SPOT Bus seeking additional riders

BONNERS FERRY — The Selkirk-Pend Oreille Transit, or SPOT bus is an ADA compliant and paratransit seeking additional ridership in Boundary County.

There is a stigma that SPOT bus is only for the elderly or those with disabilities, but that is not the case. 

Rides are free at SPOT bus, which is paid for by local municipalities including Boundary County, Bonners Ferry, Moyie Springs and municipalities in Bonner County. SPOT bus first started with a route from Dover to Sandpoint, and was first offered in Boundary County in 2015. 

At this time the bus does not have a regular route, rather riders must call the day before to schedule a pick up at their home. The bus schedule is demand based, so if there are no pick ups on the schedule for the day, the bus does not run. 

SPOT provides on-request service in the Bonners Ferry area on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. On Thursdays, the bus takes Boundary County riders down to Ponderay and Sandpoint. 

Tom Cornwall, the regular driver, said many of his regulars are seniors in senior living housing. They utilize the bus for doctor appointments and visiting the grocery store, as many of them do not drive. 

When it comes to recruiting additional ridership, Isaac Black, the substitute driver, said the problem is everyone drives in Boundary County. 

A rider said the bus suits his needs and helps him get to health appointments. He uses the bus twice a week to run errands in Bonners Ferry and to shop in Sandpoint on Thursdays. 

One woman said SPOT bus allows her to be independent, as she does not have a family who can take her to her appointments or to point A and B, whether it is the grocery store, around town or down to Sandpoint. 

“It’s irreplaceable, I’m not sure what I’d do without it,” she said. 

Bonners Ferry city councilman Ron Smith is on the SPOT board and wants to expand the services and be a resource to other demographics, rather than young riders trying to safely cross the highway or others needing to shop in Bonner County. 

In the past SPOT would transport skiers to Schweitzer one day a week, but it was hardly utilized, and so the program ended. Smith wants to try it again but there needs to be demand and requests. Additionally, he said riders could use the SPOT bus to go vote or when there car is in the shop. 

Donna Griffin, SPOT bus executive director, said there are a group of ladies that will ride together to lunch and use the bus as a social outing. If ridership can grow, more services can be provided, she said. 

“It’s up to people to call us. If we don’t get calls, we don’t run,” she said. 

Please call at least a day in advance to schedule a ride. To schedule a ride or for more information, please call us at 208-263-3774. There is no cost for the service.

Additionally Bonners Ferry, Paradise Valley and Moyie Springs are served by SPOT.