Dumpster Fire in the Gulch and on WeGo Transit...🔥 Part One
An Unfortunate Move to the Gulch, and How I'm Still At It...
Unfortunately, at the end of last year, I had to abruptly move due to my safety being put at risk, and the quickest location, allowing me to move, and have access to work, without a car, was the Gulch.
So, here I am, working, living, and being “miserable” in the Gulch. I honestly hate the area, but I am grateful to God I do have a place to stay, while so many are battling the high prices of living here and succumbing to the weight of the current pressure of housing prices.
While I am down here, I thought, I might as well do some work! And BOY OH BOY HAVE I! From WeGo to piss on the streets, there is a dumpster fire in the Gulch, and I have first-hand accounts.
Let’s Talk Transportation
There is about to be a vote to fund transit improvements by raising sales taxes, which are already high. Shoppers in the Gulch have been known to put items back after seeing the amount of tax added to their bills. Although this doesn't happen often, people do notice. If taxes increase, it could become much more noticeable to budget-conscious tourists and shop owners who are already managing high expenses in this area.
The reason for promoting the tax increase on sales is that it's considered a "tourist tax." However, tourists are not the only ones shopping in downtown Nashville, and they certainly aren't the ones living here. Locals, like me, also shop here and will have to bear this burden.
I ride WeGo, but I've started to transition to other methods due to ongoing issues that won't change regardless of the vote. If WeGo isn't addressing these problems now, I doubt they will after the vote. Something our new mayor of Nashville said really stood out to me: "We need this vote to increase security at the bus terminal." This makes me feel like my safety is being held hostage for my vote.
In the past six months, I have reached out to WeGo at least once a week. One of the biggest issues is sexual harassment. It's honestly embarrassing and hard to talk about, but it is necessary. When I reached out to a female council member about this issue, she completely ignored my concerns about sexual harassment and the other issues I've experienced on the bus. She went silent and then responded snarkily, telling me that many people ride and need the bus. I replied that I knew because I was one of them. She didn’t realize she was speaking to someone with firsthand experience.
This indicates to me that many bus riders do not engage with their city council members about these issues and just endure them. If this is how a representative responds, I understand why so many do not bother. However, I will keep trying. My actual council member in District 19, which includes the Gulch, didn’t even bother to reply to any of my comments about issues in his district. Yet, he can easily show up at the Tennessee State Capitol alongside lobbyists and developers for a vote on developer control of the East Bank. I’ve been learning a lot these past few months.
I’ve spoken to WeGo about ways they could help curb the constant harassment I've experienced, not only from riders but also from bus drivers. It doesn't matter how I look; no one has the right to follow me home, comment on my body, or surround me as if I'm an animal.
My experience has been truly traumatic. As a lifelong bus rider, I have never encountered harassment to this degree. I suggested to WeGo that they could put up marketing signs addressing harassment and partner with organizations focused on prevention, but once again, there was no response. Simply saying "I care" and "I am so sorry" means nothing without action.
The only deterrent on the bus so far is an occasional message announcing, "This bus is being recorded," which isn't very effective, especially when someone is wearing a mask. I also reached out to the head of security at WeGo, who was eager to speak with me during the campaign last year but now has gone radio silent.
THE BUSES ARE DIRTY
One crucial improvement needed at these terminals is thorough cleaning between rides. When I get on the bus, I often have to look down to avoid sitting on bodily fluids or sticky messes. When bus drivers arrive at the terminal, they have a moment to sit, stand around, chat, or change drivers. I suggested to WeGo that they could collaborate with the juvenile center and have young people who need community service clean the buses between stops, or just get someone to do it. If you want all kinds of people to ride the bus, then keep it clean! A quick wipe-down would make a big difference. Given how strict many council members were during COVID, you'd think they would prioritize cleanliness, but once again, silence.
EMPTY BUSES
Now, one of the biggest issues with passing a transit bill is the misconception that nobody rides the buses. This isn't entirely true, but there's some truth to it. Some routes and buses are consistently full at certain times, while at other times they could be nearly empty. Let's take a closer look at routes 17, 19, and 75, which I frequently use. The 17 bus, in particular, runs from the State Capitol and between City Hall, Capitol View, the Gulch, 12 South, and Green Hills. It's one of Nashville's best routes, yet it's often less crowded and less well-known, and I may have a new theory as to why this is the case.
These are all prime locations for tourists who often choose Uber, Hop On/Hop Off sightseeing buses, scooters, or walking. One key point here is that I personally speak to about 100 tourists a week who frequently ask me for directions. They often ask, "Can I walk there or is Uber better?" I often respond by suggesting they take a $2 bus instead of an $8 Uber ride or a 45-minute walk. Many are surprised and say, "Really?" I then guide them to the street to show them where the small, uncovered bus stop is located on a dirt hill. I demonstrate how to download the app and send them on their way.
I sent another message to WeGo asking about their business outreach in the Gulch, because tourists are often unaware of the bus system. It feels like a part-time job for me to inform them about it. I questioned them: a tourist arrives in town, walks through the airport, stays at their hotel, shops around—yet never thinks about the big purple bus, and no one mentions it? Something doesn't add up here.
Route 19
Regarding Route 19, there's a lot of discussion about this vote supposedly hinging on creating a direct route from the airport to downtown. Well, guess what? Such a route already exists! Here's a photo of my aunt and me on that supposed "non-existing" route!
There were only four of us on this bus from the airport. While chatting with a tourist who had just arrived in town, I suggested she get a weekly pass (since they don't have four-day passes for some reason!) and mentioned there's a bus from the airport. She immediately texted her girl group who was arriving soon about the bus route 19, downloaded the app, and shared about the $2 fare. She was thrilled! When she saw on the map that the bus stopped right in front of her hotel, she was amazed!
(Thank you God for giving me presentence, because JESUS!)
I mentioned to my council member, who didn't respond, that it seems there's a lot of dress shoes work happening at WeGo and not enough sneaker work (meaning grassroots outreach). Maybe that's why he didn't respond ;). 🤷🏿♀️
Route 75
The emptiest of all the bus routes, this route typically uses a small bus (the short bus) because it isn't very busy. However, there was one occasion when it was unexpectedly crowded during a soccer game. While this was positive in some ways, it also created issues that should have been anticipated. First, the bus was so full that regular riders couldn't find seats. Second, while soccer fans rode for free, regular riders weren't offered the same benefit. This meant mostly affluent individuals rode for free while less affluent passengers had to pay for a crowded bus without seats. This disparity should have been considered.
Early Buses, are so Frustrating!
One of the most frustrating aspects is how often I've missed the bus because it arrived 5-10 minutes early or didn't stop at all! As a business person who needs to be at specific places at specific times, an efficient bus system that arrives punctually would be incredibly helpful, and no vote will change that. While some buses bypass stops if they don't see someone waiting, even when they're early, I've noticed that around the Vanderbilt and Belmont area, buses wait until it's time to leave. This observation struck me deeply. Do we have an equity problem here?!?
Now for some outside voices:
This first clip is from Mary who lives and works in the Gulch, and tells us how she was fully unaware a bus existed:
Jules, works and also lives in the Gulch, here is her take on transit:
So What is Really Going On (Conspiracy Theory Alert!)
So now that we have broken down so much, let’s focus on one point, “These are all prime locations for tourists who often choose Uber, Hop On/Hop Off sightseeing buses, scooters, or walking”.
Now, how can a private industry compete with a subsidized one? If more tourists knew about the bus that travels along Nashville's most popular spots for just $2, what impact would it have on the Uber, Hop-On, and scooter industries?
I don’t know how much money they make in this area alone, but I do know, it’s like sharks swimming when getting an Uber down here. It’s QUICK! So, if the bus system is truly about changing how we operate through partnership and collaboration, and not just about money—as the snarky councilwoman mentioned, increased ridership could lead to better funding—then let's see some impactful marketing efforts!
What else could be happening? Well, all that tax increase money for the next 13+ years seems to be lining developers' pockets rather than addressing our needs. It often feels like their gain comes at our expense, not theirs. They sure do know how to create jobs for themselves.
The Unfortunate State of Reporting