Meet Pete, My Personal Chauffeur

How many of you have a personal, super-polite chauffeur to take you to work or elsewhere in FresYes land? I would venture to say very few, particularly in these difficult financial times. I am one of the privileged few that get taken anywhere in comfort for only $1.00 a ride. Yes, you heard correctly: Only a buck! I am, of course, speaking of Fresno's wonderful FAX system. I am also speaking of Pete, my friendly chauffeur on the 7:29 a.m. southbound #30 bus from Blackstone and Nees.

My commuting day begins as I hop on my trusty 20+ year-old Nishikki ten-speed bicycle at home for the half-mile ride to my chauffeured limousine. (Did I neglect to mention that I share it with 39 others?) Pete always arrives on time and greets me with with his trademark, "Good morning, Mr. Calhoun!" We trade a few gossip tidbits as he waits for his 7:29 a.m. meter to send us on our way. Before he leaves, however, he hands me his personal copy of The Fresno Bee to read and return. I then settle back and read my Wall Street Journal for the remainder of the trip down Blackstone.

Over the subdued talk of my fellow passengers, I can hear Pete as he wishes everyone departing his public limousine a hearty "Thank you." Those getting on the bus receive a "Good morning" or, for the regulars, a special something about their life or family. My limousine continues on to the Manchester Transfer Center where Pete has to be particularly quick to do all his "goodbyes" and "good mornings" as many passengers move on and off.

We are off again, rolling south. Most mornings my 8:03 a.m. Blackstone and Weldon stop is at Fresno City College. I always get Pete's trademark, "Goodbye and have a nice day" as I take my Nishiki off the bike rack and head off to my office for another day of teaching students planning for a teaching career. On Tuesdays Pete takes me downtown to "M" Street and the Mariposa Mall where my bike takes me to City Hall for the day-long public Council meeting. (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday my bike takes me to City Hall in the afternoon after my classes are over.)

If you haven't recognized it by now, what makes Pete so special is his customer service. On one occasion I inadvertently left my gloves on the bus. Later that day there was a knock on my faculty office door at City College, and there was Pete personally delivering my "lost" gloves. Now, that's real customer service!

The City of Fresno provides an excellent public transit system. I routinely take FAX (to include going north on #30 or #32 to get home). It's not as fast as my little truck, but it is predictable and gets me to work or home in a comfortable environment where I can read newspapers, books, correct papers or just doze a little. I also have the little warm, fuzzy feeling of knowing that my carbon footprint is much smaller using FAX rather than my truck.

Coming soon is the Bus Transit System (better known around City Hall as BTS) with higher limousine amenities and faster service. I encourage you to let your elected officials know how important it is to our City.

Since my Scottish background tends to make me "kinda cheap," I will (thanks to provisions in the recent Measure C Transportation Reauthorization Measure Fresno County citizens approved) be able to ride FREE on FAX. How? I am turning 65 on December 20th! Being the leading edge of the Baby Boomer Generation has, believe it or not, some advantages!

If I can crib from the great Visa ad: "Don't leave home without it!" (FAX that is.) And if you see Pete (and all his equally friendly FresYes public limousine drivers), please say "hello" and "goodbye" from me.

Coming soon. . .
This blog "works to dive" and, therefore, is going on vacation to the scuba diver Holy Grail: The Great Barrier Reef of Australia. The blog, however, never misses an opportunity to share neat things with its FresYes friends. Look for a postcard or two from Australia on the perceptions of our Aussie friends on our politics, particularly on our incoming president, Barak Obama. I'll be back on January 1, 2009. Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!