@aortarail.org, can you send a letter to Santa for me?

All I want for Christmas is this.

It was great to talk with @wilsonxcassie.bsky.social about the importance of transit in Salem, Keizer, and beyond. Now, more than ever, public transit is a ready-made solution for so many of Oregon's problems, whether that is slowing economic growth or low school attendance rates. Let's fund it!

I unironically love the proposed name University of the Northwest

A new study reports that almost half of all urban and suburban US car owners are open to living car free. We need to significantly increase the level of transit service across the US to enable people make that *choice*. Without adequate service, we force people into $$ depreciating assets (cars).

It's Vote at Home, folks. The place I feel safest is my *home*. Voting in my *home* affords me the luxury of time to consider the issues and candidates on the ballot. Stop focusing on how the vote gets there and focus on where the vote happens. #orpol #orleg #Oregon

For the life of me I do not understand Sound Transit station naming convention.

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.

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

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!

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

Oh, and 13 other people boarded the bus so it's not just this tired transit board member needing later weekday service. We have more work to do to provide the service our community needs, but I'm so encouraged by the progress we're making.

Tonight's Cherriots board meeting ran late so I caught the 10 pm bus home. That would not have been possible when I first joined the board since our buses stopped running at 9 pm. Now, thanks to state investment, our buses run until 11 pm. Transit investments change lives and communities. #orleg

It's always very gratifying to see the incredible work of #TeamCherriots recognized, especially when benchmarked among some of the best transit agencies in the United States. This time, Cherriots took home gold, silver, and bronze medals from the latest TransDash Performance Summit Awards 🧵 1/3

I'm in Bend for work and just spotted one of the many bus stop improvement that @ericlint.com helped make a reality in Central Oregon. I'm very excited to see a similar work kick off in the mid-valley.

Which improvements are most important for public transit in Salem and Keizer? Cherriots wants to know if you’d favor expanded services and routes. How about bikeshare? Or maybe more frequent bus service downtown? Take the survey at bit.ly/3Za1jkw #TransitForTomorrow #SalemOregon #KeizerOregon

483 employees and almost 1000 positions overall were eliminated at ODOT today. Even when the OR Leg acts the damage has been done. Next time an elected suggests that public transportation isn’t a “core service,” ask them about the tens of millions of rides each year. Are those all luxury trips?

On my bus ride home today, I saw a couple board with luggage. I started a conversation and learned they were on their way to celebrate their honeymoon! They were connecting to the 60X to celebrate in Lincoln City. That trip couldn't have happened without state transit funding. #orleg

Here’s what failure to pass HB 2025 means for @trimet.org, sorry for lack of alt text, but high level: 27% cut of service in two years, 45 of 79 bus lines #orleg

As my colleague and friend RJ's beautiful story conveys, transit's value is in providing you access to opportunities you would not have otherwise. Whether that's education, treatment, economic self-reliance, or something else, transit, when adequately funded, can get you there! #orleg

What's most surprising about this is not that Kermit was asked to speak at a commencement, but, based on his robes, he apparently has a PhD!

My walk home from the bus was interrupted by this car. Lucky for me, I could easily navigate around it. The sidewalks are bad enough in my neighborhood, we don't need cars parking on the sidewalk!

In case you didn't attend the Ride of Silence last night, check out this photo gallery from the Statesman Journal: Salem Ride of Silence honors injured, killed cyclists www.statesmanjournal.com/picture-gall...

Fare-free transit for youth 18 and younger in Salem-Keizer is in jeopardy! Tell the SKPS Budget Committee to continue to support the program! All public comment must be submitted by 12 pm on 5/13/2025. You can submit written or verbal comment here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... #SalemOR #KeizerOR

Is Pope Leo XIV the first and only American-born monarch in history?

At Cherriots, our mission is creating community connections. For years, that has involved buses, paratransit, and vanpool. Now, as we look at ways to better serve Salem and Keizer, we are exploring micromobility options like a bikeshare programs. Learn more here: www.cherriots.org/micromobilit...

The radical right-wing legislature in Utah passed a bill that banned public schools and buildings from flying pride flags. But they are still allowed to fly city flags. So check out Salt Lake City’s newly adopted city flags.

Today, the caucus with a super minority in the lower chamber of the Oregon Legislature released their transportation proposal. I am going to hone in on their plans to drastically cut public transit funding. Their plan is unpopular, bad for Oregon, and acutely bad for rural Oregon. A thread...

This year, in Salem, we're going to be celebrating bikes and the freedom and joy they provide all month!

May is #BikeMonth and we hope you'll join us in celebrating! Join us for the Kickoff Event and Free Helmet Giveaway Thursday, May 1 at the Downtown Transit Center (Bay S) from 3–6 p.m. Get a free helmet (while supplies last!), learn about upcoming bike month events, and connect other bike lovers.

Where in downtown Salem would you like to see covered bike parking? This particular covered bike parking is at the Boys and Girls Club on Summer Street NE. Let us know!

The MI Trolley, which Cherriots operates, isn't just a ride. As small business owner and local artist Richard Bunse said, with the trolley "all of a sudden, my world opened up." Adequately funding transit will keep the MI Trolley and many other rural transit services running in Oregon. #orleg

"If there is no increase in funding for transit services, Rogue Valley Transit District is looking at roughly a 20% loss of routes or a loss of 81 jobs." At a time when car ownership is more expensive than ever, we need to invest in, not cut public transit funding. #orleg kobi5.com/news/local-n...

Bluesky, do your thing.

In 2024, the Amtrak Cascades' ridership passed the Amtrak San Joaquíns. This is because the Cascades added additional round trips in December 2023. Turns out, if you add more quality passenger rail service, people ride it. Now, if only we could get more trains in the Willamette Valley. #orleg

Good night, everyone. I guess what I'm saying is we should fund public transit more.

I guess what I'm saying is we should fund public transit more.

Cherriots doesn't just serve Salem-Keizer. Our vanpool program helps people up and down the Willamette Valley get to work. Oregon Business Magazine recently featured how we help Freres Engineered Wood and Meduri Farms. Supporting public transit supports local businesses in rural Oregon. #orleg

I guess what I'm saying is we should fund public transit more.

According to Cox Automotive's Kelly Blue Book, the average cost of a new car is $47,577. By continuing to under fund public transit, we require Oregonians to spend thousands to buy and maintain a depreciating asset to leave their own homes. Good public transit provides choice and freedom. #orleg

My dogwood's flower buds are starting to open. I guess what I'm saying is we should fund public transit more. #SalemOR #KeizerOR

Spotted this @cherriots.bsky.social bus while on a walk and the colors of the Celebrating Immigrant Heritage bus and the springtime foliage just looked great together. I guess what I'm saying is we should fund public transit more. #SalemOR #KeizerOR

You must listen to Derek Thompson push back against gullible CNBC anchors @dkthomp.bsky.social www.cnbc.com/video/2025/0...

And no windows were obscured by the wrap! 🤌

My @cherriots.bsky.social "chariot" this evening was the bus celebrating our operators and maintenance team. This bus reminds our riders and the community that our operators and maintenance team are the heart of our transit system and allow us to create community connections. #SalemOR #KeizerOR

For the last several months, @cherriots.bsky.social has had real-time location tracking of our buses in various smartphone apps. Now, I'm thrilled to see this same technology coming to people who may not have a smartphone or who do not want to use mobile data to get that info! #SalemOR #KeizerOR

"The largest impact will be on the Cascades route, which has only one other alternative set of equipment. This means that most runs will need to be replaced with buses." Not good!

A huge thank you to the all the Transit Operators and Maintenance Staff, who ensure that Cherriots can create community connections! #SalemOR #KeizerOR

This guy might be a genius. www.facebook.com/share/19g3No...

Marion County wants to know what bike-friendly features (e.g. bike parking, safe infrastructure to the park, etc) would enable you to bike to county parks more frequently. Let them know by taking this short survey: pulse.ly/0kfoiuo8zr