[Vision2020] Palouse Empire Mall rejects Public Transportation...

[Garrett Clevenger]

I regret to inform fellow bus travellers and public transportation 
supporters that the Palouse Empire Mall has decided to not let the Wheatland 
Express bus (the one that transports between Pullman and Moscow) stop at the 
mall anymore, effective June 1.

The bus brings hundreds of shoppers to the mall from Pullman monthly (and 
many from Moscow, too) particularly students from WSU.  I imagine thousands 
of dollars are spent there from shoppers who have no other way to get to the 
mall except by bus.

Everyone I've talked to about this is perplexed by the mall management's 
decision (they have not gotten back to me about why they decided this) 
though one reason I heard is because too many people are parking their cars 
at the mall when they take the bus (considering how much room is left in the 
parking lot and that the bus brings people who don't need to park, this is 
an insufficient reason)

If I owned or worked at a store at the mall I'd be pretty upset that the 
mall management is basically saying they don't want bus rider business.

I've been riding the bus since 1997 and have seen the mall hassle the bus by 
moving the stop in the parking lot multiple times.

This decision, however, is a shock to us riders and is pretty frustrating.  
Perhaps the Pullman rider shoppers will head to downtown Moscow instead, but 
I bet they'll stick to shopping in Pullman, particularly if the super 
wallmart opens.

This is bad not just for mall businesses, but for the bus because it lessons 
bus ridership which is not good to insure its success.  Plus, having 
cross-pollination between the two towns is good for both communities.

If you know mall people, please let them know.  Perhaps their clout could 
convince the mall management to keep the bus stop at the mall.

Thanks,

Garrett Clevenger

http://www.icehouse.net/garrett

"What are we doing to our Home?!:("