My Collier Area Transit (CAT) “Try Transit Day” Experience

Much has been said during City Council Meetings about public transportation regarding the “people coming over the bridge” on buses or trolleys. I’ve heard lots of irrational fear among residents about buses full of “those people” who would somehow wreak havoc on Marco Island if we expanded service by adding a trolley. 

I decided to check this out personally and take advantage of CAT’s “Try Trolley Day” on Saturday, April 20th. To promote their service, CAT offered free bus rides anywhere in the county all day long. It was a beautiful sunny day, no rain in the forecast, and free rides to and from Marco Island. I wanted to see if the buses would be packed with folks headed to and from the Marco Island beaches intending to cause trouble and make their hasty escape on CAT buses. 

I rode the Route 21 bus three times, 6:00 AM – 7:27 AM, 7:35-9:02 AM and 6:00 PM – 7:32 PM. There is only one other Route 21 loop that starts at 3:00 PM and returns at 3:58 PM. I couldn’t make that run because of another commitment. 

The Route 21 bus originates next to the Davis Super Walmart (corner of Davis and Collier Blvd.) and goes to Marco Island and back. It stops at the other Walmart (Collier Blvd. near Rte. 41), and Manatee Road before getting to Marco Island. Once on Marco Island it stops on Collier Blvd. and E Elkcam, the Marriott, the corner of Winterberry and Collier, turns around near Caxambas Park heading back to the Super Walmart Davis retracing the same route. 

The Route 21 CAT bus has about 35 seats, facing in different directions with different elevations. I chose the rear elevated seats that are about 3ft. higher than the lower seats. These gave me a great view of the wetlands and waterways from an “above the mangrove” perspective I don’t get from my car or pickup truck. 

The bus drivers were friendly and reported that they never had a Marco Island City Councilor ride the bus and actually talk with them. On each of my three rides my fellow riders were mostly young folks in their 20s and 30s who were on their way to work on Marco Island. They smiled at me and were gracious to the drivers, thanking them for the ride. On my last trip of the day three young people got on at Davis and did the entire loop with me. I watched them talk to each other, their eyes wide and mouths agape as they marveled at the views of the water, the beachfront condos and hotels on our beach and our restaurants and shops. I asked them if they’d ever been to Marco Island and they all said no, but they had heard how beautiful it was. 

I’m happy to report that none of the folks on the three trips I took appeared to be headed to Marco Island to rape and pillage, urinate and defecate on our beaches, or cause trouble of any kind. I did not see anyone returning on the bus with pillowcases filled with stolen merchandise or dragging hostages back with them. Instead, I saw mostly young, friendly workers and visitors who seemed thankful for the ride and eager to just go about their business, get to work or visit, and then return home safely. 

Thanks to the folks at CAT and the Marco Island JW Marriott for your help putting this all together.