYKyIR6dVufOz_Ate8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">Map and schedule for the Bus to the Beach 2023</span></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://transitapp.com/region/charleston-sc" target="_blank">Load the transit app</a> on your phone so you can track the bus. </div><div><br /></div><div>You can reach the Beach Reach Shuttle and Isle of Palms from other places on the CARTA system using regular CARTA bus lines. Trips are faster with fewer and shorter layovers at connections on Saturday, but the shuttle itself is scheduled for an immediate connection with the Mt. Pleasant #40 and Hungryneck N. 17 #42 at the mainland stop of Market Center Drive, on the round-a-bout between Lowes and Mt. Pleasant Town Center. Here is the t<a href="https://goo.gl/maps/gn2B2TEnct7XFKux8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">rip from downtown Charleston, Mary Street Transit Center on the 40</a> for Saturday Morning and <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/DZzDB5q2X8yMSFTn6" target="_blank">from CARTA Superstop in N. Charleston</a>. Make sure to collect your transfer. <br /><div><br /></div><div>We appreciate the CARTA board's commitment to making this service work. We also thank the City of Isle of Palms and Town of Mt. Pleasant for paying the cost of this transit service. We're happy to commit to fully supporting the effort. We're not sending them a plaque, however. We're sending Pirates. </div><div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Thar be Bus Pirates ere</span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6duXOvPDk2AbLySq8AyMd39hMQK5KV0VdpBPq_l7LW-UuBZxLIcQEKI-xYG5MXRNVxTPO6JUbv2tPZx_f0iI-Wj6TiWXnH5wdprWQuQNnVsCvvlkfoXIbjh4BpmYGvcvm4IdRGQFIn6pjcJ3OQAuxpR-gOh862W5DUhxZbrn2PrBF-_oEjJOa5z4x/s7000/pirate%20lady.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="7000" data-original-width="5409" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6duXOvPDk2AbLySq8AyMd39hMQK5KV0VdpBPq_l7LW-UuBZxLIcQEKI-xYG5MXRNVxTPO6JUbv2tPZx_f0iI-Wj6TiWXnH5wdprWQuQNnVsCvvlkfoXIbjh4BpmYGvcvm4IdRGQFIn6pjcJ3OQAuxpR-gOh862W5DUhxZbrn2PrBF-_oEjJOa5z4x/s320/pirate%20lady.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>Beach Reach Shuttle Service will start on Memorial weekend. Best Friends celebrated on a rather rainy beach when Pirate Queen Ruby opened the ocean by throwing the Key to the Sea into the Waves. She also inducted "Queen Cookie" as an honorary Lady in Raiding right on the damp, grey beach. Pirates can beach in the rain. Our summer long participator pirate drama is woven into the effort to increase ridership on the Bus to the Beach, but headed to other, fantastic places as well. <a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2023/05/the-tale-of-queen-ruby-ladies-in.html" target="_blank">Read the story</a>. Choose a side. Play your pirate part and enjoy the beach in a new way where you obsess our Pirating instead of Parking. </div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">June 17- IOP = Isle of Pirates- Muster of the Ladies in Raiding-</h3><div>Queen Ruby has called a muster of all her ladies in Raiding for Saturday, June 17th. on the Isle of Palms. Our pirate camp will be located on the beach in front of the VFW and Windjammer. The pirates plan to load up the 11:15 run of the bus to the beach. New recruits are welcome. See the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/7202141493134144?ref=newsfeed" target="_blank">Facebook Event listing. </a></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">June- Pirate Pop Ups. </h3><div>Look for our Lady Pirates and their foes to appear around the Lowcountry in June. </div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Sat. July 1- T-Day Veterans take the Beach and the Bus</h3><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8AR5VazteLxcFsWgFwDXOh_7EMHNwGiwQbrl7T-QOir-zlDa4rOo1Os18UK5Wmr1a_2tzOG2WBFDbjTflEH6cMr9kDm6nN6BkBwd4EUJ-axB_QqfrFIRIncTaLvmOYYp8jJnTlUkXIlUhLhB_HHkLHnflTiJbpfTMSsnw8q-NbS5kOdzUkFPP6Pe/s750/Tday%20social%20media%20header.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="750" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8AR5VazteLxcFsWgFwDXOh_7EMHNwGiwQbrl7T-QOir-zlDa4rOo1Os18UK5Wmr1a_2tzOG2WBFDbjTflEH6cMr9kDm6nN6BkBwd4EUJ-axB_QqfrFIRIncTaLvmOYYp8jJnTlUkXIlUhLhB_HHkLHnflTiJbpfTMSsnw8q-NbS5kOdzUkFPP6Pe/w200-h120/Tday%20social%20media%20header.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Veterans from across the Lowcountry will begin the Independence Day Holiday period by helping each other and the community reach the beach at the Isle of Palms See the <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/t-day-veterans-take-the-beach-the-bus-tickets-656862351977?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=escb" target="_blank">Eventbrite ticket sign up for guided rides </a>originating near where you live. We’ll have experienced transit riders working as guides from veterans facilities in inland areas. On the Isle of Palms, veterans will be welcomed at the VFW Post 3137, the Post on the Coast, with it’s wonderful oceanfront deck and view. To Reach the VFW Post see <a href="http://vfwpost3137.org" target="_blank">vfwpost3137.org</a></div></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">June to August- Flee the Sea Daytrips</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>While we love to go to the beach on the weekends, the people who live out there find themselves tied up in congestion. They beach during the week. We're planning some flee the Sea daytrips for them. The first is tentatively set for June 18 with a guided trip to Mt. Pleasant Town Center and assistance planning trips beyond that point on the CARTA system. <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/flee-the-sea-guided-bus-trip-tickets-650251899937?fbclid=IwAR1jCvyyOWssS3vP9a8gNpASzzN8cDVFOrqrVdYx6OZaLH66qVDQ0ZU6DAs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sign up for the June 18 Trip on Eventbright.</a> Participants will have the opportunity to do lunch at Town Center with restaurants prepared to assist them in decompressing. They can take in a move, hit the Barnes and Noble book store or take in a moved at the Palmetto Grande. Later in the Summer we might push inland for a quiet Sunday downtown or if you really need to escape Tourism, North Charleston. </div><div><br /></div><div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Veterans Voyages to the Sea, Summerville to the Sea and Rivers to the Ocean North Charleston</span></h3>We're working with community groups of all kinds to get new people on transit, starting with the Beach Reach Shuttle. We're meeting people across the Lowcountry who haven't been to the beach in years. Many also no longer go downtown. Queen Ruby and her Pirates plan to lead them out of the doldrums of Autocentric Alienation Ashore Syndrome back to the sunny sand and the transit accessible city with too many cars in historic Charleston. When they ask you where you parked, tell them "North Charleston."</div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">The Legend of Queen Ruby and her Ladies in Raiding </span></h2><div><a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2023/05/queen-ruby-of-pirates-and-her-ladies-in.html" target="_blank"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rEYnQ7JOHs5XtIYiPBAGGAf41_2NlMEgwIbEYincMsVDFSMeQMGLiOS2oiFnIYsKLG8atUNwyvdSAiaow-rIKvmsVk3I4rI1erQQX3smFTWVNZ3xSy0BjPNJSOcsyFnLwhCNlEbfL-ciMp4LA5YnUTySPtetYZ6Qpe0oOzL_SK3jqNAwT1UzD945/s2048/Pride%20parade%20pireates.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rEYnQ7JOHs5XtIYiPBAGGAf41_2NlMEgwIbEYincMsVDFSMeQMGLiOS2oiFnIYsKLG8atUNwyvdSAiaow-rIKvmsVk3I4rI1erQQX3smFTWVNZ3xSy0BjPNJSOcsyFnLwhCNlEbfL-ciMp4LA5YnUTySPtetYZ6Qpe0oOzL_SK3jqNAwT1UzD945/s320/Pride%20parade%20pireates.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">Pirates in the Pride Parade</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Read the legend of Queen Ruby of the Pirates</a>, her Ladies in Raiding and the voyage of the Jeweled Princess. The drama of their struggle to remain free and powerful as they contend with the King's guard and the vicious gang of Pirate Anderson will unfold across the Lowcountry this summer, challenging the disappointing narrative of current events with a story of beautiful pirates coming to the aid of the oppressed, battles upon land and sea and romance as the members of the King's guard, so far from his majesty and so close to the beautiful Pirate ladies, try to remember whose side they are supposed to be on. How have these women escaped their time four hundred years ago to cruise the waters of Carolina. Why are they here. What will become of them?</div><div><br /></div><div>If you encounter the Queen Ruby or her ladies in raiding, they'll be handing out pirate booty. These coins may earn you discounts at local businesses, purchase entry into contests or allow you to enjoy special entertainments. Return here for a list of participating businesses. Be sure to keep your pirate coins secret from the King's soldiers who may attempt to confiscate them or have you slapped into irons for dealing with pirates. However you need not fear the redcoats, they're proving fairly ineffective at stopping the lady pirates who continue to compromise the lonely soldiers so far from home's sense of royal duty. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHv80yKqUzacXgY6DB8rY4CIrwlps7RFYqdEcV8vdh_nHq9a4yBFYfNGsyKwKyfrMCzp7qSYYnajRm55EgeUJkAbvG9t7X93BnVKdCOq9rnOE33o-wzcFfup0mkgGdKSi6epcFwb0O6uV2XoWDhi6LrHi1FQCEyGVYSdG7v4dT09pbTlKPmsTIQ47D/s960/Queen%20Ruby%20at%20Blessing%20of%20the%20Fleet.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHv80yKqUzacXgY6DB8rY4CIrwlps7RFYqdEcV8vdh_nHq9a4yBFYfNGsyKwKyfrMCzp7qSYYnajRm55EgeUJkAbvG9t7X93BnVKdCOq9rnOE33o-wzcFfup0mkgGdKSi6epcFwb0O6uV2XoWDhi6LrHi1FQCEyGVYSdG7v4dT09pbTlKPmsTIQ47D/s320/Queen%20Ruby%20at%20Blessing%20of%20the%20Fleet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Queen Ruby and her ladies in Raiding were wives, mothers and daughters laboring away in the run down port town of St. Phillip when they were taken prinsoner by Pirates to be sold as human booty. Learn how they turned the tables on their captors, found the magical power of the key to the sea and became legends of the sea in the legend of Queen Ruby or the Pirates and her ladies in raiding. </div><div><br />If you are a business who would like to participate in redeeming that pirate coin and winning new customers by offering discounts, drawings or contests, please contact William Hamilton at <a href="mailto:wjhamilton29464@gmail.com">wjhamilton29464@gmail.com</a> to get a visit from one of the Ladies in Raiding to set you up. </div><div><br /></div><div>Expect royal tavern parleys for the Pirate's surrender, romance, drama of all kinds and a streetscape somewhere between the Pirates of Penzance, Jack Sparrow and Peter Pan with the occasional appearance of mermaids and mermen as well. It's going to be a memorable summer on the bus and at the Isle of Palms. </div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHUvTDoFnf-mC4wJaTFb3YWkVHUK27P3iUkSHYD_eivtvmJQTbYHlVzkoPky3o7EQeDhwq9XxpaOrIYWkbJwNxAQi0rXQLPDbpzSQ99AXSLhq9Lm1xAcZTADx1N6TIkxhm4LTAhsJApzpLtZwypBujpujdH711UGZ6JTPVzrQDDs1OsedUvPcki3f9/s2048/ruby%20flag%20with%20pirate%20coins%20wihtout%20fly%20corrected.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHUvTDoFnf-mC4wJaTFb3YWkVHUK27P3iUkSHYD_eivtvmJQTbYHlVzkoPky3o7EQeDhwq9XxpaOrIYWkbJwNxAQi0rXQLPDbpzSQ99AXSLhq9Lm1xAcZTADx1N6TIkxhm4LTAhsJApzpLtZwypBujpujdH711UGZ6JTPVzrQDDs1OsedUvPcki3f9/s320/ruby%20flag%20with%20pirate%20coins%20wihtout%20fly%20corrected.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Guided Group Trips-</b></span> After the first weekend, we'll be leading group rides from locations around the area to the beach. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thewaylynheartteam" target="_blank">The Waylin Heart Team</a> from North Charleston has already begun planning a neighborhood trip, a three bus hop from their neighborhood between Dorchester Road and Rivers Ave. in North Charleston, near Burns Elementary School. </div><div><br /></div><div>We're working a special weekend of events to help the disabled reach and enjoy the beach. We need lots of strong partners for that effort. </div><div><br /></div><div>If you feel the desire to join Queen Ruby's ladies in Raiding or the loyal redcoats dispatched by his Majesty King George to suppress their piratical depredations please contact us at <a href="mailto:wjhamilton29464@gmail.com">wjhamilton29464@gmail.com</a> or (843) 870-5299. <br /><div><br /></div><div>You can return to this page for updates and more information. </div><div><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><b>Park Pleasantly, Play Downtown, Summer 2023</b></span></div><div>If you're planning to bus to the beach and want good bus connections to downtown Charleston and the free DASH bus system serving the Tourist District, as well as the<a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2022/09/charleston-sc-brewery-district-trolley.html" target="_blank"> Brewery Trolly</a> and the free #20 Upper King bus. The hotels around Mt. Pleasant Town Centre are your best bet. You can also find good Transit connections with more frequent service to the city in the Hotels in the Ravenel gateway District, near the East end of the Ravenel Cooper River Bridges, where both the #40 and #41 run to Charleston offering a bus into and out of the city approximately every 45 minutes on average. Every 30 minutes some hours. See our <a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2022/02/park-pleasantly-play-downtown-in-mt.html">Park Pleasantly, Play Downtown page</a> for details on saving money and enhancing your Charleston vacation by staying in Mt. Pleasant. </div><div><b style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: #cc0000;">Transit to the Atlantic - A six year effort</b></div><div><b style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVISQJdcgpVCPJCVREOUGO97uDyDDPpSbFquycGrxDaa0YsRhUqMnJPbmmjvgc7DXk1Okmmc34Jamm8ee4fKAPBAuLVNCCE0ofpT8qEyBMOuh_s9-1YG0w0dnbER72jWUvfWJuEfIFRw9BBxDnx6tJS6kykyqO0ysVw7p63eHdu6iHaQWEY3_9Tub/s1224/charleston-transit-1-press-orange-bg.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="936" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVISQJdcgpVCPJCVREOUGO97uDyDDPpSbFquycGrxDaa0YsRhUqMnJPbmmjvgc7DXk1Okmmc34Jamm8ee4fKAPBAuLVNCCE0ofpT8qEyBMOuh_s9-1YG0w0dnbER72jWUvfWJuEfIFRw9BBxDnx6tJS6kykyqO0ysVw7p63eHdu6iHaQWEY3_9Tub/w153-h200/charleston-transit-1-press-orange-bg.jpg" width="153" /></a></div>The CARTA board voted unanimously to run the IOP / Mt. Pleasant Beach Shuttle bus again for Summer, 2023 at its February meeting. A major effort to increase ridership is planned. </div><div><br /></div><div>Best friends of Lowcountry Transit began advocating for returning bus service to the beaches in Charleston in 2014. The six your effort included the July 2015 March to the Sea and the 2018 Folly Freedom Campaign. </div><div><br /></div><div>Bus service returned to the beach with a brief trial program in August of 2020 with full summer weekend service starting Memorial Weekend, 2021. The service was reapproved for a second full year and deployed with an improved route in 2022. The CARTA board unanimously voted to run the service again in 2023 and board members indicated a strong interest in increasing ridership and further improvements to service including a possible connection to Sullivan's Island and parts of Ben Sawyer Blvd, connecting with the #41 route. <br /><br />It is important to note, however, that extensions of the route depend on the impact of Car induced traffic congestion on roads near the beach which can be severe since so many people prefet frustrating car trips to the beach to search for limited parking over the convenience of transit. For the route to function, it must be able to reliably keep a schedule so it can connect to the #40 bus route to and from Charleston and the rest of the CARTA system. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #cc0000;">More Information-</span> If you need to reach the organizers, contact William Hamilton at (843) 870-5299 or <a href="mailto:wjhamilton29464@gmail.com">wjhamilton29464@gmail.com</a></div></div></div></div>William Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06741904019458546425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089401253655703757.post-88327377071590415552023-02-01T10:43:00.000-08:002023-02-01T10:43:02.394-08:00Charleston is Hungry for Pancakes and Transit Equity.<p> </p><h1 style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 26px; line-height: 32.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Charleston is Hungry for Pancakes and Transit Equity.<br /><br />Help us fill the flattop Saturday and get Rosa's Featherlight Pancakes out to the people. </h1><p style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px;">Due to the big response to our plans to offer Rose Parks Pancakes to the community on Saturday, Feb. 4 in honor of her birthday, the cost of the effort has grown beyond what we have in the bank to support transit efforts here.<br /><br />We're asking our supporters if they can donate items so we can keep those pancakes coming Saturday and possibly at a community racial justice event being planned for Sunday afternoon where we may do pancakes on the spot with camp stoves in a partnership effort with other organizations. Anything left over will be donated to Destiny Community Cafe to help sustain their efforts. <br /><br />Details on the entire Charleston area Rosa Parks pancake effort can be found at <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://busec.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Dceb6b9dc2376f543595f7cc58%26id%3D01ec3692d4%26e%3Df71545c879&source=gmail&ust=1675363315885000&usg=AOvVaw3_Fl8bxzKb0SeUzm5udPnG" href="https://busec.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ceb6b9dc2376f543595f7cc58&id=01ec3692d4&e=f71545c879" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">https://mailchi.mp/<wbr></wbr>fb2d779e3ce3/charleston-<wbr></wbr>saturday-remember-rosa-and-<wbr></wbr>share-her-pancakes?e=[UNIQID]</a><br /><br />Contact us for our current needs by calling William Hamilton at 843-870-5299 or by emailing <a href="mailto:wjhamilton29464@gmaill.com?subject=Rosa%20Parks%20Pancakes%20Donation" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">wjhamilton29464@gmaill.com</a>. <br /><br />A list of what we need is set out below. We'll delete items as the amount we need comes in on the blogpost you can find linked at the bottom of the list. If you prefer, financial donations can be made online at <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://busec.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Dceb6b9dc2376f543595f7cc58%26id%3D28529bb505%26e%3Df71545c879&source=gmail&ust=1675363315885000&usg=AOvVaw2UbiWiXCEw1qDot3eOrxCu" href="https://busec.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ceb6b9dc2376f543595f7cc58&id=28529bb505&e=f71545c879" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">https://secure.actblue.com/<wbr></wbr>donate/bflt2022</a><br /><br />In kind donations can be made by dropping them off at the home of William Hamilton at 32 Sowell St. Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464. Call before you buy so we can make sure we're filing out the list with the itmes we still need. We're also welcoming people who want to cook or do delivery driving on Saturday. </p><h2 style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 22px; line-height: 27.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Grocery list </span></h2><p style="animation: 0.5s ease 0s 1 normal forwards running spintext; background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px;"><img align="right" class="CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiIuQ-yGlMq67bg8ZJJuD-8xYJRs4KXK6kHZLdoPmMREk1VJd8bwSkZSBikixLU4FS3iNE8MyibNAfEXe7eQAJmK4jzQeG2mOC0LUVwPMEWLLIwajvTplpTaIhEzTJb292qvOQhHpxa8V2gcOSWEA5O5kYcOpA6lhecmqViTQGmkgMJ0AMOm6mpyTrpCtky5C9RgJTM5-xFQ9W2d9lroRPh0qGl=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; outline: none; width: 300px;" tabindex="0" width="300" />1) Flour all purpose <br />2) Large baking powder <br />3) Large salt <br />4) 5 lb sugar <br />5) 10 dozen eggs <br />6) 4 gallons milk <br />7) peanut butter <br />8) shortening or vegetable oil <br />9) Maple Syrup or agave <br />10) Cinnamon (Ground ) <br />11) Nutmeg <br />12) Butter <br />13) Fruit topping apples or strawberries <br />14) Carry out containers (no sections) <br />15) Optional sausage Pattie’s <br />16) Optional wax paper sheets or foil sheets <br />17) Optional Oil Cooking Spray 5-10 count <br /><br /><img align="left" class="CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhdJ35S8SIQp-jzw3aCEVt9TCSIpeXN8vCXfrrMX38AVYEQM1VfndSU-B38IWe_HZaNGCexneD8eB3xD2gfBuWMaJS8eV9aKqDx14EbrJ9GbN3Ttz8WtfAHufo-a0RWW_9hgAqrv7KnIGHv2_0h1AInhQhem2YZb1XLfiAVTZWA4OHyeVV53vjKQgOuEC5YHlPmVJJINteXoG4qTH67BPqZsBdE=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 261px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; outline: none; width: 200px;" tabindex="0" width="200" />We also need about $125 to cover the cost of printing for this and the bus seat signs which will be sued on CARTA buses to reserve a seat for Rosa that day.</p>William Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06741904019458546425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089401253655703757.post-54551318178731845032022-09-25T10:14:00.010-07:002022-09-25T12:10:59.030-07:00Charleston, SC Brewery District Trolley, Fun, Free and Full <h3 style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal">Charleston Brewery District Trolley, Fun, Free and Full<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6W5tOzq531IWGJHHO-ysNw-tGtBQKkYOR_NAZkBW4hY-RgKOTbu5aNQITZzqgdt-1JVlURrq3X8GPFxrqJ2YFLMR4dGb2q5fQTGmCK3PTk2_5XtyIkLMDJb5RJQwHya7t9vau5lCh6KVRYs8OojzKGZF2i_dxWmq-LuEnJ_z-4lGaQMZDUgPN6pZ/s3610/brewery%20Trolly%20at%20Revelery%20Brewing.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="2031" data-original-width="3610" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6W5tOzq531IWGJHHO-ysNw-tGtBQKkYOR_NAZkBW4hY-RgKOTbu5aNQITZzqgdt-1JVlURrq3X8GPFxrqJ2YFLMR4dGb2q5fQTGmCK3PTk2_5XtyIkLMDJb5RJQwHya7t9vau5lCh6KVRYs8OojzKGZF2i_dxWmq-LuEnJ_z-4lGaQMZDUgPN6pZ/s320/brewery%20Trolly%20at%20Revelery%20Brewing.jpg" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Stopped at Revelry Brewing</i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><br />Charleston Brewery District Trolley is a free, fun addition to
uptown Charleston’s diverse mobility menu used by locals and visitors that continues to
grow towards success since returning to operation a year ago.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"></span></p><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">I rode the Trolley (actually a streetcar style bus) on
September 24, 2022 as part of an afternoon which connected me with events
across the city using the Brewery Trolley and <a href="https://www.ridecarta.com/route/20-king-street-meeting-street/">#20 CARTA
Bus Route</a>. Both are free.</span></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">I reached Charleston on the CARTA #40 Mt. Pleasant Bus which
arrived on time and tracked perfectly on the <a href="https://transitapp.com/">Transit
App</a>. Downtown I dismounted at the first stop on Meeting St., Just North of
Huger and walked South and West around the corner to <a href="https://palmettobrewery.com/">Palmetto Brewing</a> on Huger. The Brewery
District Trolley arrived five minutes earlier than expected because I had
consulted an old schedule found online. A stop has been added and pushed pickup
times on half the route forward five minutes. Several outdated versions of the schedule
persist online. The current, correct
schedule as of Sept. 24, 2022 can be found as an image in this blog. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">The Brewery District Trolley picked up about ten passengers
at Palmetto Brewing and dropped several off. It headed around the corner to Baker
& Brewer for another busy stop. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Passengers included adults and children. There was a goody
basket of treats by the door where people boarded. A poll of riders taken after
a large group boarded at <a href="https://edmundsoast.com/location/brewing-co/">Edmund’s
Oast</a> <a href="https://edmundsoast.com/location/brewing-co/">Brewing Co</a>.
showed 20% of the passengers were from Charleston. 30% from other parts of the
Lowcountry. 20% from other parts of SC and 30% from out of state, including on
this occasion Alaska and Massachusetts. Everyone was in good spirits and friendly.
There were two family events at the Brewereys that day and all these businesses
serve food, so the presence of children wasn’t surprising. The kids were loving
the bus. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-weight: normal;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmIfo4BxNBNuFKbh5RX8ax4Dy3ixQVlt0KXpuEIcHTwMZO9tTFSeqlKfBX7LcC8TI9FnwjYQHJWv4QGRQW5nWcfbORRNOrLnRdTpLp_XCxBaq_m5hRECrdLMbZ94vUV6aaebX4c3l1FJ3INfftEZ4cpSgcrYN3xw0bjgxrlToZMZp99gL1JyIjy5M/s2489/Brwery%20Trolly%20Schedule%20Sept%2024%202022.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2489" data-original-width="1746" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmIfo4BxNBNuFKbh5RX8ax4Dy3ixQVlt0KXpuEIcHTwMZO9tTFSeqlKfBX7LcC8TI9FnwjYQHJWv4QGRQW5nWcfbORRNOrLnRdTpLp_XCxBaq_m5hRECrdLMbZ94vUV6aaebX4c3l1FJ3INfftEZ4cpSgcrYN3xw0bjgxrlToZMZp99gL1JyIjy5M/w280-h400/Brwery%20Trolly%20Schedule%20Sept%2024%202022.jpg" width="280" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Trolley Schedule as of Sept. 25, 2022</i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">For someone trying to reach the Brewery Trolley on CARTA
Transit, the stop at Baker and Brewer and the Stop at Palmetto Brewing are the closest
to stops on the <a href="https://www.ridecarta.com/route/10-rivers-avenue/" target="_blank">#10 Rivers Ave</a>. and <a href="https://www.ridecarta.com/route/40-mt-pleasant/" target="_blank">#40 Mt. Pleasant</a> CARTA bus routes. Covered
shelters with seating can be found on Meeting with a walk of less than a block
required to make the connection. </span><br />
<br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">
For those using the </span><a href="https://www.ridecarta.com/route/20-king-street-meeting-street/" style="font-weight: normal;">free #20
Upper King CARTA bus</a><span style="font-weight: normal;"> to reach the Brewery District </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Trolley</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> from downtown,
the Visitors Center and the hotel district, the best places to connect are at
Palmetto Brewery on Huger, a half block walk from the #20 Bus on King Street. You can also connect to the #20 at stops on
the North part of that route including Stop ID: 460 at Rutledge Ave / Courtland
Ave a half block (320 feet SSE) from Brew Lab or the stop with seating and a shelter a block further
South in front of Rutledge Cab Company. Both of these stops are easy, </span><a href="https://goo.gl/maps/TeL9DYeoLASRTREJ8" style="font-weight: normal;">fully sidewalked walk to Brew lab</a>
<i style="font-weight: normal;">(for reasons I don’t understand, Google shows a walk under I 26 and Back,
but it’s a very short walk directly down Rutledge to both stops). <br />
</i><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">
I rode the Brewery </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Trolley</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> around most of its route visiting Tradesman Brewing, Lofi, Munkle Brewing, and Fatty's Beer works. I arrived at the Conservation
organization’s event at </span><a href="https://www.thebrewlab.net/" style="font-weight: normal;">Brewlab Charleston</a><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
During this short 40 Minutes on Board about 60 passengers rode the bus. The
driver said they often have many more. <o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Most passengers are on board the trolley for only a few
stops. They appear to dismount when the brewery the bus arrives at appears welcoming and active. Those
breweries which appeared deserted did not draw visitors off the bus. <br />
</span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtEXlWBYd9xhsYUuMS8tHx4Aa6cDQ4WVwsM5suUq2-C3lllFSI1hOsRaUckKs9WSoGcXtc8NuImUmkOnWFZ-h-psaiaKshZBoywSX4ISPJluZazj8npWBb8VLkA2V__HY51ISi_SM9xPcPfif58N1WTQa3sSp6Wp01qRa1hlwFUjMSvT-DzTsLakvw/s3893/Brewery%20Trolley%20Loading%20Passengers.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2191" data-original-width="3893" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtEXlWBYd9xhsYUuMS8tHx4Aa6cDQ4WVwsM5suUq2-C3lllFSI1hOsRaUckKs9WSoGcXtc8NuImUmkOnWFZ-h-psaiaKshZBoywSX4ISPJluZazj8npWBb8VLkA2V__HY51ISi_SM9xPcPfif58N1WTQa3sSp6Wp01qRa1hlwFUjMSvT-DzTsLakvw/s320/Brewery%20Trolley%20Loading%20Passengers.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Boarding over 25 passengers at Btewlab</i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">After visiting the event at Brew lab, I checked the <a href="https://transitapp.com/">Transit App</a> and found the #20 was
approaching in 12 minutes. I walked down to Rutledge Ave. to wait at the covered
stop in front of Rutledge Cab Company. I could have had a shorter walk and
waited at the stop at Rutledge and Cortland. The #20 took me down into the City
to my stop near Queen Street, in the middle of the Tourist District. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">On Saturdays in Charleston, SC, the Brewery District Trolley
provides a great option for people who want to enjoy this newer part of the
city and the varied options for food, drink and community activity found there
now. It’s already popular and successful and sure to continue to be ever more
so with locals and visitors. It benefits from the far less congested streets and roads it operates on
and was keeping its schedule without a problem. There are good opportunities to
connect to local transit, though it doesn’t go far enough South to connect to
the free DASH bus system. It does however connect well to the #20 Upper King bus which
is also free. It’s a great way to explore a new part of Charleston and the many
events happening there on Saturday. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">Brewing Up More Impact </span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTFhiXnrqH0GZYY2myrDXI25pTQC3_YdmQ8lRANEerwNo3rIVEMRz8q1B5-z23DnqSCSNGSt4gnE8Ox0YbXtmCXyKIj7B4L3oD_7JecuoM3jGZtzArB2pBzEywja7rX9_vT-ghwPGByXHnykzinJljZezTbGWKubNx8UM5yj7PsOzMHeaB_AVjuCci/s4032/Brewery%20Trolly%20Event%20at%20Brew%20Lab%20Charleston.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTFhiXnrqH0GZYY2myrDXI25pTQC3_YdmQ8lRANEerwNo3rIVEMRz8q1B5-z23DnqSCSNGSt4gnE8Ox0YbXtmCXyKIj7B4L3oD_7JecuoM3jGZtzArB2pBzEywja7rX9_vT-ghwPGByXHnykzinJljZezTbGWKubNx8UM5yj7PsOzMHeaB_AVjuCci/s320/Brewery%20Trolly%20Event%20at%20Brew%20Lab%20Charleston.jpg" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Conservation Event at Brewlab Charleston</i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">It would be great if there were a way to track the bus as it
moves and signs for where the stops are located which note the stop time. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">More awareness about </span><a href="https://goo.gl/maps/dTS8eUNb2r7zJ3ex7" style="font-weight: normal;">how to reach the Brewery Trolly
from the main tourism district on the #20 bus</a><span style="font-weight: normal;"> would benefit both transit
services. Event publicity for the many
events at these businesses should mention the Brewery </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Trolley</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> to attract more
visitors and relieve their parking struggle. There is already a lot of
community activity along this route, but its potential for large scale multi
site events like Oktoberfest or a Holiday Festival is huge. We hope this blogpost will help.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">We think the driver should have a cheerful </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">trolley</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> bell to
ring at stops and a cool hat to wear. We had a great driver and her cheerful,
positive attitude lit up the bus. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">If you are running a brewery on this </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Trolley</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> route, it’s
important to understand that the impression you make on a person sitting inside
the bus is absolutely connected to making your money on Saturday. A welcoming
presence of activity empties the bus. A deserted parking lot without color or
seating leaves these fun seeking passengers unmoved. The big group which boarded
at Edmond’s Oast emptied out when they saw the lively scene at Brew Lab. If I
was running a brewery, I would send a smiling staff member out to wave and
welcome the trolley, perhaps with a little tray of tiny snacks on toothpicks. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzjY68j46_6XOF101NSeO8I9QtpIQ5yTX8nOtAVK2MijsrmEd-CjuACW5EXCD1dSHLF1h5KbiMO5PBPJHbVZd9xLSCzbDhF90iYv-X2rjDWGghQf5FeDB4KiGajOgy-rA1_hkDvaAvG2x3Puiw7ERvKdgJ7kg2fozhxzDU0PX1x8fWpbrnU1XX3upA/s1224/charleston-transit-1-press-orange-bg.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="936" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzjY68j46_6XOF101NSeO8I9QtpIQ5yTX8nOtAVK2MijsrmEd-CjuACW5EXCD1dSHLF1h5KbiMO5PBPJHbVZd9xLSCzbDhF90iYv-X2rjDWGghQf5FeDB4KiGajOgy-rA1_hkDvaAvG2x3Puiw7ERvKdgJ7kg2fozhxzDU0PX1x8fWpbrnU1XX3upA/w153-h200/charleston-transit-1-press-orange-bg.jpg" width="153" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p>Support us and Contact Us</span></h3><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>You can support our continuing efforts for better transit by <a href="https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bflt2022" target="_blank">making a contribution online on Act Blue</a></li><li>You can reach us by emailing executive director William Hamilton at <a href="mailto:wjhamilton29464@gmail.com" target="_blank">wjhamilton29464@gmail.com </a>or by calling 843-870-5299.</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p></p>William Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06741904019458546425noreply@blogger.com076 Congress St, Charleston, SC 29403, USA32.7995516 -79.947140932.7923366847817 -79.95572396884765 32.8067665152183 -79.938557831152337tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089401253655703757.post-20341229168669098462022-04-14T07:45:00.002-07:002022-04-14T07:49:03.996-07:00Upmobile to Return to Lowcountry Struggle Though it's not a Bus<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfqk0CXIUsqzD1RDEnqBWDypxa__HedN7XR7aBx6Wkr3UNG5X-ZRww4H_824diUqh4YtijMpv_lqTTE8MvlvmJrVY5m_WqEtMUpwd9EpXUtxU6Vy7QAM2UoSeTiBLenqhajXnC71_5gfpAFpDYA5qFr2bUiL_pMgLBwMMTKApMokZ5QGT4gLKOKnr/s3818/bus%2020%20in%20front%20of%20market%20hall%20(1).JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2387" data-original-width="3818" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfqk0CXIUsqzD1RDEnqBWDypxa__HedN7XR7aBx6Wkr3UNG5X-ZRww4H_824diUqh4YtijMpv_lqTTE8MvlvmJrVY5m_WqEtMUpwd9EpXUtxU6Vy7QAM2UoSeTiBLenqhajXnC71_5gfpAFpDYA5qFr2bUiL_pMgLBwMMTKApMokZ5QGT4gLKOKnr/s320/bus%2020%20in%20front%20of%20market%20hall%20(1).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>In January, the Planatary gear within the iron, aluminum and
titanium heart of the Hamilton families aging 2010 Prius
became uncertain and the little blue car which had done so much for so many
struggled to the end of the North Bridge where it finally trembled to a stop on
the deserted parking lot of Synagogue Emanuel. No one said Kaddish for the
Upmobile as it was towed to the Toyota dealership.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You can help support the work the Upmobile does by contributing
to the <a href="https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bflt2022">support of Best
Friends of Lowcountry Transit on Act Blue</a>. This will free William Hamilton’s
private funds to return the Upmobile to the road. Charleston needs this ride. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thus might have been the sad and quiet end of the Upmobile
which appearance at countless progressive events in Charleston, crammed with
gear and activists, roof rack loaded up with tents, was the arrival of our
small, but determined Lowcountry Up is Good and Best Friends of Lowcountry
Transit cavalry. It was the Upmobile which brought out people to the reelection
of Obama, to the fight for the transit referendum, the fight against Trump, the
long and unfinished push to force local government to stop stealing our transit
funds for road construction and lastly carrying Marvin Pendarvis through a contested
primary in 2020 to reelection.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3WmLYHus7bIv_RPG3n2av9URvtVaDRt1LVcBBdhwHR2eG3kpWacdHIlE_hgJYhpdLuXoF5JkEypB0O11jnw-dV6XtHybBsEsCu4fk7ozjD65A25IIzRG74KMFOTbpQjAQUvT7cn8bZakJP-VcPPaK4ZvePnCCZP-csAVK8PmdQPp_TK_-V3zAjP6C/s4032/20210306_111731.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3WmLYHus7bIv_RPG3n2av9URvtVaDRt1LVcBBdhwHR2eG3kpWacdHIlE_hgJYhpdLuXoF5JkEypB0O11jnw-dV6XtHybBsEsCu4fk7ozjD65A25IIzRG74KMFOTbpQjAQUvT7cn8bZakJP-VcPPaK4ZvePnCCZP-csAVK8PmdQPp_TK_-V3zAjP6C/s320/20210306_111731.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>It was to its driver’s seat which Julia crawled on the last, dark night of her
life, resolving to drive it to her doctor in the morning, planning to spend the
long night in the driver’s seat because she could not climb the stairs. It was
from that seat that she was transferred to an ambulance and taken to the
hospital for that final trip we all make, for which she did not need a car.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It outlived its driver nearly two years. It kept our
activism on life support during the Pandemic with Chris Jackson at the wheel.
When he left to lead the national Jackson Traction effort and drive a long haul
truck, Rose Peltz took the wheel, piloting it to that last, little sad stop in
the West Ashley Parking lot. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I am a transit advocate. I am legally blind and I cannot
drive. I wanted to make a radical commitment to a lifestyle free of the
automobile. I have retained many of Julia’s cherished things: her 1806 violin,
her Ivers and Pond Parlor grand piano, her modest treasures and the golden
hoard of her memory. I did not need her car. I take the bus. I live of things
delivered. I would be OK. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">However, just as the Ukraines need armored SUVs welded
together in the junkyards of the Czech Republic to carry the fight to the Russian
army, we have struggled to maintain progress against the creeping flood of
cruelty which is life in SC. We have spent too much on Uber, which is just
seeing your dealer more often for your car fix. Reaching the rural areas that
are the edge of the transit fight is expensive and unreliable. We hauled a
trailer full of gear. Our backs hurt from carrying too much too far. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We won’t win unless we roll heavy, or at least
heavy for us. The little Upmobile carries more and does more damage to SCs occupation
of cruelty than most of those right wing pickups with trump flags ever could. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPre1R_6htdxLf2tLuw1ruE03L6T_SfTuYGZbSlead_pxysuM0R_VQG7k9q65YPlZym7_Hh3VoLI7lxEzRwOsH4mYa9q_qJSvfAWOcFSuDjxCxnp8dMq58r2wLZU4xSIgfv956dNfLRhqiNXNK9tKaDtNPel3YUlLPqULdHFWekg68aC0c2mFMqCZI/s2048/Rose%20Peltz%20in%20Red%20Convertible.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPre1R_6htdxLf2tLuw1ruE03L6T_SfTuYGZbSlead_pxysuM0R_VQG7k9q65YPlZym7_Hh3VoLI7lxEzRwOsH4mYa9q_qJSvfAWOcFSuDjxCxnp8dMq58r2wLZU4xSIgfv956dNfLRhqiNXNK9tKaDtNPel3YUlLPqULdHFWekg68aC0c2mFMqCZI/s320/Rose%20Peltz%20in%20Red%20Convertible.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Of course we had a dalliance or two while the Upmobile slumbered at the dealership. There were temptations, but one must always return to their true love. It was a red convertible.</i><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">This morning we ordered a near heart of electricity and fire
for the Upmobile. It is sourced from Japan where they attempt to keep their economy
alive in the face of a plummeting birth rate by taxing cars heavily as they get
older. The new/used engine will have less than 35 thousand miles on it and cost
$3,500. It lives within the massive aluminum alloy case which protects its gas
motor, generator, electric motor and hybrid drive transmission, all now linked
to one solid, reliable planetary gear, the one ring to rule them all. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Installation and testing will cost more. <br />
<br />
As large as this worn, blue Prius stands in our community, it is no powerhouse.
The total horsepower available with gas and electric power pushing is less than
100 horsepower. It struggles to go over 70 miles per hour. It’s an uncomfortable
ride on the interstate. It will however, return the activists of Best Friends
of Lowcountry Transit and Up is Good to full capability. Tell the Russians and the
rednecks to get ready. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Someone suggested we bang out the dents and paint it. How
little they understand. We cherish those scars, these wounds we had on Crispin’s
day. Those keying scars administered by the Trumpers. Those big magnet signs
don’t some off you know. They were long ago welded to the sheet metal by the
heat of the Southern sun. There is always more tape to hold the stern cowlings
to the rear quarter panels. We like it this way. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">We are repairing the car, reusing the motor and recycling the old motor, which ought to count for something. We could retrofit for full electric, but this is our hurricane evacuation ride as well. </p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSma8w29Hv-lqkdvfBxJ9K17Wtb-Htbl-nEpE8Q09m3j62pThEbt8A27ork-99mb_7Ni6ibLJKDVayHsKlqLK8FSWeJRE1sWReVHdhcA-7X64GUuQXm2U2xSeLV-wLMdsKaYFwUAOUmT7bq-Ubd_BWm4qPg1V3TJhpDiTdiPgFDzyoRK4WidvSwwcl/s1624/Up%20Mobile.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1139" data-original-width="1624" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSma8w29Hv-lqkdvfBxJ9K17Wtb-Htbl-nEpE8Q09m3j62pThEbt8A27ork-99mb_7Ni6ibLJKDVayHsKlqLK8FSWeJRE1sWReVHdhcA-7X64GUuQXm2U2xSeLV-wLMdsKaYFwUAOUmT7bq-Ubd_BWm4qPg1V3TJhpDiTdiPgFDzyoRK4WidvSwwcl/s320/Up%20Mobile.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upmobile May 2013, ending Sanford's</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal">It is our intent to return the Upmobile to service with some
ceremony. On the appointed day, we invite you to join us at Fred Anderson
Toyota some workday evening soon. We shall set up a popup, Have refreshments,
cake the occassion and roll the Upmobile out of the service lot and back on to
the battlefield. We do not believe we shall do that alone but expect to be part
of a caravan that will carry her to the next engagement in our shared struggle
for social justice, joined by people who keep fliers in the glove compartment
and a bull horn in the trunk. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I remain a dedicated transit advocate. I am a fan of the battery
electric full sized Proterra Transit bus, shiny with chrome and computer driven
LEDs. I am a loyal friend to the 3700 series American Flyer buses which are our
legacy of the 2000 Atlanta Olympics and are rolling into their two million
miles. I continue to believe that the massive red articulated Toronto
streetcar, now retired, was and ought to be the Queen of the North American
urban roadway. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_AobQxkJnnyqBubFDc6ngrA3qzzOH-nzgXNg1r_iTwJLNPzn9ueLyozII4oitxVWrAd5a8iwSAvhB1aIMUAWb68yP4e-NyMIs1I6T0frlRgxZ9nw-1uDBslCdQyeFyrZws6FdaXOaRCi2GqrHeapUC_dLGdC11uP7VolzpZuWWLNPZpoJsJWAjke/s1224/charleston-transit-1-press-orange-bg.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="936" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_AobQxkJnnyqBubFDc6ngrA3qzzOH-nzgXNg1r_iTwJLNPzn9ueLyozII4oitxVWrAd5a8iwSAvhB1aIMUAWb68yP4e-NyMIs1I6T0frlRgxZ9nw-1uDBslCdQyeFyrZws6FdaXOaRCi2GqrHeapUC_dLGdC11uP7VolzpZuWWLNPZpoJsJWAjke/s320/charleston-transit-1-press-orange-bg.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>But with a battery with 30 thousand miles on it and an
engine with 35, the Upmobile has another 100 thousand miles in our future. It’s
the last car I will own. I will give it up either when the LCRT actually starts
running or when they carry me to rest beside Julia at my final stop, a home to
which I will summon no grocery deliveries. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Since Jack is spending his money on a new hybrid drive, you
can help pay for more activism for better transit by <a href="https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bflt2022">donating to Best Friends of Lowcountry
Transit on Act Blue</a>.<o:p></o:p></p>William Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06741904019458546425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089401253655703757.post-91481400059241899352022-04-13T07:13:00.003-07:002022-04-13T07:13:50.346-07:00Help Summerville Escape Racism and Congestion Thursday, April 14<p> Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit, Inc. and the Alston
Foundation spent Monday preparing for Thursday, April 25’s 5:25 pro transit demonstration
in Summerville by doing outreach in Dorchester County, reaching over 500 people
in Summerville and Ridgeville.</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4uhj_1YVCyOrxLlezQWbCGBqTdLTzli8YDmnu18xMcvkeJHbs_yRUvRhmfNAgBEuEMl0Z58OmBV2wFcw0X3-Nq_zuPSpiS6QMeW6yyh5PmB4qaXoDjzgYwXLLvjFJggcC4eOsVXkDAeqS9oadGKYhC16j5X2XGW_Ir_VfcGDo7p6oIPIpBna3kzo/s3264/20210513_181127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4uhj_1YVCyOrxLlezQWbCGBqTdLTzli8YDmnu18xMcvkeJHbs_yRUvRhmfNAgBEuEMl0Z58OmBV2wFcw0X3-Nq_zuPSpiS6QMeW6yyh5PmB4qaXoDjzgYwXLLvjFJggcC4eOsVXkDAeqS9oadGKYhC16j5X2XGW_Ir_VfcGDo7p6oIPIpBna3kzo/s320/20210513_181127.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summerville Town Council</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We were followed by the police. We learned that a cabal of government and government
sponsored private sector nonprofits were devoting their Monday to deflecting
our effort to restore Summerville’s link to the transit system in hopes of
maintaining Summerville as a white flight refuge from the racially and economically
diverse communities growing up around them. We encountered a pair of delightful
Ukulele players. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The leadership of Summerville and their institutions gather
around the campfire of racism and class hatred often without consciously
realizing it. They describe it with code words like crime and quality of life.
Sometimes they don’t even understand what they’re doing, like someone who
toasts marshmallows over the coals left from a cross burning after the Klan has
returned to their fish camp to drink beer. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Fifty years after desegregation, the practice of suburban racism
is engrained the muscle memory of places like Summerville. The kids now running
around blowing coal rolling filth on pedestrians probably don’t associate their
“rednecking” with their Grandfather’s parking a burning cross in front of Linda
Saylor’s Grandfather’s home while he kept them at outside the fence with a
loaded shotgun informed by the certainty earned in WWI that he could, if
necessary, kill people. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That’s why Linda’s home is surrounded by a Sears installed six-foot
chain-link fence with the pointy fence top. I don’t know if Linda still has her
grandfather’s shot gun. She keeps that fence locked. You do not what to encounter
the psychotic pit bull she has chained in the back yard at night when it
believes you aren’t welcome. It is from behind that moat of steel and teeth
that Linda runs the Dorchester Unit of Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit and
is planning Thursday’s demonstration. She’s also fighting a three woman war against
the forced gentrification of Brownsville with her mother, aunt and Civil Rights
hero Louise Brown. Linda makes excellent French toast. The house needs a dumpster,
but her mother insists they must keep it all. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_jay4qL68M5Dl-z2sr9yBhAvHjbr9b-yCbmH7ZfHspICgFmPw0EmhmGOP-60PAVt75dq_J_JUuIw_xuRixakT2dysVOCKx11AXrpC9PQplmQjKkVclri9fTOgseS87k0PMnMrJRDQJjBzPGaD_aER9Cp5r9X7nqEj6LT8vn8koeUHHZoHkw4P6kj/s3264/20210404_164410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_jay4qL68M5Dl-z2sr9yBhAvHjbr9b-yCbmH7ZfHspICgFmPw0EmhmGOP-60PAVt75dq_J_JUuIw_xuRixakT2dysVOCKx11AXrpC9PQplmQjKkVclri9fTOgseS87k0PMnMrJRDQJjBzPGaD_aER9Cp5r9X7nqEj6LT8vn8koeUHHZoHkw4P6kj/s320/20210404_164410.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original Southern terminus of the Transit Line</td></tr></tbody></table>Our opposition in Summerville and beyond is powerful, well organized and backed
by the Koch brothers. Americans for Prosperity is reenergized and working with
Congresswoman Nancy Mace to help get her reelected. They’re not holding
meetings about what they want Summerville to be. They prefer to work from
behind the curtain. It’s hard for liberals and social justice activists to
comprehend what politics is like when thousand-dollar contribution checks can
be summoned by a single email. They can purchase control of Town Councils and
School Boards for a few ten thousand of dollars, peanuts for the organizations
which fund them from other states.</p><p class="MsoNormal">They've been able to get Summerville, Lincolnville and Ladson cut out of the transit line which has been in planning for 25 years. The planned line now ends at the Fairgrounds, miles from Summerville along a road which lacks sidewalks. <br />
<br />
What these billionaires want in Summerville and throughout the South, is a
culturally grounded bulwark against the rise of a racially and economically
diverse culture of town and city living in the South. The Southeast is their
racially grounded citadel from which they will make war against the rise of an
America defined not by the color of people’s skin but by the content of their character.
They want to be sure that the music of the song mentioned in King’s great speech,
“Free at Last,” never rises from a racially diverse celebration on Hutchison Square
or even Doty Park. If they can keep racism at the center of our shared lives,
they can make America safe for the rich, two things intimately, but not necessarily
connected. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Most of the people in Summerville don’t have a clue this is
happening. They just know they spend more of every day trapped in their cars,
desperately awaiting their weary reunion with their children who are waiting
for a ride to a playdate or a takeout dinner because nobody has time left to cook.
Those people hate developers and minorities because they’ve been taught to.
They don’t understand that better, different types of development, supported by
transit would work. They don’t get a chance to learn and know that all
minorities are not criminals. Since they spend three hours a day trapped in
their cars, parent with their cars and run the endless creeping errands with
their cars, they’ll never learn otherwise. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-0aiF58Qhbe20cW3O07l7l-DykFnbAHYeHd25yOmkKIi76LLimS3yGJOr2IbxYy-ab1vdF57oZMPn_lT4uL8slSoqA9AD4FyOPhpKqfsS2MsAYa-n09arPDZ9ohrk8ALkx4vuVj4DLDiMT5E9mZm2DWIUQ0vtJB5z44SBRQ1fzH1TYkCdwFkAgag/s3264/20210425_181855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-0aiF58Qhbe20cW3O07l7l-DykFnbAHYeHd25yOmkKIi76LLimS3yGJOr2IbxYy-ab1vdF57oZMPn_lT4uL8slSoqA9AD4FyOPhpKqfsS2MsAYa-n09arPDZ9ohrk8ALkx4vuVj4DLDiMT5E9mZm2DWIUQ0vtJB5z44SBRQ1fzH1TYkCdwFkAgag/s320/20210425_181855.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Since they’re angry, they’ll vote for Trump and when he
implodes whoever the Koch organization funds to replace him. Their funeral
parades will crawl through the congestion suffocating Summerville with their survivors
still believing what they really need are more lanes and lower taxes. The ukulele
players sitting on the square on a sunny spring day getting pestered by my
transit advocacy on Monday are just an inconsequential distraction, not the revolution
they do not comprehend they need. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We’ll see you at Town Hall in Summerville on Thursday, April
14. It’s a significant day, the memorial of the Last Supper, Christ’s last stab
at building community and his betrayal by someone funded by the billionaires of
that time with 40 pieces of silver. We’re shooting for the shared and blessed supper.
We’ll try to shut down the betrayal and return the promised transit line to
Summerville. The demonstration starts at the opposite end of the square, near
the location of Summerville’s lost train station and moves across the Square to
the music of Eyes on the Prize to a short rally in front of Town Hall before
the march upstairs to participate in the Town Council meeting, with the hope of
putting the body and blood of democracy back into Summerville Town Government. Wear
red. Bring your drum. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Full details on the April 14 protest and rally at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BFLowcountryTransit">https://www.facebook.com/BFLowcountryTransit</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Information on the entire Summerville to the Sea effort at <a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2022/02/transit-equity-demands-for-sc.html">https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2022/02/transit-equity-demands-for-sc.html</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">To Contact us call W Hamilton at 843-870-5299 or email <a href="mailto:wjhamilton29464@gmail.com?subject=Summerville%20FOIA%20Request%20Materials">mailto:wjhamilton29464@gmail.com?subject=Summerville%20FOIA%20Request%20Materials</a><o:p></o:p></p>William Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06741904019458546425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089401253655703757.post-84144282682679370292022-03-22T07:53:00.005-07:002022-03-22T08:25:01.912-07:00Make Sure Transit in SC Gets it Share Update from DC on Federal Funding<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMnqsZTvZM5nrQd9dAN6mXmog5SbKouDcS7xU9z45BE-IzAhCohC_gUQKdTAws5SsEgb0Tf7vejTtcXVO7k1Y_AX-1cD7H_80LRSI8BUm_0PiUxtRsrMYViqTbYdXYixD0JALTBTvAk8j345NPKH3ud0sdUKs5Ym6SeHtfWxJchl0lfVDrGXnUlOz/s4032/20180512_111231.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMnqsZTvZM5nrQd9dAN6mXmog5SbKouDcS7xU9z45BE-IzAhCohC_gUQKdTAws5SsEgb0Tf7vejTtcXVO7k1Y_AX-1cD7H_80LRSI8BUm_0PiUxtRsrMYViqTbYdXYixD0JALTBTvAk8j345NPKH3ud0sdUKs5Ym6SeHtfWxJchl0lfVDrGXnUlOz/s320/20180512_111231.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>We need to be sure that CARTA, LINK and the other little transit services in the area are asking for the funding that is available. Please review this and give us your input. <p></p><p>At last week's CARTA Board meeting a staff member tried the old, tired, </p><p>'We have no money" line on Millicent Middleton, who is trying to slow down the proliferation of white crosses on the Sea Islands where poor people trying to walk miles home, often after dark, get hit and killed by cars over and over. It's time to be sure that all of us, like Millicent, know and let them know that this isn't true. Over ten million dollars a year in local transit funding for the improvement of regular bus service is currently being misappropriated to road construction. The LCRT project is being delayed so it's funding can also be diverted to road construction. These agencies have millions in potential federal funding they can get as well. We still haven't gotten an answer from Nancy Mace on her position on our Transit Questions. We're going to be talking to all the Candidates for Congress from the 1st. and 6th. district and publishing what we're able to learn on Right to Ride Day, May 4. <br /><span face="Conv_MarkOT-Medium, sans-serif" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-size: 16px;"><br /><br /><br />March 22, 2022</span></p><div class="gs" style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; width: 1717.83px;"><div class="ii gt" id=":117" jslog="20277; u014N:xr6bB; 4:W251bGwsbnVsbCxbXV0." style="direction: ltr; font-size: 0.875rem; margin: 8px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="a3s aiL" id=":118" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5; overflow: hidden;"><div dir="ltr"><div style="color: #222222;"><div style="background-color: #f3f3f3; box-sizing: inherit; color: black; font-family: Conv_MarkOT-Medium, sans-serif; line-height: 1.35;">The Era of Bus Austerity is Over</div></div><div style="background-color: #f3f3f3; box-sizing: inherit; color: black; font-family: Conv_MarkOT-Medium, sans-serif; line-height: 1.35;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: #f3f3f3; box-sizing: inherit; color: black; font-family: Conv_MarkOT-Medium, sans-serif; line-height: 1.35;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: #f3f3f3; box-sizing: inherit; color: black; font-family: Conv_MarkOT-Medium, sans-serif; line-height: 1.35;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #141414; font-family: "Conv_Lyon Text-Regular", serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act–the “bipartisan infrastructure law” signed last year–offers limited relief when it comes to operating transit service. But the good news is that it represents a sea change when it comes to capital investment. It expands the size of the federal transit programs <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.transit.dot.gov/BIL&source=gmail&ust=1648046519603000&usg=AOvVaw2vJ7fnuRGYEoEt2kh65s2K" href="https://www.transit.dot.gov/BIL" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: black; opacity: 1; text-decoration-color: rgb(72, 31, 137);" target="_blank">by at least 49%</a>–not enough to meet all repair needs, but enough to allow many agencies to escape austerity and plan to improve the rider experience while modernizing what they have. </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #141414; font-family: "Conv_Lyon Text-Regular", serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">A perfect illustration of this is the U.S. Department of Transportation’s most recent <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.transit.dot.gov/notices-funding/low-or-no-emission-and-grants-buses-and-bus-facilities-competitive-programs-fy2022&source=gmail&ust=1648046519603000&usg=AOvVaw2lcuFEkXipE1Qub8sypaWQ" href="https://www.transit.dot.gov/notices-funding/low-or-no-emission-and-grants-buses-and-bus-facilities-competitive-programs-fy2022" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: black; opacity: 1; text-decoration-color: rgb(72, 31, 137);" target="_blank">request for applications</a> to the federal Bus and Bus Facilities Grant (USDOT calls this a Notice of Funding Opportunity, or NOFO). Earlier this month, USDOT issued a NOFO for two major grant programs that fund bus-related capital needs, with applications due May 31: </p><ul style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #141414; font-family: "Conv_Lyon Text-Regular", serif; font-size: 20px; list-style: none; margin: 15px; padding: 25px 0px 10px;"><li style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 32px; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px;">$1.1 billion for the Low-No Emission Bus program, which pays for low-emission and zero-emission buses, facilities and equipment which supports them, and stations and stops that accommodate them.</li><li style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 32px; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px;">$372 million for the Bus and Bus Facilities Grant program, which is used to buy, rehabilitate, or lease buses and vans and “bus-related facilities.” (Another $604 million in this program will be distributed to transit agencies through a legislative formula, without needing to apply.)</li></ul><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #141414; font-family: "Conv_Lyon Text-Regular", serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">Like most federal grant programs, these require a local contribution (of 15-20% in most cases).</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #141414; font-family: "Conv_Lyon Text-Regular", serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">Under IIJA, nearly twice as much funding is available through these programs, with the increase concentrated in the “Low-No” program. Congress then <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20220307/BILLS-117RCP35-JES-DIVISION-L.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1648046519603000&usg=AOvVaw0UHSnMpaNIV1k2MfXQ9shD" href="https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20220307/BILLS-117RCP35-JES-DIVISION-L.pdf" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: black; opacity: 1; text-decoration-color: rgb(72, 31, 137);" target="_blank">added</a> another $250 million to these programs in the fiscal year 2022 “omnibus” act, which was signed by President Biden on March 15 and keeps the government funded through September 30 (the additional money from the omnibus will likely be awarded through this NOFO as well.)</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #141414; font-family: "Conv_Lyon Text-Regular", serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;"><i style="box-sizing: inherit;">IIJA Grows Federal Programs for Bus Capital Needs</i></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #141414; font-family: "Conv_Lyon Text-Regular", serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;"><img alt="" class="CToWUd a6T" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiJAY8AlJmg-3Jqigps3uQuTAfLIJXSBPmwvlu0vjIx7DjOJN0VXBvTqNg4BhnKwCYB9Yci3Tz9FYyIib9gW65WXBr-b0iYYXK2tebeXUiNV6EaqHlbhQqXtF4pEyHzRoKK-3E_f27fWLNAm77IE1Geja8Uz9-zsZGZKPseQ78p8LrggNLAQu88MAnZUiTwHQcISN7UbkaYP5KWieRu=s0-d-e1-ft" style="box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; height: auto; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; outline: 0px;" tabindex="0" width="1136" /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #141414; font-family: "Conv_Lyon Text-Regular", serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">The growth in funding creates opportunities to use the “Bus and Bus Facilities” part of the pie for improvements to riders’ experience and working conditions. </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #141414; font-family: "Conv_Lyon Text-Regular", serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">Historically, both programs have paid for the replacement of buses that are more than 12 years old, as well as antiquated maintenance facilities. For example, in 2021, when $760 million was awarded through the discretionary parts of these programs, 107 of the 119 <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/fiscal-year-2021-low-or-no-emission-low-no-bus-program-projects&source=gmail&ust=1648046519603000&usg=AOvVaw03-64o31X3vUVrspAu0w_B" href="https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/fiscal-year-2021-low-or-no-emission-low-no-bus-program-projects" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: black; opacity: 1; text-decoration-color: rgb(72, 31, 137);" target="_blank">grants</a> <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/fiscal-year-2021-buses-and-bus-facilities-projects&source=gmail&ust=1648046519603000&usg=AOvVaw0OLSi8MDaDKPQ5HiBfrib9" href="https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/fiscal-year-2021-buses-and-bus-facilities-projects" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: black; opacity: 1; text-decoration-color: rgb(72, 31, 137);" target="_blank">were</a> for normal bus fleet replacement or updating or replacing old facilities. </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #141414; font-family: "Conv_Lyon Text-Regular", serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">Other types of bus improvements have long been eligible, but have always received a small slice of the program. Bus and Bus Facilities grants have helped pay for benches, shelters, and ADA improvements at 100 bus stops in <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/fiscal-year-2019-bus-and-bus-facilities-projects&source=gmail&ust=1648046519603000&usg=AOvVaw2AUpy4FswdfJjtQUMvMYxE" href="https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/fiscal-year-2019-bus-and-bus-facilities-projects" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: black; opacity: 1; text-decoration-color: rgb(72, 31, 137);" target="_blank">Salt Lake City</a>; bus rapid transit corridors in <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/fiscal-year-2018-bus-and-bus-facilities-projects&source=gmail&ust=1648046519603000&usg=AOvVaw2UcvZ1Ik31BtQ8eDHaTcmK" href="https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/fiscal-year-2018-bus-and-bus-facilities-projects" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: black; opacity: 1; text-decoration-color: rgb(72, 31, 137);" target="_blank">Albany, New York</a> and the <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/fiscal-year-2020-buses-and-bus-facilities-projects&source=gmail&ust=1648046519603000&usg=AOvVaw3k4zwOoQRK33NOYBez0bvP" href="https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/fiscal-year-2020-buses-and-bus-facilities-projects" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: black; opacity: 1; text-decoration-color: rgb(72, 31, 137);" target="_blank">Bronx</a>; bathrooms for riders and workers in <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/fiscal-year-2019-bus-and-bus-facilities-projects&source=gmail&ust=1648046519603000&usg=AOvVaw2AUpy4FswdfJjtQUMvMYxE" href="https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/fiscal-year-2019-bus-and-bus-facilities-projects" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: black; opacity: 1; text-decoration-color: rgb(72, 31, 137);" target="_blank">Lewiston, Idaho</a>; modernized fare collection systems at agencies in <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/fiscal-year-2020-buses-and-bus-facilities-projects&source=gmail&ust=1648046519603000&usg=AOvVaw3k4zwOoQRK33NOYBez0bvP" href="https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/fiscal-year-2020-buses-and-bus-facilities-projects" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: black; opacity: 1; text-decoration-color: rgb(72, 31, 137);" target="_blank">Massachusetts and Texas</a>; and new buses associated with service expansion in <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/fiscal-year-2021-buses-and-bus-facilities-projects&source=gmail&ust=1648046519603000&usg=AOvVaw0OLSi8MDaDKPQ5HiBfrib9" href="https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/fiscal-year-2021-buses-and-bus-facilities-projects" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: black; opacity: 1; text-decoration-color: rgb(72, 31, 137);" target="_blank">Seattle</a>. </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #141414; font-family: "Conv_Lyon Text-Regular", serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">These types of upgrades are not “nice to have” – they are fundamental to providing universal access and a dignified transit experience. Installing bus shelters has been shown to <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://nitc.trec.pdx.edu/news/connection-between-investments-bus-stops-ridership-and-ada-accessibility&source=gmail&ust=1648046519603000&usg=AOvVaw00b9uzTMspJrVwzhd1VrSh" href="https://nitc.trec.pdx.edu/news/connection-between-investments-bus-stops-ridership-and-ada-accessibility" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: black; opacity: 1; text-decoration-color: rgb(72, 31, 137);" target="_blank">increase ridership</a>, and can correct the longstanding pattern of agencies <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://transitcenter.org/publication/sorry-to-superb/%23%26gid%3D1%26pid%3D2&source=gmail&ust=1648046519603000&usg=AOvVaw1fYneDbsUCANe7S9W0Y0db" href="https://transitcenter.org/publication/sorry-to-superb/#&gid=1&pid=2" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: black; opacity: 1; text-decoration-color: rgb(72, 31, 137);" target="_blank">dedicating more funding to rail facilities than bus facilities</a>. A lack of access to restrooms is an abiding <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://transitcenter.org/the-right-to-pee/&source=gmail&ust=1648046519603000&usg=AOvVaw3Cm8oalE-vozVAW06_6UJE" href="https://transitcenter.org/the-right-to-pee/" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: black; opacity: 1; text-decoration-color: rgb(72, 31, 137);" target="_blank">health and safety</a> concern for transit workers across the country. And <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://transitcenter.org/taking-bus-stops-from-sorry-to-superb/&source=gmail&ust=1648046519603000&usg=AOvVaw3IicpP3h1ZZScS2qaujGL7" href="https://transitcenter.org/taking-bus-stops-from-sorry-to-superb/" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: black; opacity: 1; text-decoration-color: rgb(72, 31, 137);" target="_blank">ADA accessibility</a> determines whether or not someone can use transit at all. </p><p style="animation: 0.5s ease 0s 1 normal forwards running spintext; box-sizing: inherit; color: #141414; font-family: "Conv_Lyon Text-Regular", serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">Transit agencies which have struggled to simply maintain bus fleets now have more leeway to think big. Agencies with plans on the books to improve the bus riding experience, like Houston’s <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.metronext.org/&source=gmail&ust=1648046519603000&usg=AOvVaw0EvQHpVt2KcxPl88woBl0c" href="https://www.metronext.org/" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: black; opacity: 1; text-decoration-color: rgb(72, 31, 137);" target="_blank">METRONext</a> or Atlanta’s <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://transitcenter.org/how-long-until-atlanta-transit-riders-get-more-marta/&source=gmail&ust=1648046519603000&usg=AOvVaw1Ouh38PzfU1GE7wV_mxoxi" href="https://transitcenter.org/how-long-until-atlanta-transit-riders-get-more-marta/" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: black; opacity: 1; text-decoration-color: rgb(72, 31, 137);" target="_blank">Move MARTA</a>, should look to the Bus and Bus Facilities program (and other programs expanded in IIJA) to accelerate those plans. Doing so will require the identification (and political support) of local funding sources that can meet federal matching requirements.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #141414; font-family: "Conv_Lyon Text-Regular", serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">For agencies without such plans in the works – now is the perfect time to escape the austerity-driven replacement mindset, and to think expansively about how to compete for and use this money. And advocates, it’s up to you to provide them with ideas and encouragement. </p></div><span><div dir="ltr" style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #888888;">This information provided by</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><div dir="ltr"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 9.5pt;"><img class="CToWUd" height="52" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgnVI1vvyExJgN4Guc21tfeJm3FSln5RPnMFfC5LqktQyquKAUVedZLm5HrRSPpUlw1fCxcCt4yn_0kg91IsZvmHzz05Kk6epp2KOYyRBiwFnQuoyIMIusqGaEhYJRyORig2HhVVEekojHNSPURjAr2TIjR0D4Bl-qhvHDzg_caeYW_6bp-nanQh5HP2Hz8njfRl_AHNX_talx5xsWLzMyjj1akHg=s0-d-e1-ft&export=download" width="200" /><br /></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222;"><div dir="ltr"><b> Ashley Pryce | </b>Senior Advocacy Associate</div></div><div style="color: #222222;"><div dir="ltr"><div> <b>Pronouns</b> | She/Her/Hers</div><div> 1 Whitehall Street | 17th Floor</div><div> New York, NY 10004</div><div> <a href="mailto:apryce@transitcenter.org" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">apryce@transitcenter.org</a> | c.917.374.0322</div><div> <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://transitcenter.org&source=gmail&ust=1648046519603000&usg=AOvVaw1qwc99xEjqE9Y8CiMkVy5G" href="http://transitcenter.org/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">transitcenter.org</a> | <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://twitter.com/TransitCenter&source=gmail&ust=1648046519603000&usg=AOvVaw2BDbR7ivboO5ifaxOVJtq9" href="https://twitter.com/TransitCenter" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">@transitcenter</a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVR1LcE3SEagjoPQag63jE8yftkFtNfZIESev3BJFVneh4hzqzpOOBlWjQmi8NH8vX7mZIHf5DR7IGwXYv-Of2ftL-3eJZSVBboHAGQEgkYty4kcc7i3HGZPiczei3mUMhXeb2adpwW_lmV-wYAfML0fXakwbGWT6Xijlc_9Yy2M2zm21JKqRDRIJO/s1224/charleston-transit-1-press-orange-bg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="936" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVR1LcE3SEagjoPQag63jE8yftkFtNfZIESev3BJFVneh4hzqzpOOBlWjQmi8NH8vX7mZIHf5DR7IGwXYv-Of2ftL-3eJZSVBboHAGQEgkYty4kcc7i3HGZPiczei3mUMhXeb2adpwW_lmV-wYAfML0fXakwbGWT6Xijlc_9Yy2M2zm21JKqRDRIJO/w153-h200/charleston-transit-1-press-orange-bg.jpg" width="153" /></a> <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://busturnaround.nyc/&source=gmail&ust=1648046519603000&usg=AOvVaw18RQkiRBttOh4foyMYimeO" href="http://busturnaround.nyc/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Bus Turnaround</a></div></div></div><div><h3 style="margin: 0px; position: relative;"><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">Support us and Contact Us</span></h3></div><div style="color: #222222;"><ul style="line-height: 1.4; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="border: none; color: #444444; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;">You can support our continuing efforts for better transit by <a href="https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bflt2022" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">making a contribution online on Act Blue</a></li><li style="border: none; color: #444444; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;">You can reach us by emailing executive director William Hamilton at <a href="mailto:wjhamilton29464@gmail.com" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">wjhamilton29464@gmail.com </a>or by calling 843-870-5299.</li></ul></div><div style="color: #222222;"><br /></div></span></div><div class="yj6qo" style="color: #222222;"></div><div class="adL" style="color: #222222;"></div></div></div><div class="hi" style="background: rgb(242, 242, 242); border-bottom-left-radius: 1px; border-bottom-right-radius: 1px; color: #222222; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"></div></div>William Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06741904019458546425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089401253655703757.post-50395018979282540222022-03-17T06:18:00.006-07:002022-03-17T06:18:41.857-07:00Performance Report on CARTA ETA Phone App<p> </p><h1 style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 26px; line-height: 32.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">CARTA’s implementation of the Transit App Has Become Unreliable</span></h1><p style="animation: 0.5s ease 0s 1 normal forwards running spintext; background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%;">From Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit, Inc.<br />To CARTA Board, March 16, 1 pm Meeting<br />Date March 16, 2022<br /><br /><em>Image, Above, CARTA Board Member John Iacafano (Mt. Pleasant) speaking to CARTA Tranist riders at Mary Street Transit Center, Oct. 2021</em><br /><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/235302485407013?active_tab=about" style="color: #007c89; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">Facebook event listing with full information on Today's 1 pm CARTA Board Meeting</a><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj40Jd1SJ9r_S8EFmlVKySZGIjl896zU3q4Yk4eVUS6ZqpMjKAHnRNYbHzj3J0HdKej-bOKqAtn3MMn-6-DfVXDQYFTkbuKAJqrKInJgFkhhMTPaP7bi7RWRufRt_fyXJhvLkb42ZrF9gU8VnYGFS7V7a_r2aqfe_R0NbTW0qXZ-oV5AE4LF60QZXeo=s3818" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2387" data-original-width="3818" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj40Jd1SJ9r_S8EFmlVKySZGIjl896zU3q4Yk4eVUS6ZqpMjKAHnRNYbHzj3J0HdKej-bOKqAtn3MMn-6-DfVXDQYFTkbuKAJqrKInJgFkhhMTPaP7bi7RWRufRt_fyXJhvLkb42ZrF9gU8VnYGFS7V7a_r2aqfe_R0NbTW0qXZ-oV5AE4LF60QZXeo=s320" width="320" /></a></div>Over the past year the local implementation of the Transit app has become so unreliable that it may be hurting our attempt to rebuild ridership. ETAs and schedule information are now inaccurate and misleading. This discourages completing planned trips and imparts the perception of unreliability to the entire system and all local public transit. This does not appear to be due to a deterioration in performance relative to the declared schedules, however many of us use the Transit app instead of the schedule. I have been reporting this problem to the board since October 2021. This report has been released to the press. Here are some recent, personally experienced failures.<p></p><ol style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"><li style="text-size-adjust: 100%;">Sunday, March 13- #40 bus, arrived at Shelmore stop with App reporting bus to arrive in 9 minutes. No bus arrived. App then began reporting bus would arrive in 42 minutes. Friends up the line wanted to call an Uber. Bus arrived 8 minutes later. ETA still inaccurate.</li><li style="text-size-adjust: 100%;">Sunday, March 13, 1:35pm- 211 Dash reported arriving at Mary St/Meeting St. stop, Northbound in 23 minutes. Began walking towards event. Bus passes us Northbound 2 minutes later. Guest disgusted wants to go home. Managed to get them on the DASH later where a wonderful driver, nicknamed Tbone redeemed their lost faith in the DASH system.</li><li style="text-size-adjust: 100%;">March 8- #40 bus arrives with ETA of 47 minutes being reported at 2:40 pm, Shelmore Stop, inbound.</li><li style="text-size-adjust: 100%;">March 2– After attending a Lincolnville Town Council meeting where Transit was discussed, we were dropped off on Highway 78 to wait for the #10 Southbound behind the Gas station. App reported the #10 making two more stops that night at that location. No buses arrived. Checked Google Transit which stated service for the day had ended. Waited an hour for an Uber and paid #60 to get home with Louise Brown.</li><li style="text-size-adjust: 100%;">March 4, 3:35 pm- #20 bus Northbound arrived 15 minutes before predicted. Was walking down street, between stops and missed bus.</li><li style="text-size-adjust: 100%;">Buses rounding the block to begin service North from Mary Street are often reported as having passed the stop with the next arrival being reported as the ETA meaning nearly everyone waiting for our major route’s downtown can’t tell if the bus has departed or not. Mapping not functional on most phones.</li></ol><p style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%;">Bad ETA information impacts over half the CARTA trips I am attempting to make. As head of Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit and a local transit rider of over 40 years’ experience, I should be able to use this system. Mapping of unit locations isn’t working on my phone or most of the phones of other people I see, so the numeric ETA is the only information we have beside the schedule.<br /><br />William Hamilton<br />Executive Director, Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit</p><div><h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiatg9iV-7hp_V3knAlltiEm913JyIjrhWaNoO62c2v4ZxStGbZfSmrJAU0PqLk-cYdLUSTshRP13LjBZuDXUZIWRBPlxtxwkaE8h8n40pzN3TPOxB-JRbtrGXZqwoVIam0yN16A2VXEVoMHYbl0PEnI4bMX9psCeVAkvvEMtOdkEKTsWZRugrHWS_j=s1224" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="936" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiatg9iV-7hp_V3knAlltiEm913JyIjrhWaNoO62c2v4ZxStGbZfSmrJAU0PqLk-cYdLUSTshRP13LjBZuDXUZIWRBPlxtxwkaE8h8n40pzN3TPOxB-JRbtrGXZqwoVIam0yN16A2VXEVoMHYbl0PEnI4bMX9psCeVAkvvEMtOdkEKTsWZRugrHWS_j=w153-h200" width="153" /></a></div>Support us and Contact Us</h3></div><div><ul><li>You can support our continuing efforts for better transit by <a href="https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bflt2022" target="_blank">making a contribution online on Act Blue</a></li><li>You can reach us by emailing executive director William Hamilton at <a href="mailto:wjhamilton29464@gmail.com" target="_blank">wjhamilton29464@gmail.com </a>or by calling 843-870-5299.</li></ul></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><br /></p>William Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06741904019458546425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089401253655703757.post-45382240448427735472022-03-14T09:53:00.007-07:002022-04-30T06:47:03.091-07:00 Transit Questions for 1st. and 6th. US SC Congressional Districts 2022 Primary<div class="separator" left="" style="clear: both;" text-align:=""><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit will request answers to these seven questions about public transit and affordable housing from the candidates for US House of Representatives, 1st. and 6th. Districts, SC. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">View the Response of Candidates</span></h3>You can now <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1N8C9Eo8OtZBwXmE27O1X5AVRaxbAhHYgDx_PFjP_Qyg/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">view our spreadsheet on how the candidates have responded</a> to our request for the answers set out below and which of them have taken a bus ride with us. You can call or email their campaigns to emphasize the importance of transit in your voting decision. We don't endorse candidates, so the final decision is up to you. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRJTCD4H4VO44yIxsh3ihbKnJiAoO6QUpNjCAYs4uLBFL1oJ1AphSZvy8iWMrPeF9CuFDjI1cNg1ZQexVgnQWGFU3mzEKIuyoQvyxPmAeqFDasEKqZENDTNnT2NOcdWw9EVUg8yLwgTbJk9MWcZgtf2S-t_SnkVwfqXVrrkrSAY8yXMDL2rF3kkHtz=s720" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="720" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRJTCD4H4VO44yIxsh3ihbKnJiAoO6QUpNjCAYs4uLBFL1oJ1AphSZvy8iWMrPeF9CuFDjI1cNg1ZQexVgnQWGFU3mzEKIuyoQvyxPmAeqFDasEKqZENDTNnT2NOcdWw9EVUg8yLwgTbJk9MWcZgtf2S-t_SnkVwfqXVrrkrSAY8yXMDL2rF3kkHtz=s320" width="320" /></a></div><i>Image, Right, Former Congressman Mark Sanford is presented with the Community Commitment to Transit which he did not sign. </i><br /><br />We will publish the answers received and whatever other information we’re able to obtain from candidates running in both the Republican and Democratic Primaries for US House on Right to Ride Day, May 4. The primary is in June. You can vote in only one primary. As a 501c3 we do not endorse candidates and leave you with the responsibility of choosing who to vote for. Please inform us of anything you learn attending forums or town halls. Record video if you can. Information on how to contact and support us can be found at the bottom of this page.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Definitions:</b> <b><u>LCRT</u></b> means Lowcountry Rapid Transit System, a bus rapid transit system consisting of buses traveling in dedicated lanes and mixed traffic as originally proposed in the I26 Alt study of 2015 and subsequently modified by the Berkeley Charleston Dorchester Council of Governments; <b><u>Support</u></b> means to actively work to encourage public support for, obtain approval of and obtain funding for a project or proposal before and during the term of office you see election to. </div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Questions for Congressional Candidates</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Do you support the use of Federal Funds to support operation and improvement of public transit facilities in the SC Lowcountry, both the LCRT and regular bus service? <i>Yes Both, No, LCRT Only, regular transit service only. </i></li><li>Do you support the use of Federal Funds for road construction? <i>Yes, No, Do not wish to answer</i></li><li>Do you support construction of the Lowcountry Rapid Transit system and if elected will you work to see that federal funds are made available to support completion of the project? <i>Yes, No, Do not wish to Answer</i></li><li>Do you support the current plan for an LCRT line which ends at the Fairgrounds on Highway 78 or do would you support returning to the original 2015 I26 Alt plan for a line which runs all the way to Summerville? <i>Yes, No, Do not wish to answer</i></li><li>Do you support extending the LCRT System up Highway 52 to Goose Creek from the current junction in the line at Highway 78 and Rivers Ave? <i>Yes, No, Do not wish to answer.</i></li><li>Do you support a requirement that any roads built with federal funds be designed and built as complete streets which accommodate pedestrians, cars, bicycles and transit riders as appropriate? <i>Yes, No, Do not wish to answer</i>. </li><li>Do you support construction of affordable housing with Federal financial support in areas served by public transit? <i>Yes, No, Do Not wish to answer. </i></li></ol></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/185KvLmjlNk1Z1oOmpe_8Aw155Una_-c1/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">printable, PDF Ballot</a> for these responses that you can present to the candidates can be <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/185KvLmjlNk1Z1oOmpe_8Aw155Una_-c1/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">downloaded now. </a></div></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkT-ugrpxvxZlrL48yyC8VB_cgPM3GuGQfr_Ly_T0K5xWK80VWlQp3YwVUGdjGOMZxUSSWLuC-UcCUQiWrtiYxvvSrFD_Q_PLuOHXe_daLhFKqvqgO6xlkwTuwjRuQHzhJNkEgGijgU3nFm4m6KOxy7yuSoBCTsF6yEeTVLC90n2-3mqOeAiHecd1r=s1224" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="936" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkT-ugrpxvxZlrL48yyC8VB_cgPM3GuGQfr_Ly_T0K5xWK80VWlQp3YwVUGdjGOMZxUSSWLuC-UcCUQiWrtiYxvvSrFD_Q_PLuOHXe_daLhFKqvqgO6xlkwTuwjRuQHzhJNkEgGijgU3nFm4m6KOxy7yuSoBCTsF6yEeTVLC90n2-3mqOeAiHecd1r=w153-h200" width="153" /></a></div>You are free to provide other information on public transit and any policies or positions you have regarding it which we will attempt to disseminate with our voter’s guide, possibly online. However, unless our questions are answered, no additional material will be disseminated and refused to answer will be entered as your response. We will disseminate our voter’s guide in person to over 5000 families in Summerville, Goose Creek, Lincolnville, N. Charleston, Charleston, the sea islands, Mt. Pleasant and other locations in person in the month before the primary. It will also be sent to the press and distributed online. <div><br /></div><div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 13px;"><h3 style="margin: 0px; position: relative;">Support and Contact Us</h3></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 13px;"><ul style="line-height: 1.4; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;">You can support our continuing efforts for better transit by <a href="https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bflt2022" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">making a contribution online on Act Blue</a></li><li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;">You can reach us by emailing executive director William Hamilton at <a href="mailto:wjhamilton29464@gmail.com" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">wjhamilton29464@gmail.com </a>or by calling 843-870-5299.</li></ul></div><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>William Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06741904019458546425noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089401253655703757.post-75163702436365195452022-03-07T11:16:00.006-08:002022-03-09T09:47:28.631-08:00 Transit- Security and Peace for Ukraine & America Built With Transit<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><em style="color: #202020; font-size: 16px;">Charleston, SC-</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-size: 16px;">It is easy to feel helpless when you are powerless and alone. A two year pandemic has taken our friends, emptied our buses and disrupted our lives. All of us hoped for better days, a spring which opened into peace and happiness. We haven't surrendered the hope of getting there. As always, it's a longer, harder bus trip than we hoped for, but if you have your transfer, you may get there. </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #202020; line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-94bd20d2-7fff-b495-8426-b166b926d5e4" style="font-family: times;"></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKZCQMASxs78MTnaCro_iJFzRvcF4oBbaZc0x4nfNrdMkjWaaFVgInQE039ZoAmW9y5BQt1MPs94JqlP1_9DcBlnGJl8zcJ-cxP16ERTJukhKql8gAzn1vjykIZYLzLPQKIyHxUiaSsz-J03ReBEmwvijKJvI2eqQ-B609latKdaS-r4Z2wkF3iTNM=s1316" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1316" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKZCQMASxs78MTnaCro_iJFzRvcF4oBbaZc0x4nfNrdMkjWaaFVgInQE039ZoAmW9y5BQt1MPs94JqlP1_9DcBlnGJl8zcJ-cxP16ERTJukhKql8gAzn1vjykIZYLzLPQKIyHxUiaSsz-J03ReBEmwvijKJvI2eqQ-B609latKdaS-r4Z2wkF3iTNM=w400-h195" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: times;">Our Transit Planning Children's Activity</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: times;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-94bd20d2-7fff-b495-8426-b166b926d5e4"><i>Image, left, children from 4 continents, speaking 7 languages helping plan a model transit system, N. Charleston Farmer's Market, Fall 2019, Some of these children have cousins in Eastern Europe now. </i><br /><br />Putin’s invasion of the Ukraine reminds us while we may volunteer to clean up a bus stop or help an elderly passenger on board, there are still brutal, cruel forces in the world who force suffering upon the innocent to gratify their insatiable egos. They burn their name into the tortured memory of history. They want to join the men we are eager to forget, but which perpetuate themselves in our schoolbooks: </span>Genghis Khan, Francisco Pizzaro, King Leopold, Hitler, Putin.</span><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;">Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit now functions as a component of a national network of Transit Advocacy Groups leading the effort to rebuild safer, sustainable cities like Charlotte, NC, Atlanta, GA and Indianapolis, Minn. with powerful, community uniting transit systems. Yesterday, our corps of conductors completed a <a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2022/02/park-pleasantly-play-downtown-in-mt.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">canvass of every hotel in Mt. Pleasant to get tourists out of their cars, on to our buses</a> to help ease congestion on our highways and streets. Last night we challenged Congresswoman Nancy Mace to take a stand regarding the status of our rapid transit system. She didn't answer, but being Americans, we'll go back until she does. On <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1047448432784322?active_tab=about" style="color: #007c89; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">Tuesday, March 1, we'll stand, speak and sing at Charleston County Council</a> to try to end the go nowhere excuse based planning which has failed the commitment voters made in 2016 to fund a rapid transit line linking Summerville and Charleston. </span><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgAVZ0dNBZmM1Lejm7_IbYZStJQ6tOVfKkC-le8llQrBuyNI4WyOJTX8MAXTJy3PvwRpA6t2Yg2wT8LXsR5zUqmDYeL1wJ50H4Y-hQq8acP6ub_qzW4SxqD0wC5VtCAfxUm8YogcbwTnX_YqhEuSEsCA-2Fs_hzvUIwG1wgaVVEcuF3LtA2-lck9L2K=s2048" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgAVZ0dNBZmM1Lejm7_IbYZStJQ6tOVfKkC-le8llQrBuyNI4WyOJTX8MAXTJy3PvwRpA6t2Yg2wT8LXsR5zUqmDYeL1wJ50H4Y-hQq8acP6ub_qzW4SxqD0wC5VtCAfxUm8YogcbwTnX_YqhEuSEsCA-2Fs_hzvUIwG1wgaVVEcuF3LtA2-lck9L2K=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Made in SC, USA Proterra Battery Electric Bus</i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: times;">Our own Christopher Jackson, founder of the legendary lightning crew which took door to door transit information to thousands of homes in Dorchester County now drives an 18 wheel, over the road tractor trailer. When he stops, he reaches out to communities across the US helping start and encourage transit improvement efforts. He calls it the <a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2020/07/take-stand-for-better-plan.html" style="color: #007c89; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">Continental, Together We Go Forward Initiative</a>. Chris is out pulling the national supply chain and bringing people together to begin the journey for better transit. </span><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;">Putin has made it clear we can’t stay where we are. We can’t live with his target on our backs. Charleston has been at the forefront of America’s defense since we repelled the British at Ft. Sullivan in 1776. We built the ships which liberated Europe at our Navy Yard in N. Charleston during WWII. We stood the long, terrifying watch of the Cold war with our Polaris Submarines at the Charleston Navy Base. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;">When I was a boy, Soviet boomers patrolled just off our coast and American Attack subs from our Navy Base, armed with nuclear torpedo's, shadowed them in hopes of blowing the red sub out of the Atlantic before they could fire on Charleston. Now those Russian subs are probably back, just off our coast. I grew up with that. I remember the horror of learning what was going on and what the Sub Captain that was our backyard neighbor was doing. Evidently, he did it right. We've lived up to now. It's not polite to talk about that reality in Charleston. I've seen the shock of young people today learning how this works. I can't decide weather I should tell them or not. For Charleston, still on the target list due to our Air Force Base and Nuclear storage facilities which may or may not still have missiles, it will could be over, without any warning in an instant. Most of us will never even know. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;">Charleston once attacked America when we fired on Ft. Sumter and started the American Civil War. That time, Charleston learned the hard way fighting on the wrong side of the long struggle for human dignity and freedom against the United States of America means losing. My ancestors learned that at Missionary Ridge on Nov. 25, 1863. So will Putin when his day comes. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-94bd20d2-7fff-b495-8426-b166b926d5e4" style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: #202020;">However, thanks to the efforts of thousands of people (from lonely transit advocates leafleting rainy bus stops to President Biden signing the infrastructure bill) we have not arrived at this dark day unprepared. America and the West are no longer barreling towards an auto dependent, petroleum fueled future where Putin’s status as ruler of the second largest petroleum exporting nation makes us his slaves. </span></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-94bd20d2-7fff-b495-8426-b166b926d5e4" style="color: #202020; font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #202020; line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="font-family: times;">In Greenville SC Pro Terra manufactures the finest battery electric buses made anywhere in the world. We have over a dozen running right now in Charleston, SC. In Mt. Pleasant, SC, Hubner makes the complex, robotic articulations which allow buses to bend around corners and put big vehicles with lots of passengers on narrow historic streets like the ones in Charleston efficiently. </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img align="left" data-file-id="1810989" height="225" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/ceb6b9dc2376f543595f7cc58/images/db97df96-3164-4aaa-93cc-4f0c5b8879b0.jpg" style="border: 0px; height: 225px; margin: 0px auto; outline: none; width: 400px;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sr. Citizens visiting Best Friend of Charleston Replica</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="background-color: white; color: #202020; line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-94bd20d2-7fff-b495-8426-b166b926d5e4" style="font-family: times;"></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #202020; line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-94bd20d2-7fff-b495-8426-b166b926d5e4" style="font-family: times;">While all of this conserves fuel, it also brings people together. Strangers become transit buddies at stops and on buses and trains. They learn that people different from them can still be their friends and that all those friends, together, are Americans. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #202020; line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-94bd20d2-7fff-b495-8426-b166b926d5e4" style="font-family: times;">The price of gas is going to rise. It ought to. We cannot fill our greedy tanks with Putin’s oil when it buys the bombs and bullets which send death to Ukraine. We’ll need our transit system, recovering from Covid, to pull us together and move us ahead.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #202020; line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-94bd20d2-7fff-b495-8426-b166b926d5e4" style="font-family: times;">It may be that this, with Best Friend’s of Lowcountry Transit’s continuing efforts, will hasten the day <a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2022/02/uninterrupted-public-transit-bus.html" style="color: #007c89; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">when we have our own rapid transit line</a> linking Charleston, N. Charleston, Ladson, Lincolnville, Summerville, Hanahan and Goose Creek. We’ll be able to join the elite group of rising cities moving out of congestion, pollution, and climate killing carbon fuels to a faster, cleaner and more hopeful future.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #202020; line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-94bd20d2-7fff-b495-8426-b166b926d5e4" style="font-family: times;">Right now our CARTA and LINK buses are slower than your car. Sometimes they’re crowded. Some people on board have evident struggles we would prefer not to share. They don’t always go where they’re needed or show up when promised, but each rider on each trip moves us further away from a world men like Putin and the oil funded terrorists of ISIS control. It’s a trip worth taking. It’s time to get on board. If you don't know how to ride, call me. I'll talk you through it. If that doesn't work, one of our conductors will ride with you. Together, We Go Forward!</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #202020; line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-94bd20d2-7fff-b495-8426-b166b926d5e4" style="font-family: times;"><img align="left" data-file-id="2248305" height="261" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/ceb6b9dc2376f543595f7cc58/images/6d3003ad-bd6e-442b-8ccd-203f66b4f9ba.jpg" style="border: 0px; height: 261px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; outline: none; width: 200px;" width="200" /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #202020; line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-94bd20d2-7fff-b495-8426-b166b926d5e4" style="font-family: times;">Join us on the bus. It’s one way Americans Go Forward!</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #202020; line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-94bd20d2-7fff-b495-8426-b166b926d5e4" style="font-family: times;">END END END</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #202020; line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-94bd20d2-7fff-b495-8426-b166b926d5e4" style="font-family: times;">For information on Better Transit in the SC Lowcountry see <a href="http://www.bfltransit.com/" style="color: #007c89; text-size-adjust: 100%;">www.bfltransit.com</a> or contact Executive Director William Hamilton at (843) 870-5299 or <a href="mailto:wjhamilton29464@gmail.com" style="color: #007c89; text-size-adjust: 100%;">wjhamilton29464@gmail.com</a>. </span></p>William Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06741904019458546425noreply@blogger.com0Charleston, SC, USA32.7764749 -79.9310512000000134.4662410638211512 -115.08730120000001 61.086708736178842 -44.774801200000013tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089401253655703757.post-13079887341463822352022-03-03T12:20:00.005-08:002022-03-03T12:49:07.013-08:00Timeline for Truncated Transit in the Lowcountry<p> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggJYrQv9JKRoNG5ZYSRUiTZYH7MhMYqeWrrp9F2dh5qFW7cN5-PxHDMmjsfGG4IdGVdBoEJr9wNOy5BfOnOD1NF6Qs0ZdZh3ijD7zzY2jSZy7A2s20WRhomQfeBJ0gTwisINmByfPuHh8R_HsANRfAcBf9-thyCbagaYjC3hbLJ7XiWRWdRglLBZCS=s3264" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggJYrQv9JKRoNG5ZYSRUiTZYH7MhMYqeWrrp9F2dh5qFW7cN5-PxHDMmjsfGG4IdGVdBoEJr9wNOy5BfOnOD1NF6Qs0ZdZh3ijD7zzY2jSZy7A2s20WRhomQfeBJ0gTwisINmByfPuHh8R_HsANRfAcBf9-thyCbagaYjC3hbLJ7XiWRWdRglLBZCS=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Transit Outreach in N. Chs. May 2021</i></td></tr></tbody></table><i>This document will link the known, events, documents and officials implicated in the decision to break the promise made to voters to build a real rapid transit system made during the campaing for the 2016 Half penny sales tax referendum in Charleston County. It is not likely to be complete immediately and we'll continue to fill in listings as they're turned up in the series of Freedom of Information Act requests we're filing as well as material we're receiving through other sources. </i><p></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>1830- Christmas Day - Best Friend railroad engine begins rail service from Charleston.</li><li>1833- Railroad line reaches Summerville and regular passenger service between Summerville and Charleston begins operating.</li><li>1962- Train service between Charleston and Summerville ends after running for 130 years.</li><li>1995- Discussion and studies regarding a transit service between Charleston and Summerville begin. A serious of studies and proposals come and go over the next 20 years including Light Rail, Commuter Rail, Express Buses and the Futrex Proposal. </li><li>2007- Express bus from N. Charleston Super Walmart Parking lot begins operating.</li><li>Jan 2011- Best Friends of Lowcountry transit founded at East Cooper CARTA Riders, later Hungrneck straphangers, to prevent cancellation of East Cooper Bus routes. </li><li>2015- I26 Alt Study plans transit running between Charleston and Summerville. Cost was over half a million dollars. </li><li><b>Sept. 2016-</b> Changes in proposed referendum cause some organizations, including the SC Coastal Conservation League to end support of the referendum due to vagueness and lack of specific commitments to non road projects. Best Friends suspends Transit Complete the Penny Campaign effort after spending over 20 thousand dollars. </li><li><b>Oct. 2016</b>- Charleston County Council passes resolution committing 640 million dollars of half penny sales tax revenue from proposed referendum funding to Transit improvements, part to construction of the BRT and part to improving other transit services. The referendum devotes most of its funding to road construction. Best Friends resumes camainging to pass the referendum in reliance on this resolution. </li><li><b>Nov 5, 2016-</b> Half penny sales tax referendum passes in Charleston County</li><li><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://lowcountryrapidtransit.com/docs/LCRT_CountyUpdate_September_20200908_A.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1646423970267000&usg=AOvVaw1RHSK5E99fvE8by9Cmp3_C" href="https://lowcountryrapidtransit.com/docs/LCRT_CountyUpdate_September_20200908_A.pdf" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Sept 2020</a> document shows the route running into Summerville. </li><li><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://lowcountryrapidtransit.com/docs/LCRT_CountyUpdate_October_20201019.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1646423970268000&usg=AOvVaw0CFHOJk__SlMuH9_2HvbHg" href="https://lowcountryrapidtransit.com/docs/LCRT_CountyUpdate_October_20201019.pdf" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Oct 2020</a> Document shows when they started showing Summerville as a future project. </li><li><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://lowcountryrapidtransit.com/docs/LCRT_CountyUpdate_November_FINAL_20201118.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1646423970268000&usg=AOvVaw2Ym2r5pYLt9rH_kukMl4y_" href="https://lowcountryrapidtransit.com/docs/LCRT_CountyUpdate_November_FINAL_20201118.pdf" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Nov 2020</a> document shows several meetings with Town of Summerville staff and the topics all focus on the project alignment and terminus. </li><li>Feb 2021 <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HMs_RRDgjYg8tDlu8JlWvVEwNwdMSZC5/view?usp=sharing">Email chain discussing differences is traffic models </a>used for upper part of Rapid Transit system study area. Possiblity of discrepencies and errors noted. Data is being collected during the worst part of the pandemic, when car travel is depressed. </li><li>Feb. 4, 2022 <a href="https://bfltransit.blogspot.com/2022/02/uninterrupted-public-transit-bus.html" target="_blank">Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit launches the 100 days campaign</a> to obtain immediate uninterrupted bus service between Charleston and Summerville by extending the #10 Bus line, accelerate construction of the LCRT and postpone any work expanding I526 until the complete LCRT is operating between Summerville and Charleston. </li></ol><p></p>William Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06741904019458546425noreply@blogger.com0