Free skyway rides and the return of midnight Riverside Trolley at Art Walk

[TheProfessor]

If you have a bike, then you can probably get around downtown faster on it rather than even taking the Skyway.  So it would not make much sense to even bring a bike on the Skyway?

[Coolyfett]

Probably not...

[Ethylene]

hopping....hope doesn't lift you very far.    

It's my HOPE that JTA will continue to CHANGE for the better! The potential as outlined for December 1st is tremendous! Hopping with or without coins will be optional! Thanks JTA, may you please evolve and continue to get it! (Fingers Crossed)

[Ocklawaha]

If JTA is the product of evolution, then I think you may have stumbled on an answer to the question, "What happened to the dinosaurs?"

OCKLAWAHA

[fieldafm]

Who all took advantage?

Lake was out taking pictures.  I posted some on my facebook.

Did you like the art installations?  Do you think more permanent art would be good for the Skyway system and downtown in general?

Do you like the evening service for Riverside Trolley?

I will say, the JTA people working the stations were all very nice and very helpful. 

Unfortunately, there were still some 'wave-throughs' on the Trolley tonight.  Dont know how you can get an accurate ridership count to prove this service NEEDS to be extended to evening hours if you dont have an accurate way to count riders.

[Singejoufflue]

Ridership was WAY up on the Skyway during my usual commute.  SRO on cars that usually have open seats. I can't speak for the after 5:15 crowd, but it was (and yes, I am assuming) comprised of mostly transient types not at all concerned with the art or event. 

I was disappointed that it did not appear JTA took a moment to tidy up the stations.  The escalator handrails were still filthy and the platforms looked dingy.  To be fair, I wasn't expecting a spit shine, but would dragging a mop or rag over the station be too much to ask when you are expecting company?

I was also underwhelmed by the art. But now I'm just being judgy.

[tufsu1]

I rode the Skyway several times tonight...good crowds..especially comnsidering that the "cold" put a bit of a damper on Art Walk

[Julian]

My friend and I did the trolley this time as last month we weren't able to. Overall, the experience and convenience of it was great, especially considering that it picks up on the corner of my street. There was only maybe 4 people heading in, this was around 5:15 pm. When we arrived downtown we walked up a block and started on the skyway. The art installations were interesting; however the stations are so big that it overwhelms them. I agree that the JTA employees were very friendly. We caught the 9:30 trolley back to riverside and sadly, were the only riders the entire trip. Hopefully it's just a one off due to the cold catching everyone off guard. If people aren't riding though I don't think it'll continue and would make JTA hesitant for expanded hours for future events and weekend/regular hours.

[fsujax]

I do not understand why folks wouldn't want to go out and enjoy Art Walk in the cold. It is what this time of year is all about. I have to say the display at the San Marco Skyway station was pretty cool. The projections the artist had on the Prudential Building was nice. That is the kind of stuff we need downtown all the time. The crowds seemed a little smaller than normal. No doubt this effected ridership on the trolley and the skyway.

[thelakelander]

San Marco Station


Central Station


Kings Avenue Station

[Ethylene]

I rode the Skyway too! Making the complete loop filling out my "passport" with stamps at the 5 stops promoted, Hemming, Central, San Marco, Riverplace and King's Ave. I made one calculated error at Central and we ended up immediately returning to Hemming. Due to the cold, we stayed put and rode out to Rosa Parks and I got a view of a stained glass window along the route and at route level that one might never see from the outside street level. That was a nice plus! I will say more as the thread unwinds but definitely the cold was a deterrent to most. Mr. Blaylock was out observing too. We actually rode back to Hemming in the same car but he did not engage with most folks, that should not surprise but alas it's the way it is!

Is that a grenade in the last photo? I couldn't bring myself to ask!

[Ocklawaha]

My friend and I did the trolley this time as last month we weren't able to. Overall, the experience and convenience of it was great, especially considering that it picks up on the corner of my street. 

Sorry Julian, you rode a DELUSIONAL-POTATO-CHIP-TRUCK, that JTA thinks is a "Trolley".

OCKLAWAHA

[Julian]

you know, I was wondering why I had such a strong urge for ruffles. With that said, I am willing to support it if the end result is a fixed track actual streetcar, as in this current guise it doesn't seem a viable long term solution. On a side note, when we got off the skyway at hemming plaza, JTA had a display set up illustrating their history, when I pointed out a historical picture they had of a downtown streetcar and told the representative "When are you bringing those back?" she responded "yeah those were the days.....our future though may have water trolleys that take you from island to island" while she pointed at a picture of a large futuristic passenger ferryboat/hovercraft. I thanked her for her time and walked away.

[Ocklawaha]

"yeah those were the days.....our future though may have water trolleys that take you from island to island" while she pointed at a picture of a large futuristic passenger ferryboat/hovercraft.

After y'all left downtown I came by about 2am and caught this night vision shot of JTA's idea for the future!  Steve Arrington told me all they have to do is slide rails under it and it will be Light Rail.


OCKLAWAHA

[fsujax]

^^^LOL Ock you are too funny sometimes!