Author | Lightnews

Ian Davidson @iandavidson.bsky.social · 7d

At Cherriots, our mission is "creating community connections." Sometimes that means connecting you from Point A to Point B, and sometimes it means connecting you to the resources you need at no cost to you because it’s what’s needed.

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Ian Davidson @iandavidson.bsky.social · 7d

Of those 90,000 in Marion and Polk Counties who will not receive their SNAP benefits, almost 30,000 are children, about 9,000 are seniors and about 17,000 are disabled.

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Ian Davidson @iandavidson.bsky.social · 7d

Just tell the driver where you are going when you board the bus and your ride is free.

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Ian Davidson @iandavidson.bsky.social · 7d

90,000 in Marion and Polk County depend on SNAP. In two days, because of failures at the highest level of our federal government, our neighbors will not receive SNAP food assistance.

In response, beginning November 1, 2025, Cherriots riders traveling to and from food banks may ride at no cost.

Cherriots is offering free rides to and from food banks and pantries starting Nov. 1 through the end of the government shutdown, the transit agency announced Thursday. The agency said it mirrors their free rides to warming shelters. With those rides, passengers just need to tell the driver where they’re going for a free trip.

“With many families facing uncertainty and added stress, we want to ensure that accessing food is never a barrier,” said Allan Pollock, general manager, in a statement. “Our community depends on us, and we are proud to step up for those who need support right now.”

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Ian Davidson @iandavidson.bsky.social · Oct 3

I can and will celebrate in my heart! I don't have to travel to Bend to celebrate Blockbuster.

The Oregonian @oregonian.com · Oct 3

The last Blockbuster on earth is having a block party to celebrate the company’s four-decade history later this month.

Click the link for more details: https://www.oregonlive.com/retail/2025/10/blockbuster-turns-40-this-month-and-bend-is-the-only-place-you-can-celebrate.html

Photo via AirBNB

Ian Davidson @iandavidson.bsky.social · Sep 29

I thought I would only spend two hours responding to questions, but I ultimately spent four and a half hours fielding questions.

Thanks to everyone for the thoughtful questions!

Ian Davidson @iandavidson.bsky.social · Sep 28

Tomorrow, I will be answering your questions about the service enhancements Cherriots is proposing over at r/SALEM.

Our proposed service enhancements are decades overdue and would *finally* begin to provide the level of service we need.

You can post your questions now: bit.ly/IanDavidsonAMA

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Ian Davidson @iandavidson.bsky.social · Sep 28

Of course!

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Ian Davidson @iandavidson.bsky.social · Sep 28

Tomorrow, I will be answering your questions about the service enhancements Cherriots is proposing over at r/SALEM.

Our proposed service enhancements are decades overdue and would *finally* begin to provide the level of service we need.

You can post your questions now: bit.ly/IanDavidsonAMA

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Ian Davidson @iandavidson.bsky.social · Jul 31

Long story short, the line was operated by Tillamook County Transportation District, but they had to suspend service on the route suddenly. PCBL is now operating the line on an interim basis, but the funding for it and the history (and likely future) of it is a local transit route.

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Ian Davidson @iandavidson.bsky.social · Jul 31

FWIW I agree that POINT is not local transit. I think the Salem to Albany gap is the only remaining local transit gap in the Willamette Valley.

We've studied closing the gap, but presently do not have funding to start running this much needed route.

www.cherriots.org/salemtoalbany/

Salem to Albany Corridor Feasibility Study Project | Cherriots

Providing public transportation services in Salem, Oregon and the surrounding region.

www.cherriots.org

Ian Davidson @iandavidson.bsky.social · Jul 31

Of course!

You must be riding up the coast then 🤔. Either way, excited to watch your trip unfold here and on YouTube. Safe travels!

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Ian Davidson @iandavidson.bsky.social · Jul 31

@milesintransit.com @64streetcar.bsky.social if you pass through Salem, OR (which is another way of saying do you count the POINT bus as local transit?), depending when you come through, I can hook you two up with a Cherriots transit card to both pay your fare and to then keep if you collect them!

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Ian Davidson @iandavidson.bsky.social · Jul 26

Imagine you were at the blue dot and wanted to go to the red dot. You'd have to ride almost the whole loop. Combine that with a low frequency and you could reallocate transit resources system wide much more efficiently to better serve people.

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Ian Davidson @iandavidson.bsky.social · Jul 26

I'm so sorry and I don't blame you one bit. We fail to serve our community when the transit we provide is not useful to our community. We've made a whole lot of progress in recent years, but we still have more work to do to provide the level of service Salem really needs.

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