This is horrifying.

This used to be my partner's cat's favorite means of transportation! As soon as my partner got up, the cat would hop on and look at her like, "Where are we going?" (This ended only because my partner switched mobility aids.)

THIS. Thank you!

Reversing the momentum on doing anything to address this, and the similar scenes playing out across the country, is a big part of the substance of our current anti-woke moment.

Busses already have the advantage of spontaneity: you don't have to plan a day in advance, or wait around when you get out early & AAR is late. If bus service improves & people know they'll be able to get on and find a seat quickly & easily, busses will more accessible for some AAR riders too.

I feel like the assumption that AAR ridership will increase discounts the fact that many people who take AAR (including my partner) are also able to take the bus, depending on the situation. (Like, for shorter trips, or when their destination is very close to the stop, etc, etc.)