If you like to go places, but are tired of fighting traffic, paying high gas prices, expensive parking, finding no parking places, polluting the atmosphere, contributing to the energy shortage, or all of the above — consider traveling on Bi-State buses.
Buses are convenient—uniquely so – in this area; we are served by no less than four major east-west (Downtown-Clayton) bus lines. And from these lines you can take a variety of trips, as described below.
To go downtown, catch either the Delmar-Forsyth or Olive-Delmar-McKnight bus at the southeast corner of Skinker and Delmar (the MoTer gas station); you can catch an Olive-Creve Coeur bus here too, but only during rush hours. The trip takes about 40 minutes and costs 25c per adult and 15c per child age 11 or under.
Another set of downtown buses leaves from Waterman, across from Grace Methodist Church. The Lindells—either Lindell-Wydown or Lindell-Millbrook, take about 30 minutes to go downtown. The cost is 25c per adult and 15c per child. The McPherson bus leaves from Waterman also; cost and time are the same. These buses are the ones to take to the Euclid area. The Lindell stops near Wool and Woo; the McPherson near Balaban’s and antique shops.
To go to Clayton, catch either of the Lindell buses or Delmar-Forsyth westbound. Cross Skinker to save a dime zone charge; catch the Lindell’s at Skinker and Pershing, the Delmar-Forsyth on Delmar at the bike and cycle shop opposite Southwestern Bell. The Delmar-Forsyth travels Forsyth between Big Bend and Brentwood; take this bus to Famous-Barr, Boyd’s, etc. This bus terminates at Westroads Shopping Center. The Lindells go to Forsyth via Wydown-Hanley (Lindell-Wydown) or Pershing-Central (Lindell-Millbrook). Both follow Forsyth to the Maryland intersection —past Jr. Bazaar, Straubs, Child’s World, and Spicer’s. The trips to Clayton take 15 to 20 minutes and cost 25c, if you cross Skinker, 35c if you don’t, and 15c a child.
The standard adult fare is 25c, 15c for a child. Zone changes at 10c an adult, and 5c a child. In case you think these basic trips take a lot of time and cost a lot of money, consider that it takes almost a half hour to go downtown by car. The cost to drive can easily be over $3.00 when you consider cost per mile (25c for an “economical” car) and parking.
Buses are cheap, frequent, convenient, and children love to ride them. The bus routes offer a variety of stimuli to children – changing views from the windows, exotic vehicles like street sweepers, other children on the bus, adults who play peekaboo, etc. In addition, some specific trips seem especially good for children. (Before embarking on these trips, I advise you to get route maps and time tables from Bi-State. Call Bi-State information, 773-1120 for these; they can be mailed and take 3-4 days to reach you. These tables give exact times and a little map of each route, and are essential to planning your own bus trips.
1. Northwest Plaza. Catch the Midland bus at the Leland-Kingsland Loop in U. City near the Loop Market. (You can catch a Delmar-Forsyth bus to Leland, but it’s probably as convenient for some to walk to the Loop.) The Midland bus takes you right to Sears (or other stores in the Plaza. The trip takes about 40 minutes and costs the standard fare. Children love the fountains and sculpture at Northwest Plaza, and since the return Midland bus departs from Baskin-Robbins in the Plaza, why not enjoy an ice cream cone on the way home?
2. Lambert Airport. Airplanes are not the only interesting things at the airport; children also like the fuel and baggage trucks. Go inside and watch the luggage arrive on the carousel. For variety, watch for a propeller plane to take off or land among the jets. How about teaching children to identify the different airlines or types of planes? To go to the airport, take a bus to Clayton; get off at Central and Forsyth, and transfer to a Maplewood-Airport bus northbound. Time: about 1 hour; cost: 35c an adult, 15c a child. Ask for a transfer when you get on the bus to Clayton. Or, catch a City-Limits bus southbound at Delmar and Washington, and go to Maplewood; transfer there to a Maplewood Airport northbound. Cost is the same; time is about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Next Month: St. Charles and Jefferson Barracks.
Originally published in The Paper, May 1975.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1975_05.pdf, printed page(s) 2, 11; PDF page(s) 2, 11.
