GoBG Transit 

By Nick Allison

GoBG Transit began in the early 90s as the public transportation system for the city and is formally ran by Community Action of Southern Kentucky (CASK). CASK is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) corporation funded by federal, state, and local government funding, private contributions, and user fees. “501 (c)(3)” means the organization is a nonprofit group with a dedicated mission. 

“They [CASK] were the operating contractor for GoBG Transit and I guess July 1st of 2023, RATP Dev. took over operation,” states Tim McWhorter, the General Manager of GoBG Transit. McWhorter has been with RATP Dev. for six years and has been the transit manager for Western Kentucky University, The Topper Transit, for nine years. RATP Dev. is a company originating from Paris, France, that operates and maintains urban and intercity transportation systems on five continents.

The system’s purpose is to offer a safe and convenient way to travel while still being affordable. It can transport anyone across the city, and utilizes a color-coded system with five different bus routes: red, blue, green, yellow, and pink. 

The bus operates from 6:00 a.m. to 5:49 p.m. and the Lobby hours are 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Both the bus system and the GoBG Lobby are running Monday through Friday. The bus does not operate on national holidays. To ride the bus, a single ride for a child 6 and under with an adult is free, however, one that is 7-11 years old with an adult costs $1. Adults 12 and older pay $2 and those 60+ or with disabilities pay $1. 

GoBG is also willing to adjust and create any modification to fit their riders’ needs. Disabled customers will have to complete an application and have an in-person interview with staff workers so that GoBG Transit can make reasonable modifications to meet riders’ needs and follow the FTA Guidelines. 

The FTA Guidelines provide financial assistance to help create new bus transits and maintain and operate already existing systems across the nation. “Our service operates with FTA funding, so the money is actually drawn down from the FTA to the city of Bowling Green.” McWhorter says.  

On the GoBG Transit website, there is a list of rules for all to follow so that people may have a safe and comfortable ride. For more information, their email is info@letsgobg.com, letters can be mailed to 304 E 11th Ave, and their phone number is 270-393-3695.

 According to Tim McWhorter, the most difficult times for him while he was on the job was when the tornado hit in 2021. McWhorter states, “The tornadic event of 2021, those were some difficult times for the community and I know GoBG Transit helped out with some transportation, I was still mainly with WKU but we chipped in too. It was a difficult time in the community in which there were a lot of events happening and miscommunication between what was needed, so it was difficult in the sense that there was a lot of misinformation out there as far as what services were needed which caused confusion on the transportation side of trying to assist.” 

Many people, such as BGHS sophomore, Anna Tooley, have stated that the bus system is necessary regardless of the many others who drive themselves to places or get rides from friends and family. “I still think it's necessary because not everyone has that privilege,” Anna states.

 It's important to note that not everyone has the same lifestyle. 

Samuel Garcia, a sophomore, expresses his view on this by saying, “Everyone has different situations, where they need to go, how they get around, and their parents' jobs.” The new bus system, many students have mentioned, could be used for students to also get to school if it's more convenient. “It could be a more efficient way for kids to get to school,” Samuel adds. 

A bus driver for GoBG Transit by the name of Kevin (who has chosen not to give his last name) has been driving buses for two years, and even works as a supervisor for housekeeping at WKU. “Can’t complain, it’s just been another source of income and I get good interactions with customers,” Kevin states when asked if it’s impacted his life in any way. 

Kevin also mentions how GoBG has affected others: “It’s a big help to the community, it’s a good way to help people out, and it makes you feel pretty good about yourself.”

 Although it may seem like another job, GoBG Transit becomes more than that overtime, as you get to know the regulars. “I was just looking at it as another opportunity to make some extra money and once I got into it, it became to where I liked it even more,” says Kevin. It’s clear that connections between people can happen even in everyday places like taking the bus, which helps bring people in communities closer together. 

Even McWhorter expresses this by saying, “It’s really enabled me to make great contacts with the city of Bowling Green, building partnerships with different community members and really working towards the outreach program for GoBG transit to help go ridership, including those part of the international community that may be new to the bowling green area.” 

He shows great care towards the ability for others to transport around the city regardless of their situations, and he continues, stating that, “It’s really allowing us that opportunity to reach new members of our population as their coming in to Bowling Green and help provide transportation for them to get around the city of Bowling Green whether it's for medical appointments or shopping and it's really enabled me to make those professional growth and development contact with those in the community.”

Local students can also understand how Kevin feels about this. “My mom is a bus driver, so I’ve seen her help out kids get home, especially elementary school kids. Parents standing outside waiting for their kids, so I know it helps them to feel less nervous about their kids getting home on time,” Samuel states. 

The bus system had been around for quite a while, but many students when asked if they knew about it, all had said that they had never heard about it. In fact, during the Harvest Festival of this year, the Transit system had an attempt to get some recognition by showing off their new buses along with routes, even giving away T-shirts. 

“We’ve been working on our marketing campaign and that’s what was seen at the Harvest Festival, with the newly wrapped vehicle, so that's part of the progress that we are striving to make, to where we are able to reach younger members of the community and more seasoned folks as well.” 

Although many at BGHS may have not heard about the transit system, McWhorter still talks about how GoBG is getting recognition. “We are actually getting a better presence on social media, more blasts, video clips, and communications are being sent out and televisions to spread the word of GoBG Transit.”

 However, some students say that they wouldn't use the bus. “I wouldn't use it because I’m within walking distance of the school. It could be useful for those outside of the district though.” Anna mentions. 

“If someone doesn't have any sort of transportation, it could be something to help them out,” she adds. Although it may not be important to others and seems pointless to have buses in this day and age, with numerous different ways of transportation such as Uber or Lyft, it’s much easier for older groups of people that don’t understand how current apps for transport work to use this simplistic system that has been around for decades.

 GoBG Transit, no matter how old, will be able to help out those in the community that truly need it, and act as a beacon to help people pursue things that they might have not been able to due to the lack of a vehicle. It may be simple, but sometimes that's all it takes to make a difference.