Making a bus stop safe and friendly

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Abstract

Bus riders in Anchorage, Alaska, needed a clean, safe, and warm place to catch the bus. Due to the efforts of the RSVP of Anchorage, what had been a filthy, gang-infested place that people moved through as quickly as possible, is now a clean, safe and friendly site, where RSVP volunteers provide amicable conversation, coffee, popcorn, candy, and bus schedules, six days a week. The project also raises substantial funds for the RSVP of Anchorage. This effective practice was highlighted in the National Service News Issue No. 160, June 10, 2002, published by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

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Issue

Finding ways to keep communities safer has traditionally been relegated to planners and law enforcement officials. But ingenious volunteers can make a difference in the lives of citizens, even under less than perfect conditions — including temperatures of twenty below.

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Action

According to Barbara Campbell of RSVP of Southcentral Alaska,

  • The RSVP of Anchorage works in collaboration with the Municipality of Anchorage Department of Transportation's "People Mover" bus system. The city of Anchorage provides the bus stop that consists of a snack bar and a lobby.
  • RSVP sells bus passes, tokens, bus schedules and bus maps for the "People Mover" and receives 15 percent of the profit. Profit from the bus stop and snack bar for the RSVP program is usually about $15,000 annually.
  • RSVP has purchased or acquired coffeepots, a popcorn popper, a fountain drink/ice-machine, microwave, and a refrigerator.
  • One volunteer built a candy cabinet, candy sucker "trees," information racks and shelving.
  • The volunteers perform all the tasks necessary to operate the snack bar. One volunteer does the shopping, banking, scheduling and training of new volunteers; another volunteer in his late fifties helps the shopper unload groceries; another volunteer in his sixties picks up aluminum cans and takes them to a recycling center. Of the volunteers who serve at the snack bar, five of the volunteers are in their seventies and six women are in their eighties.
  • Currently there are 13 volunteers who serve at the snack bar six days a week, Monday through Saturday from the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The snack bar always opens on time despite the challenge of 20 below temperatures and complete darkness all day during the winter months.
  • All the volunteers work by themselves, but sometimes will get a break during the day when another volunteer comes by to visit. The volunteers cover for each other when they are on vacation if necessary, but usually schedule their vacations around their shifts.Volunteers keep the area tidy and once a week members of a local alcohol treatment program clean the lobby.
  • The snack bar serves a variety of candy, chips, gum, packaged crackers, canned soda, fountain drinks, bottled water, juices, ice cream sandwiches, and popcorn. There are also items that are frozen and can be heated in the microwave, such as cheeseburgers, corn dogs, pocket sandwiches, and burritos. The snack bar includes a full kitchen area, so the RSVP program obtains a food service permit (and almost always receives a perfect score when being inspected). All food items are reasonably priced in part because the shopper looks for bargains and purchases most of the supplies at warehouse retail stores, such as Costco or Sam's Club.
  • The volunteers decorate the snack bar for holidays.
  • The volunteers are experts at handling their customers who include, students, the economically disadvantaged, and tourists. The volunteers often spend hours tracking down someone who has left a wallet, keys, or a jacket.
  • All the volunteers have people who come just to talk with them each week. (The volunteers frequently receive wedding and graduation invitations.)
  • One customer donated a plant for the snack bar.

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Context

The Dimond Bus Stop is located at the largest mall in the state in Anchorage, the largest city. The stop is a connector for many routes and is the second busiest stop in Anchorage. The Dimond Bus stop has been operating for 11 1/2 years. Of the 13 current volunteers, 5 have served at the bus stop for 11 1/2 years.This summer (2002) the city of Anchorage is remodeling the bus stop and it will probably be closed for two to three weeks. The renovation will include a bathroom and a storage room.

Alaska's population is 622,000 (August 2000) and nearly half of the state's residents live in Anchorage. Alaska has .93 square miles for each person in the state. By comparison, New York has .003 square miles for each person. Income is usually not as high as in the other states and the cost of living is higher than in many areas of the United States. In Anchorage the largest employment sector is in the service industry. (1995) (State of Alaska, online at http://www.state.ak.us/)

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Outcome

Due to the continuing efforts of the RSVP, what had been a dismal, gang-infested place that people moved through as quickly as possible, is now a clean, safe and friendly location, where RSVP volunteers provide conversation, coffee, popcorn, candy, and bus schedules.

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Evidence

  • Profit from the bus stop and snack bar for the RSVP program is usually about \$15,000 annually.
  • People are no longer afraid to wait at the bus stop.
  • Bus riders actively seek out RSVP volunteers for conversation and company, even when they are not waiting for a bus.

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Posted On

June 27, 2002

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For More Information

Barbara Campbell
Volunteers of America, Alaska/Southcentral Alaska, RSVP
Phone: (907) 274-9674
Fax: (907) 274-7781

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Related Practices

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Related sites

Senior Corps

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