NextStop Blog

Passengers like Mitch depend on Metro transit to get to work, school and other important destinations. We hope you enjoy his story, and we’re interested in your transit story too. Email [email protected], and we may share your story in a future “Passenger Profile.”

Mitch’s favorite MetroBus route is the #73 Carondelet, but he’s not a one and done kind of guy. There are a lot of other routes he likes to ride as well.

The #73 Carondelet is Mitch’s main line of transportation, providing the frequency he enjoys and access to several scenic neighborhoods in the area, like Soulard, Cherokee Street, Dutchtown and Carondelet.

“It’s my favorite route from an aesthetic point of view,” he said.

After that, Mitch enjoys the #11 Chippewa route for its “straightforward” transit service, frequency and diverse passengers and conversation.

Mitch has been a Metro passenger since 2013 and relies on its service to save money and avoid paying for parking. It also provides Mitch with a unique perspective of the region.

“I love the city architecture from the vantage point of a MetroBus, especially the buildings in the south city area,” he said.

His daily commute consists of catching the #73 Carondelet at the intersection of Cherokee and Ohio, or sometimes the #11 Chippewa at Cherokee and Jefferson, and riding the bus to Union Station. From there, he boards MetroLink and rides to the 8^th & Pine MetroLink Station, where it’s just a short walk to his work just a few blocks away.

“I started using Metro out of ease of use,” he said. “Over the years, I’ve come to really like my transit commute and how it provides me time for myself and an opportunity for me to read or listen to music.”

Mitch also believes using public transportation is his civic responsibility.

“For the St. Louis region to have a vibrant urban core, we can’t rely on the car-oriented culture we currently have,” he said. “So, you have to start small. For me, it was getting on a bus.”

Mitch’s first MetroBus experience was on the #1 Gold Line when he was a student at Washington University. The route provided him with the perfect platform to learn the ins and outs of a bus commute.

“It would shuttle me back and forth from campus to the Central West End and, on occasions, to Cecil Whittaker’s Pizza,” he said.

In the end, Mitch uses Metro because it makes sense for his lifestyle and bolsters his civic pride.

“Metro provides a service for everyone to use, regardless of socio-economic backgrounds, and provides access to jobs and opportunity,” he said.  “A good transit system makes for a better city.”