Mallon: How the VTA strike affected people who rely on public transit - San Jose Spotlight
Briefly

The 17-day VTA strike disrupted Santa Clara County’s public transit for the first time in decades, profoundly affecting the daily commutes of thousands. Relying on VTA, the author recounted their struggles, which included an 11-mile walk and engaging in a mix of transportation methods like Amtrak and ride-shares. Through TikTok vlogs, they brought to light not only their personal challenges but also the collective hardship faced by the community of 100,000 riders. The lack of acknowledgment and communication from VTA board members underscored the necessity for better transparency and concern for riders’ experiences during such disruptions.
During the strike, I walked a total of 139.4 miles and 305,024 steps, using a mix of Amtrak, Caltrain, ride-shares, e-scooters and my own two feet to get around.
What struck me most during this time was the silence from leaders in the community, including elected officials on the VTA board.
I spoke up for better communication and transparency from VTA board members, who were not effectively reaching riders.
For many, spending hundreds of dollars per week on ride-shares, relying on family members for rides or walking long distances became their new reality.
Read at San Jose Spotlight
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