This brief article describes the Silverline Bus Service, which provides transport for old and/or physically disabled people in a rural, low income area in Northern Minnesota. The service consists of two mini-buses with wheelchair lift and seating for 10 passenger and two wheelchair tie-downs. The buses are owned and operated by Community Memorial Hospital and serve a 50 mile rural radius of Deer river. The buses operate 5 days a week, from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and travel approximately 250 miles per day. The average yearly passenger count is approximately 9,000-10,000. In this transit system's six years of service there has been a steady increase in both ridership and level of service. Because of community involvement in the raising of $30,000 toward the purchase of the first bus in 1985, there is a total community commitment and support of the bus system. The bus service is a source of community pride and is cost effective.
Abstract