Our friends at GOOD Magazine are holding a contest in partnership with Transportation Alternatives to find the most-loved bus routes in the country. Check out the contest details below and send in your photo today for a chance at some pretty cool prizes: …buses are an essential form of transit in cities across the country, [...]

In the midst of discouraging news from hundreds of transit agencies across the country facing difficult choices in the midst of budget crises (see our map), we bring some encouraging news from Mississippi, and an update to a story we’ve covered previously in this guest post.

Clayton County, one of metro Atlanta’s five core counties, will terminate all transit service in 14 days. The transit service, which provides over 2 million rides each year on buses “full to bursting” with riders, according to MARTA CEO Beverly Scott, will shut down service entirely, leaving the 50% or more of C-Tran riders with no regular access to a car stranded.

If you are not convinced that the need for transportation reform is an issue that transcends labels and partisanship, you’ll definitely want to join us for what should be an interesting online debate/discussion on Monday, December 7. A handful of experts from differing perspectives are going to discuss the viewpoints shared in a recent book by William Lind and the late Paul Weyrich called “Moving Minds: Conservatives and Public Transportation.”

For bus riders in Gainesville, Florida, bad news comes in pairs — the regional transit authority is planning on raising fares while reducing service on some routes and eliminating others. (Independent Florida Alligator — Zahara Zahav)