When I worked 9 to 5, well really 7 to 6, I was in the mix trying to get to work with the masses. Several times a week I would ride my bicycle to work thinking I was helping with the traffic and smog problems of Charlotte. I often thought about how neat it would be if there was a way to use public transportation to get to work and help relieve the congestion on Charlotte’s roads.

Yes there was and still is a bus system in Charlotte but man, I lived off Harris Blvd and worked on Independence. So in order to take the bus I’d have to go Uptown and then head back out towards Matthews. This didn’t make sense so on I would go riding and driving.

Working at WCNC for the last seven years has helped me deal with my dislike of rush hour. I go to work at 2:45 PM and get off at 11:45 PM. Perfect! No rush hour traffic to deal with unless there is an accident on I-77.

Since I moved to Fort Mill last year, I occasionally have to go into Charlotte during the morning rush hour. Man O Man! That section of I-77 between I-485 and Tyvola Road can be a nightmare. All lanes creeping along a 10-20 mph. What a mess. I often said how lucky I was not having to drive in that mess every day. I don’t know how these poor people do it.

All this traffic on I-77 and I didn’t even mention the traffic woes on I-485, South Tryon or South Boulevard. There has to be a better way.

There just might be a better way. Saturday was the opening of the new LYNX light-rail system. It will run from South Boulevard near I-485 to Uptown. It has 15 stations along South Boulevard so passengers can park their cars and catch the train. Now they and all the people on the Interstate can park away from the Uptown area and ride the train. This has the potential of keeping thousands of cars off the roads, which will lessen con-gestion and reduce vehicle emissions.

So on Saturday morning a friend and I headed over to the Scaleybark station to see what the ride was like. When we arrived there were about 25 people there and folks from CATS were there signing people up for a raffle and handing out information pack-ets and free T-shirts. We waited for about 20 minutes and during that time, two trains went by us heading south. Where were the north bound trains? People were in a good mood and joking about the schedule not being very accurate. Before long the first northbound train came to the station. It was packed!

No one got off and very few got on. There was no room on the train. It appears the free rides were more popular than expected.

We decided to try later or another day so we left. I wasn’t mad or had bad feeling against the LYNX system. After all, this could be the answer Charlotte was looking for to deal with traffic in this busy area.

By taking the free ride, the seed was planted to show people how this train could make their life traveling to Uptown and the areas along the way easier.

Commuters living along I-485 should try this in their commute. Even if it takes 2,000 cars off the road daily it would help. Going to a Panthers or Bobcats game, park away from Uptown and ride the LYNX. You won’t have to pay the high parking fees in the Uptown lots.

I know this isn’t the answer to all the traffic and smog problems in Charlotte but it is a start. No single change will be the complete answer. It will take several that work in a specific area of the city.

How is LYNX doing? I was stopped at the rail crossing near Scaleybark and South Boulevard when the LYNX train came. The cars were full of riders and some people were standing. This was at 7:45 PM.

During the 11 PM newscast that same night we reported that ridership on the new sys-tem was better than expected. It is still new so we can only hope that the interest will continue and the public will accept this mode of transportation.

So give the LYNX system a try. Not only will it be a fun experience but a great way to save gas and money when traveling uptown.

Remember to Reduce, Recycle, Reuse and Stay Green.