Putting a positive spin on local mass transit

Recently I took my car in for servicing near Rancho and Thousand Oaks Boulevard. I had a choice of waiting 30 minutes for a taxi or taking a chance on public transit.

I noticed a sign saying Metro Express line 161 going to Warner Center. I asked a couple of people waiting for the bus if it stopped in Agoura Hills and they said yes.

The bus arrived and my journey into the unknown began. I had never used a public transit bus before.

The bus driver gave a friendly greeting and was very nice throughout the ride. The rest of the people of the bus were very nice, also. We made several stops on the way and about 20 minutes later I was dropped off at Forest Cove and Thousand Oaks Boulevard within a short and healthy walk to my house.

The Metro 161 continues to Warner Center going east and finishes at the Thousand Oaks Transit Center going west.

It is a great ride for $1.25 (it costs that much just to start my car engine), and you can pretty much ask the bus driver to stop anywhere along its route through Agoura Hills, Westlake (even goes near the lake), Calabasas and Thousand Oaks.

The buses have a GPS system on board that announced every stop and every street, so you will never get lost knowing when to get off the bus.

I took the same route going the other way the next day to pick up my car and had the same pleasant experience.

The Metro 161 leaves every hour from every stop both ways—just look for the Metro 161 sign. The buses are wheelchair and bicycle friendly, also. There is even a bus what goes nonstop to the airport from Westlake Village—who knew.

Next time you bring your car in to be serviced, think about taking the 161 to your home or office. It is good for you, the metropolitan Transit Division, and the environment. Gary Mason Agoura Hills