I've been fortunate enough to have my own car and be able to drive it for most days of the past few years. I never realized how much tougher life can be without that luxury. It's not something you're likely to think about unless it happens to be you. But now that I AM thinking about it I wonder, am I crazy or is the "public transportation" in this town a sick joke?

Who can afford to pay $6 ONE way? That means if I can't walk to the grocery store to get some medicine or some necessity and I pay the taxi to take me there and back, I'm out $12 plus what I've spent at the store. That seems outrageous in this little town. I used to pay $1 to get a taxi all the way across Pittsburg, Kansas when I missed the school bus in high school (before I got my car!).

And correct me if I'm wrong, but there's only one cab service here. Can you say monopoly? I'd say they're making a lot of money at those prices, but like I said who can afford to use it regularly? Many of the people who need the cab service wouldn't if they could buy a car or even a scooter chair!

I just read in the local newspaper that M-NOD will now take over the city's taxi coupon program and handicapped accessible vans. I also read that though On My Own had expressed wishes to bid on operating the service, they weren't asked. They were disappointed and so was I. It would be nice to see what another company might do with the service.