Ask for the fare up front

Today Carson City regional transportation officials will decide whether to cut off service to Douglas County after county commissioners declined an invitation to spend $16,000 a year to subsidize 30 riders a day to the Topsy Lane shopping centers.

Jump Around Carson has been serving the north valley shopping center since its inception in 2005.

The city is paying $450,000 a year and the bus system has about 9,000 riders a month, according to the Nevada Appeal.

Last month, the Carson City Regional Transportation Commission voted to cut Washoe County's Intercity bus service where it overlaps with Jump Around Carson.

At the same time transportation commissioners decided it was time Douglas come up with bus fare for the people who use the Carson line to get to Douglas shopping malls.

We know part of the issue is that Carson residents are shopping and working in Douglas and city officials feel it's unfair to subsidize support for Douglas County. That's politics not transportation management.

There's a reason Carson served northern Douglas in the first place. People ride the bus because it goes someplace they want to go and a tenth of Carson's ridership wants to go to northern Douglas County.

The 30 or so people being served are Carson City residents. They are seeking service from a Carson City entity. Should Carson's transportation official decide to deny them service, then that is their decision.

A good bus driver always asks for the fare before letting a rider on the bus. Had Carson transportation officials done the same before serving the Douglas stop, we wouldn't be having this discussion today.